“Education and Exploration in the American West”
.The Western Pilgrimage is a semester-long experience created by Thomas More College of Liberal Arts and Altum L’alto Pilgrimages (ALP). The semester is open to male students not currently enrolled at a Catholic “Great Books” college. Students will complete 10 academic credit hours (in four classes) as they explore the western states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The final destination is El Santuario de Chimayo, also known as the Lourdes of America. Students will be guided by traveling faculty and staff for the entire trip and visited by other faculty.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Exploring 10 National Parks
- 10 transferrable academic credits
- A variety of outdoor adventure activities
ITINERARY
The semester travels from north to south, beginning in the Northern Rockies and ending in the Sangre de Christo Mountains of the Southwest. The itinerary consists of several sections where we will stop for education and exploration before moving to the next section.
Montana
Wyoming
Colorado
Utah
Arizona
New Mexico
ADVENTURE
Students will have daily, weekend, and extended-weekend adventures as well as a week-long “fall break” opportunity. Activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, paddling, and sanboarding
ACADEMICS
Students will take a full academic semester of courses. They will have the possibility to transfer the 10 academic credit hours received upon successful completion of the semester to their home colleges or universities. All courses can be taken at the 200 or 300 level
1. SCIENCE 200/300: Nature’s Cathedral
Natural history of the American West (3 credits)
2. HUMANITIES 200/300: No Mere Worldly Success
The literature of adventure and the philosophy of the examined life (3 credits)
3. POLITICS 200/300: The Strenuous Life
The principles and skills of leadership and community (3 credits)
4. THEOLOGY 200/300: The Spiritual Life
The principles of prayer and contemplation (1 credit)
DATES
August 25 - November 2, 2026
Sign-up Deadline: March 15, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit the St. Thomas More College website for more information and to apply
