Dr. Duane H. Berquist’s Course of Studies #

This website presents the complete systematic curriculum of Dr. Duane H. Berquist’s philosophy and theology courses, originally delivered over two decades to the Maronite monks in Petersham, Massachusetts. These fourteen comprehensive courses—spanning hundreds of lectures—trace the full intellectual journey from logic and natural philosophy through metaphysics to sacred theology, deeply rooted in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition.

Here you will find a rigorous, linear curriculum complete with lecture recordings, transcripts, detailed summaries, and supplementary materials. This represents one of the most thorough presentations of classical philosophy and Catholic theology that is freely available, following the natural progression of human knowledge from its foundations to its highest reaches.

About Dr. Duane H. Berquist (1939–2019) #

Dr. Duane H. Berquist, Ph.D., was a distinguished philosopher and Thomistic scholar, renowned for his profound grasp of Aristotelian philosophy and its integration with Christian theology. The youngest of three brothers who all dedicated their lives to teaching philosophy, Duane followed in a remarkable family tradition—his brother, Marcus R. Berquist, played a key role in founding Thomas Aquinas College (TAC).

Dr. Berquist received his early education at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and later earned both his Licentiate and Doctorate from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, where he studied under the renowned Thomist, Dr. Charles De Koninck. This formation in the Laval school’s distinctive approach to Thomism—emphasizing the natural order of learning and careful progression through the philosophical disciplines—profoundly shaped his teaching methodology.

He spent three years teaching at Saint Mary’s College before dedicating forty-four years to Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned the title of Professor Emeritus. Throughout this time, he also delivered weekly lectures for over two decades at Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Petersham, where these recordings were made.

Dr. Berquist’s teaching stands as a testament to the harmonious relationship between faith and reason. His lectures continue to inspire those who seek genuine philosophical wisdom and a deeper understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition.