Overview
This lecture is a 6-month review of the Peterson Academy, discussing its major pros and cons, favorite courses and professors, answers to frequently asked questions, and the personal impact of the academy on the speaker.
Pros and Cons of Peterson Academy
Cons
- No accredited degrees currently offered, though certification and accreditation are being pursued.
- Lack of in-person interaction with students and professors; limited to online features like the Quad social platform and messaging.
- Absence of campus resources such as libraries, laboratories, and extracurricular activities; students must obtain recommended books independently.
Pros
- Affordable tuition ($599/year), with further payment options and discounts for veterans.
- Exceptional quality of professors, featuring top academics from renowned universities across diverse disciplines.
- Professional, visually engaging, and condensed lectures that maximize content and engagement.
Favorite Professors and Courses
Top 5 Professors
- Dr. Jordan Peterson (Personality, Nietzsche, Sermon on the Mount)
- Dr. James Orr (Ancient Philosophy, Plato)
- Dr. John Vervaeke (Rationality, Wisdom, Beauty; Primacy of Beauty)
- Dr. Keith Campbell (Intro to Psychology, Narcissism)
- Samuel Andreyev (Great Composers, History of Western Music)
Top 5 Courses
- Sermon on the Mount (Jordan Peterson): Moving and transformative religious lectures.
- Greatest Leaders of History (Andrew Roberts): Insightful biographical leadership analysis.
- Shakespearean Tragedies (Andrew Doyle): Highly organized, thorough exploration of Shakespeare.
- History of Western Music (Samuel Andreyev): Deep dive into classical music appreciation.
- Symbolism in Christianity (Jonathan Pageau): Accessible, insightful analysis of Christian symbolism.
Honorable Mention
- Intro to Cosmology (Brian Keating): Engaging and passionate physics instruction.
Least Favorite
- The Art of Storytelling (Greg Hurwitz): Focused mainly on the professor’s own works, less broad appeal.
Quizzes, Exams, and Curriculum
- Each course has quizzes for each lecture (initially 10 questions, now 5); quizzes cannot be retaken.
- Some courses now have final exams; more are being rolled out, with full curriculum exams and essays planned.
- No opportunity for quiz retakes; use quizzes as study aids.
Personal Experience and Impact
- The academy provided renewed intellectual engagement, reduced anxiety, and increased motivation compared to prior university experience.
- The lecture format and community feel supportive and inspiring, promoting self-driven learning.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Accreditation — Official recognition that an institution meets external academic standards.
- Certification — Official document denoting course or program completion.
- The Quad — Peterson Academy’s built-in social media platform.
- Lecture Quiz — A set of questions at the end of each lecture to review content.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch course trailers for any classes of interest before enrolling.
- Delay taking quizzes if you want to use them as study tools.
- Monitor for updates on accreditation, certification, and exam rollouts from Peterson Academy.