A "college excitement" humanities course for high school students from groups underrepresented in higher education
The Clemente Course in the Humanities is offered by Utah Humanities in partnership with Utah universities, colleges, school districts, and high schools to provide a college-level academic experience for high school students who will be first-generation college applicants.
Utah's Clemente Course has been underway at East High School (currently on hiatus) in Salt Lake City since 2013, at West High School in Salt Lake City since the fall of 2017, and at Ogden High School since the fall of 2022.
Clemente is an interdisciplinary course typically structured to match a four-quarter high school year with units in philosophy, art history, United States history, and literature, as well as more specialized, thematic interdisciplinary humanities units.
The course is intellectually rigorous, focuses on significant multicultural works, and uses primary documents, group discussion, writing, and collaborative projects as the basis for learning. The curriculum is consistent with Utah's Common Core.
The goal of Clemente is to encourage students to find their own voices and agency in their communities, as well as to apply for and succeed in college.
The course was inspired by Earl Shorris's work with low-income adults in New York City in the first Clemente Course, for adults, which began in 1995 with the intention of bringing the richness and beauty of the humanities to those who haven't experienced them. See Earl Shorris, Riches for the Poor: The Clemente Course in the Humanities, (New York: W.W. Norton 2000).
What Students Say About Clemente
“Every week I look forward to the Clemente philosophy period more than any other class because of the deep questions and critical thought we explore. I love trying to solve the big questions like ‘what is life?’ or ‘what is love?’”
- Clemente student
“Because of my participation in Clemente, I have been able to find and strengthen my own voice. I have found the courage to be a leader among other students and encourage them to grow in their own ways, I understand more about how the world and my community works, and I am excited to continue to learn.’"
- Clemente student
For information on how to partner with us on a Clemente program at your school, contact Josh Wennergren at
The Clemente Course in the Humanities is a Utah Humanities program offered in partnership with Salt Lake Community College, University of Utah College of Humanities, Weber State University, West High School, East High School, and Ogden High School to provide college-level study of the humanities for high school students who would be first-generation college applicants.
The Clemente Course has received major support from Alternative Visions, a fund of the Chicago Community Trust. The Clemente Course also receives generous support from the Larry H. Miller Charities.
Project Highlights
Student Highlights
