If you’re a homeschool parent searching for a classical master’s degree that fits your life and honors the education you’re already providing at home, you’re not alone. Many parents want to fulfill the goal of earning a master’s degree but feel torn between academic growth and their commitment to homeschooling.
The CC Plus master’s program, offered through Classical Conversations and Southeastern University, offers a rare solution—a flexible, spiritually rich classical arts degree designed specifically for homeschool parents.
In this article, recent graduate Maria shares her journey of returning to school while continuing to teach her children classically. Her story will encourage and inspire you to consider how your own love of learning can continue to grow—right alongside your children’s.
A Long-Held Dream Reawakened
“When I heard those words, my eyes filled with tears.”
That was my first reaction when I learned about the CC Plus master’s program offered in partnership with Southeastern University. Something deep within me stirred. I knew immediately: This is my next step in my walk with the Lord.
For years, I had homeschooled my children using a classical model through Classical Conversations. It was rich and rewarding—but I had quietly tucked away a personal dream: earning a master’s degree. I’d set it aside decades earlier after completing my undergraduate work, telling myself I’d return to it someday. But “someday” became years of pouring into my family, serving others, and letting go of ambitions that seemed out of reach.
Then, in the spring of 2020, that quiet dream sparked to life again.
Homeschool Parents Longing to Learn
Homeschool parents often make significant sacrifices for their children’s education. We labor in love—planning lessons, organizing schedules, nurturing hearts—but sometimes we wonder: Is there still room for my own growth?
That was my question, too.
I wanted more than a credential. I craved an education that would enrich my soul, deepen my understanding of truth, and allow me to keep learning in the same classical tradition I was using to teach my children.
Yet few institutions seemed to value what I had already invested in my children’s education, or offered a path that worked within my busy homeschool life.
What happens when the teacher becomes the student?
The Classical Education Master’s That Honors Your Journey
That’s why the CC Plus master’s program is so unique.
Launched by Classical Conversations in collaboration with Southeastern University, the program offers a Master of Arts in Classical Studies—a classical education master’s degree rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. Designed for homeschool parents, it honors the education you’re already giving your children and helps you continue your own learning in community with others.
This is not just a degree; it’s a spiritual formation education that nurtures the whole person. As a homeschool mom nearing the end of our journey (with my second child about to graduate from Challenge IV at the time), the timing was perfect. With two children still in the Challenge program, I could pursue this long-deferred goal while remaining grounded in our homeschool life.
And it wasn’t just the timing that was right—it was the message. This degree validated the work I had been doing for years. It told me that my investment in classical homeschooling mattered not just in the home, but in the academic world.
The Joy of Learning Again
Even with the excitement, it took time to return to the habits of study and writing. But I quickly found my rhythm again, thanks to the rich discussions and supportive community of fellow parent-learners.
I chose the literature concentration option and revisited many of my favorite novels from the Challenge program—this time with new depth and perspective. I wasn’t the same person I was when I’d first read them, and this new stage of life invited deeper reflection. Through these readings, we explored ideas that shaped our thinking, relationships, and faith.
The program didn’t just stretch me academically. It changed the way I communicate, reason, and relate. Wrestling with complex texts and engaging in respectful disagreement with classmates helped me grow in grace and clarity. I was challenged not only to think critically but also to speak lovingly—even when ideas clashed.
It was truly a reclaiming education homeschool moment: I was experiencing the very type of formation I wanted for my own children.
Listen about Earning a Master’s While Lead-Learning
Growth that Lasts Beyond the Degree
As graduation approached, friends began asking me, “So what will you do with your master’s degree?”
At first, I struggled to answer. My pursuit wasn’t utilitarian—it wasn’t about a job title or promotion. I simply loved learning. I had grown mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That was enough.
But God, in His providence, had more in store. Today, I serve as an adjunct professor with Southeastern University, helping assess students in the CC Plus Concurrent Enrollment program. It’s a new mission—one that allows me to help other parents and teachers understand the power of the moral imagination in raising children who know God deeply and make Him known.
Most importantly, my time in the CC Plus master’s program deepened my sanctification. My thesis led me on a profound exploration of how the moral imagination helps believers interpret the past, perceive the present, and envision the future. I came away with this conviction:
The life of faith is not merely intellectual. Belief must move from head to heart. True faith must be lived.
Why the CC Plus Master’s May Be Your Next Step
If you are a homeschool parent who has longed to pursue a classical master’s degree—but never found the right fit—know this: you are not alone, and it is not too late.
The CC Plus master’s program offers a rare blend of intellectual challenge, spiritual encouragement, and flexible structure for your homeschool life. It’s a chance to deepen your understanding of classical education, rediscover your love for learning, and grow in faith alongside a community of like-minded learners.
Learn more about how you can pursue a classical education master’s degree while continuing your homeschool journey.
Explore the CC Plus Master’s Program
Do you have Challenge students interested in earning college credit? Learn more about the CC Plus Concurrent enrollment:
