Review of Veritas Press Omnibus Self-Paced Course

This original Veritas Press Omnibus review was written many years ago, when I was still having babies! It has been updated with new information.

Veritas Press Self-Paced Omnibus I Review

I got very busy this year with the new baby, my business, and various home repairs. Homeschooling kept going, but I really grew concerned that my daughter (who is a Freshman this year) was missing some of the more rigorous junior high and high school learning opportunities that we wished for her to have. I had been an avid fan of Veritas Press' catalog of books and materials for some time. We use many of their books in our homeschool, and I love their balance of using a classical education approach with giving kids preparation for being a Christian in the modern world.

Why I chose the Veritas Press Omnibus program

I had learned about the Omnibus courses through an online forum, but knew I did NOT have the time to teach my daughter this course with the “you teach option,” which relied on parent-led instruction to help the kids get through the course.

The first year had an emphasis on Old Testament Bible and the Ancient World, contained tons of great books I wanted her to eventually read, and Biblical worldview topics that I knew she would eventually have to tackle. The announcement that this course would be available as a "self-paced" course was exciting! I sampled a few of the lessons online before buying, then ordered the textbook and accompanying materials.

What does it take to get through VP Omnibus?

The course itself cost over $400 with all the materials, and you can see current pricing here. I worried that it wouldn't be worth it, but we went ahead with it the week after the baby was born in the fall of 2013. My daughter has loved this class. Sometimes, she gets frustrated, as the books are no easy task!

Common reading assignments include Homer's The Odyssey, The Codes of Hammurabi, and other ancient history, theology, and literature selections. She spends almost an hour a day reading each night to be ready for the next day's lesson. This course is designed to be used with students as young as 7th grade, but parents should understand that some selections are more mature than others, and you should know if it’s a good fit based on your child’s growth, not their age or grade level.

What are lessons like?

The online lesson is a collection of lectures by the professor (the wonderful Bruce Etter), interviews with other experts, "man on the street" interviews, and virtual tours of places important to the study (an Old Testament temple, for example.) The course addresses "hot topics" such as premarital relations, Old Earth vs New Earth theories, and how to present your faith in a hostile world.

Many questions are asked, but there is often no "right" answer presented. Kids are challenged to use their thinking skills to come up with their position on a variety of social questions. If taken with the Secondary books course (which is taught through a separate online self-paced course,) you'll be able to count your child as getting one credit each of History, Literature, and Theology in your homeschool.

The course is designed for grades 7 and up, but I felt that, even with a very mature 15-year-old 9th grader taking it, it challenged her. If your child might be bothered by issues of today, the cruelty presented in many places in the Old Testament, or the content of the books clearly outlined in the course (which cover topics ranging from adultery to abortion), you may want to wait until your child is old enough to be guided through it.

Veritas Press Online Omnibus Review Summary

We loved this class so much that we have used additional primary and secondary semesters of Self-Paced versions of Omnibus II and III with more of our children over many school years. If you are concerned about the price, check out the specials that Veritas Press often offers on their self-paced online courses. By joining their Rewards Club, you are eligible for Buy 2, Get 1 discounts, as well. You can also save on books by checking many of them out from the library.

Looking for additional self-paced online courses from Veritas Press? We have reviewed their Bible subscription program -- VeritasBible.com -- for you!

*Opinions are 100% my own. Course was purchased on my own. No samples or compensation were received.