Admissions Academic Programs Brochure by The Hillsdale Collegian

What College is Meant to Be

Academic Programs

The Natural Sciences | The Humanities | The Social Sciences

Perfecting the Core:

The Unity of Majors and Minors

At Hillsdale College, majors and minors dovetail naturally with the core curriculum. In fact, they are its completion.

Rather than a curriculum divided between “general education” and “professional” specialization, Hillsdale’s curriculum achieves a unity whereby majors and minors continue what was begun in the core and retain its essential features: they take up things worth studying simply because they are true or valuable for their own sake; they are leavened by the learning acquired in the other disciplines; and they prompt a wide, comprehensive grasp of man and the world—a grasp that is the ultimate object of a liberal education.

These majors and minors do more, however. While they remain part of students’ liberal education, they also bring into fruition all the things learned earlier. First, a focused, high-order understanding of a particular field requires high levels of discipline and rigor, thus perfecting those skills first established in the core. Next, and perhaps paradoxically, majors and minors do not simply follow what was learned in the core; they illuminate it, bringing into it the invigorated understanding of a particular field that then galvanizes what had been studied earlier. They endow those studies with a range and a power they would lack without a major. An economics or an English major, for instance, has specialized knowledge that draws upon prior study of things ranging from history to philosophy to physics. But that same specialized knowledge in turn enriches or amplifies those earlier studies. They are seen in a fuller light, and with a deeper reach. As experience shows, focused, intense study of a particular field, when pursued properly, does not replace or eclipse rich learning across many disciplines. It perfects or completes that learning.

The detailed, applied, and specialized education that occurs in majors and minors in many cases bears upon related professional activity. It also promotes habits of rigorous, scrupulous inquiry into often obscure and difficult things. It is a good in itself. At Hillsdale, however, it is not in essence different from or outside of the liberal education it is our mission to pursue. All one’s studies here, whether in the core or in the major, critically reinforce each other and achieve an essential unity. Such learning answers to human nature in that it furnishes the mind, hones its powers, and gives it the opportunity to see reality with depth and comprehension. And—not least—a person so educated is a person inalienably free and ready to do good things in a world ever in need of them.

—DAVID M. WHALEN, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR CURRICULUM

The Natural Sciences

Biology

Biochemistry | Chemistry

Physics

Preprofessional Programs

LAUREATES | Gordon Biostation

Mathematics | Applied Mathematics

Computer Science

Biology

Studying Life to Lead a Good Life

Biology is the study of life, which is, arguably, the root of all liberal arts. Because the liberal arts are about achieving an understanding of who we are, we need a basic understanding of biological science to understand life before even beginning to explore this question. Without a clear perspective on life itself, we fail to recognize how our world will be affected by the decisions we make. Thus, biology is a crucial component of the liberal arts. It teaches us about the world around us and how we fit in with all of life. Without biology, we fail to appreciate the delicate balance of life and what must be done to preserve it.

Together with the knowledge we gain in the social sciences and the humanities, the natural sciences prepare students to become responsible stewards of the power that science and technology have afforded us.

WHY STUDY BIOLOGY AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale College’s outstanding biology program offers a strong education that will prepare you for a successful career in medicine, animal sciences, plant sciences, and more. Our Biology Department incorporates “learning by doing” in the form of classroom and laboratory activities, field trips, and other experiences that actively

engage students inside and outside the classroom. All lectures and labs are taught by the faculty, and students have hands-on access to advanced equipment typically only found at larger schools. Your degree will also include a four-semester sequence of customized research, thereby teaching you how to engage in science, not merely learn about it. If you desire to know more about the living world, come learn at Hillsdale College.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BIOLOGY MAJOR?

The biology curriculum at Hillsdale College is aimed at providing a broad foundation in

the biological sciences for subsequent specialized training in graduate or professional schools, or immediate employment after college. We have a versatile program designed to help students meet the expectations of many fields, including medical or veterinary science, science education, science journalism, ecological field research, forestry and wildlife services, science equipment sales, genetics, forensics, and so much more.

The majority of biology graduates are admitted to graduate or professional schools. Many are currently physicians, dentists, veterinarians, teachers at classical schools, or otherwise employed as professional scientists.

GRADUATE-LEVEL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Current facilities include a dedicated cadaver lab and advanced iWorx physiology system, as well as qPCR | RT-qPCR genetic sequencing, LI-COR Odyssey Imager, Li-COR portable photosynthesis system, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, level 2 biosafety lab, cell culture lab, environmental control chambers, 425 sq. ft. greenhouse, and HPLC and gas chromatographs. Other facilities include the 700-acre G.H. Gordon Biological Station in Northern Michigan (see page 15) and the on-campus Slayton Arboretum and Fisk Museum of Natural History.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• AFC Urgent Care Denver—Medical scribe

• Corewell Health—Nurse tech

• Michigan Milk Producers Association— Laboratory technician

• Sacred Heart Academy—Teacher

• Trailhead Biosystems Inc.—Stem cell culture technician

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Indiana University School of Medicine

• Purdue University

• University of Michigan

• University of Toledo

• Vanderbilt University

• Wayne State University

“I was leaps and bounds ahead of my peers in graduate school because of the hands-on lab experiences I had at Hillsdale. You have access to lab equipment at Hillsdale that undergraduates at large state schools don’t have. Plus, Hillsdale’s professors are so involved with you throughout your research. The good opportunities I had at Hillsdale really prepared me for getting into veterinary school.”

—KELSEY BRAKEL, ’12, BIOLOGY MAJOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DVM, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, 2016 | PH.D., THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, 2021

UNIQUE FEATURES OF BIOLOGY AT HILLSDALE

• Every biology major works one-on-one with a faculty mentor on a senior research project They design an experiment, collect and analyze data, and disseminate their findings via presentation and/or publication in the scientific literature.

• Opportunities to work in a professor’s lab during the school year

• Opportunities for on-campus and off-campus internships, individual research assistantships, and summer research scholarships

• Seniors can present their research at conferences outside of Hillsdale

• Specialized preprofessional courses such as microbiology, immunology, developmental biology, virology, parasitology, and histology

• A two-semester sequence in gross human anatomy and physiology, where students have hands-on experience with cadaver dissection

• Co-curricular opportunities include Tri-Beta biology honorary, Conservation Club, Sigma Zeta math and sciences honorary, and Pre-Veterinary Club

• Pre-allied health students also can work in a research lab on campus, volunteer at the local hospital, work as EMTs with the local emergency services, volunteer at the fire department, work as CNAs at local nursing homes, and work in the hospital’s medical diagnostics lab.

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Non-science majors enroll in Core Principles in Biology as part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit, theme-based course covers history, understanding science as a “way of knowing,” and makes connections between man, his environment, society, and the scientific process.

Understanding the Natural World Chemistry | Biochemistry

Uncover the fundamental nature of matter—its properties, characteristics, and behavior— as a crucial point of departure for understanding the world around us. Chemistry is rightly known as the “central science” that bridges the foundational principles of physics with the large-scale components of biological or geological processes. Learn to experiment, to observe, to measure, to question, and to draw and defend thoughtful conclusions in your pursuit of an understanding of the natural world (and your greater humanity).

WHY STUDY CHEMISTRY OR BIOCHEMISTRY AT HILLSDALE?

The study of chemistry or biochemistry at Hillsdale combines small-college camaraderie with top-tier academic rigor, facilities, and faculty. The Hillsdale chemistry program has been approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training and therefore provides students the opportunity to earn an ACS-certified degree in chemistry. The major or minor in biochemistry follows the

recommendations of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A CHEMISTRY OR BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR?

Hillsdale chemistry and biochemistry graduates are working in various careers within science, industry, medicine, and education. These careers include lab research, food science, forensic science, analytical chemistry, nursing, dentistry, anesthesiology, and engineering. Hillsdale alumni have also gone on to graduate programs at Vanderbilt University, Purdue University, Butler University, Baylor University, Oakland University, and Montana State University.

GRADUATE-LEVEL EQUIPMENT

Department instrumentation rivals that of many larger colleges and universities and includes 400MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), planar and capillary electrophoresis, fluorescence and chemiluminescence spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and a vacuum/atmospheres glove box.

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THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Abbott—Assistant chemist

• BostonGene—Clinical laboratory technologist

• Cambium Analytica—Food science technician

• Conagra Brands—Quality assurance technician

• Epic—Project manager

• Oakwood Labs—Associate chemist

• Sentry BioPharma Services, Inc.—Project manager

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Boston University

• Case Western Reserve University

• Cornell University

• Michigan State University

• University of Cincinnati

“Hillsdale is very good at making you think outside the box. The classes at Hillsdale taught me to look at each challenge from differing perspectives to create the best solution. This still rings true today, as each case has its own set of unique challenges and scenarios that require different solutions to discover the unbiased truth through science.”

—AUSTIN SANDUSKY, ’19 BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR | PSYCHOLOGY MINOR MASTER OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, GEORGE WASHINGTON

UNIQUE FEATURES OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT HILLSDALE

• Research project in which you’ll work one-on-one with a faculty mentor at either Hillsdale or another institution

• Option of an ACS-certified degree or departmental honors, which requires a senior thesis presentation

• Laboratory assistantship

• LAUREATES summer research program (see pages 14-15)

• American Chemical Society chapter

• Iota Sigma Pi national honor society for women in chemistry

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Non-science majors enroll in Great Principles of Chemistry as a part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit course explores and considers the implications of chemistry’s “big ideas,” why they are important, and the evidence for them. Principles covered include the atomic nature of matter, bonding, intermolecular forces, structure and shape, chemical reactions, and transfer of energy.

Physics Unlocking the Universe

Physics is a specialized form of inquiry into the workings of nature. In particular, physics seeks the most fundamental concepts and their interrelations, known as physical laws, which underlie the panoply of natural phenomena. Although this form of investigation has allowed for the development of numerous life-altering technologies for humanity (radar, cell phones, transistors, engines, etc.), it is ultimately undertaken for its own sake, for human beings possess an innate desire to know about the world around them. Physicists often speak of a hidden beauty revealed by the laws of physics.

The liberal arts are the set of studies intrinsically pursued in virtue of their connection to the deepest and most beautiful truths. Studying these disciplines is an ennobling process. Given the breadth and depth of the purview of physics, it is therefore a natural component of the liberal arts tradition.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY PHYSICS AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale College affords students a level of personal interaction and mentorship between professor and student rarely available at larger institutions. Students will

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

get acquainted with all of the physics faculty members and have plenty of occasions for professional and scholastic development through research opportunities. Our smaller class sizes also allow for physics students to form a learning community where their out-of-class interactions occasion the deeper learning that often accompanies scholarly friendship.

Hillsdale’s physics curriculum is outstanding, offering important courses not usually found at other schools such as a second semester of quantum mechanics and a course in solid state physics. Our faculty members have diverse academic specializations covering all the major research areas of contemporary physics. At Hillsdale, you will study the range of physics from classical to quantum mechanics, condensed matter, atomic and nuclear, astrophysics and general relativity. The courses range from theoretical to experimental, and include indispensable labs such as electronics and computational physics.

Hillsdale’s comprehensive core curriculum provides students a lasting education in the perennial wisdom of the Western Tradition, helping to situate physics within the broader context of knowledge. Students

of physics at Hillsdale College graduate with an uncompromised, excellent, and rigorous foundation in physics itself attended by a true liberal arts experience that prepares students not only for a career, but also for a life of sound character.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PHYSICS MAJOR?

Physics is the most fundamental and universal of the sciences since its principles undergird all natural phenomena. This makes studies in physics useful for any type of scientific pursuit, whether that be academic research, a professional program in medicine or engineering (see page 13), or a job in industry or technology. The study of physics sharpens one’s ability to reason critically, analytically, and quantitatively. Thus, physics majors and minors find themselves employed in a wide range of fields from finance to data science to the military. Physics is also known to be a strong field of study for those interested in pursuing law school. Hillsdale alumni who majored in physics have found careers in physics research, astronomy research, various areas of engineering, material science, computer science, data science, teaching high school science, and military service (including the Nuclear Navy).

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Aerospace Corporation—Hardware and software engineer

• Aunalytics—Junior data scientist

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Cornell University

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Notre Dame College

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GRADUATE-LEVEL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Hillsdale physics students have access to state-of-the-art equipment that includes a Molecular Engineering and Magnetic Actuation lab, including magnetic tweezers, a LowFrequency All-Sky Monitor radio telescope array at Hayden Park, an 8 Tesla superconducting magnet with a cryogenic refrigerator, a high-intensity picosecond laser, an atomic force/ scanning tunneling microscope, an X-ray diffractometer lab with a crystallographic database, a high-resolution Germanium gamma-ray spectrometer and NaI scintillation counter, melt spinner, 3D printer, digital oscilloscopes, vacuum systems, and helium leak detector.

“You’re not hemming yourself in by going to a small school like Hillsdale, but you need to be aware of what area of engineering you want to go into. It’s possible to branch out and do anything in engineering; you just have to chart your course and be ready for post-graduate school. Hillsdale prepared me for graduate school and the workplace. Communication is so much of the job, and being able to present and articulate difficult technical ideas to people is so important.”

—DOMENIC DIGIOVANNI, ’14

PHYSICS MAJOR | ECONOMICS, ENGLISH, AND MATHEMATICS MINORS

DIGITAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ENGINEER FOR NORTHROP GRUMMAN, CINCINNATI, OH

M.S. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, 2017

Society of Physics Students

Astronomy Club

Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society)

Sigma Zeta (Math and Science National Honor Society)

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Non-science majors enroll in Great Principles of Physics as a part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit course explores the power and limitations of science, the application of physics to everyday life, and various topics in astronomy, including historical models of the solar system and the operation of the sun and stars.

Pre-Medicine and Pre-Health Professions

Pre-Medicine | Pre-Health Professions

Students interested in a preprofessional program in medicine or health can major in any subject at Hillsdale College. Most students choose to major in one of the sciences (biochemistry, biology, chemistry, exercise science). However, history, English, and Spanish majors at Hillsdale have gone on to attend medical school. Hillsdale’s core curriculum provides a solid foundation that helps students understand how to think, write, speak, and solve problems. Moreover, this foundation helps them learn how to serve others and, generally, become better human beings. Students also have the opportunity to do research on campus and work directly with faculty.

The following preprofessional programs in the health field are available at Hillsdale:

• Pre-Med (most popular)

• Pre-Pharmacy

• Pre-Veterinary

• Pre-Dental

• Pre-Physician Assistant

• Pre-Physical Therapy

• Pre-Occupational Therapy

• Pre-Podiatry

• Pre-Chiropractic

• Pre-Nursing

• Pre-Optometry

We also work one-on-one with students who have interests in other areas, such as audiology and speech pathology.

Recent Admission to Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, or Physical Therapy Programs

Medical School: Michigan State University, Case Western Reserve, Tufts University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin, Western Michigan University, Wayne State University, Oakland University, University of Toledo, Central Michigan University, Creighton University, Marian University, Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM), West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and many others

Dental School: University of Michigan, Marquette University, University of Detroit-Mercy, University of Louisville, LECOM, and others

Pharmacy School: University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, Wayne State University, Ohio State University, and others

Physical Therapy: Washington University, University of Michigan –Flint, Trine University, University of Pittsburgh, and others

Physician’s Assistant: Baylor College of Medicine, Ashland University, Grand Valley State, Nova Southeastern, University of Toledo, Butler University, and others

Veterinary School: Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin, Midwestern University, and others

“Hillsdale’s preprofessional program and my biochemistry major were exceptional in preparing me for graduate school coursework and my career. Because of my liberal arts education, I have a well-rounded view of the whole person—physical, mental, and spiritual—so I can better serve my patients. You can get into nursing very quickly after Hillsdale; most accelerated programs take about a year. It’s really not that much longer to add to your overall education, plus you get the wonderful experience of four years at Hillsdale.”

—MARY VITA BONVISSUTO, ’21

BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR | MATHEMATICS MINOR

M.S. IN NURSING, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 2023 | NURSE PRACTITIONER, ALLCARE PRIMARY & IMMEDIATE CARE

PREPROFESSIONAL ADVISOR

Incoming freshmen can indicate their preprofessional interest before they enroll in classes. Alternatively, students can reach out directly to the preprofessional advisor (currently Dr. Christopher Hamilton) to indicate their interest. Students are advised on recommended coursework, medical experience, service opportunities, exam preparation, application preparation, and more. This takes place through one-on-one advising meetings and group presentations throughout the year. Additionally, the Career Services Office offers opportunities for job shadowing, professional school fairs, mock interviews, and more.

MCAT

Hillsdale students who take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score an average of 509.3, exceeding the national average of 500.6 (2024 figures).

Pre-Engineering

Hillsdale’s liberal arts curriculum with an emphasis on physics provides an excellent background for the student wishing to pursue engineering. Our physics major grounds students in the fundamental principles that underlie modern engineering. In particular, courses in classical mechanics, electrodynamics, electronics, and thermal physics expose students to the scientific tools of engineering as well as provide a rigorous instruction in the relevant mathematics. Hillsdale pre-engineering students are qualified to pursue many areas, such as aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, electronic, industrial, materials science, or mechanical engineering. Students can choose to study for two years at Hillsdale before transferring to an engineering school, remain a third year for a 3:2 transfer that would allow for a bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale and another bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering school, complete the four-year Hillsdale program and enter an engineering program at the graduate level after graduation, or work in industry. A student interested in going on to engineering after their

time at Hillsdale will work with the pre-engineering advisor, a Physics Department faculty member, on the course of study that will be most advantageous for the student’s particular engineering interest. The pre-engineering advisor will also guide the student in seeking out summer engineering research experiences.

GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSION

Many of our graduates have pursued engineering graduate studies after completing their physics major at Hillsdale College. Specifically, about half of the Hillsdale physics graduates go into engineering either directly or after receiving engineering M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. In the last seven years, all students completing the physics preengineering program have been placed into engineering programs. We have an excellent track record of placing students in elite graduate programs, including programs such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, and the University of California, San Diego.

PREPROFESSIONAL SOCIETY

Students looking toward a future in veterinary, animal science, or animal husbandry careers are welcome to join the Pre-Veterinary Club to take advantage of veterinarian and animal care shadowing opportunities, local volunteer projects, insights into graduate school options and the application process, and visits to veterinary schools.

Get involved in the student group for those interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, and other allied health professions.

LAUREATES

LAUREATES Research Program

Become a part of Hillsdale LAUREATES (Laboratory for Advanced Undergraduate Research Education Adapted for Talented and Extraordinary Students) and you could receive funding to collaborate with a member of the Hillsdale faculty on campus for summer research. This competitive program

Recent LAUREATES Research Projects

Biology

• Effect of Different Grazing Systems and Compost Fertilizer on Total Soil Respiration

• Zingerone, but not Methylglyoxal, reduces Biofilm Formation by blocking Quorum-Sensing in B. subtilis

Chemistry | Biochemistry

• Analysis of Soil Fumigant Emissions by Solid Phase Microextraction with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

• Mutation, Purification, and Analysis of a Soluble Gliadin Mimic

Mathematics

• Differentiability of Harmonic Measure Distribution Functions in Circle Domains

• The Study of Transformers in Natural Language Processors with Respect to Case Law Physics

• A Bow-Shock Pulsar Wind Nebula Search in Deep Images

• Transient Astronomy with the Low-Frequency All-Sky Monitor V

Psychology

• Knowing Our Prosocial Tendency: The Interrelation between Self-Reported, Informant-Reported, and Actual Helping Behavior

• “Mind Over Matter”: The Effect of Mindfulness-Meditation on Physiological Outcomes

is available to students majoring in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and psychology. Students who participate in the sixweek program present a research paper and poster at the annual Spring Research Symposium during Parents Weekend.

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THE G.H. GORDON BIOLOGICAL STATION

Hillsdale’s G.H. Gordon Biological Station at Rockwell Lake is a field research laboratory in northern Michigan. Its 685 acres of fields, forests, marshes, swamps, bogs, a trout stream, and a lake are available to Hillsdale students for both research and leisure. Four dormitories house up to 60 students at a time. A cafeteria, laboratory, and classroom space are also on site. More formal accommodations are available for guests at the Rockwell Lake Lodge (rockwelllakelodge.hillsdale.edu).

Since 2010, nearly 100 Hillsdale College students have conducted their senior thesis projects at the Gordon Biological Station, studying things like spiders, salamanders, and snapping turtles. With a specialty in stream ecology, Hillsdale’s biostation students and faculty have been invited to several other field stations in Michigan to share their expertise. Over half of biostation students have published their research in the professional scientific literature, a normally rare achievement for an undergraduate. In addition, biostation research students have opportunities to present their findings at professional research conferences.

Mathematics | Applied Mathematics Patterns of Truth

The study of mathematics is intrinsically one of seeking truth and exploring connections and patterns between various ideas in nature. It’s a powerful tool for solving practical problems while also being a field of great creativity, combining logic and precision with intuition and imagination. Mathematics is a key aspect of the liberal arts experience, and many students will pursue a second major to explore mathematical connections with other disciplines.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY MATHEMATICS AT HILLSDALE?

Mathematics is about reasoning, finding patterns, and discerning truth. By studying math at Hillsdale, you will be better prepared to solve any number of problems while exploring connections between the liberal arts and the world. Our department offers courses for those interested in the cultural values of the subject as well as for those who require mathematics as a foundation

for professional programs. Above all, mathematics is a fascinating subject that explores and explains the beauty of nature and the world. Mathematics is offered as a major and minor, and applied mathematics is offered as a major only.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MATHEMATICS/ APPLIED MATHEMATICS MAJOR?

Students with a degree in mathematics are some of the most sought-after candidates in the job market. This is due not just to the usefulness of mathematical skills in themselves, but also due to how the study of mathematics imbues a problemsolving mindset that is highly valued in the workplace. Our graduates are currently pursuing careers in teaching, finance, actuarial studies, data analytics, and more. Others are attending graduate programs or law school at institutions including the University of Oxford, the University of Illinois, Purdue University, and the University of Chicago.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Aegis Premier Technologies—Data engineer

• Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company— Financial analyst

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan— Actuarial analyst

• Department of Defense—Computer scientist

• Trek10—Junior cloud architect

• True North Classical Academy—Teacher

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Arizona State University

• Georgia Institute of Technology

• Oxford University

• Purdue University

• University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill

“At Hillsdale, math is not an isolated discipline. You can engage in math in a different way because professors and students are excited about the subject, and there’s an interesting dialogue between math and other academic departments. The Math Department emphasizes the fundamental building blocks and structure of math that you must understand before solving problems. That understanding, coupled with learning how to write papers and construct arguments in my Hillsdale classes, has given me an advantage in graduate school. I am able to read a complex research article and synthesize it into a coherent argument. Hillsdale College is uniquely good at teaching students how to think and to be excited about new ideas.”

—NICHOLAS WEST, ’22

MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS MAJORS

MSC, MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AND SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 2023

MSC, MATHEMATICS (RESEARCH), UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, 2024

PH.D. CANDIDATE, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

UNIQUE FEATURES OF MATHEMATICS AT HILLSDALE

• LAUREATES summer research program that pairs students with a faculty mentor (see pages 14-15)

• Senior thesis students typically present their work at conferences such as the Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Conference and the Michigan sectional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America

• Our students participate in two local and two national competitions each year: the Lower Michigan Math Competition, the Michigan Autumn Take-Home Exam, the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Examination, and the Mathematical Competition in Modeling. We’ve won both of the local competitions recently!

• Kappa Mu Epsilon national mathematics honorary

• Student-led clubs in applied mathematics, coding, and problem-solving

• Mathematics colloquium series

• Weekly departmental lunch

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Non-science majors can enroll in Mathematics and Deductive Reasoning as a part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit course introduces the nature of mathematics and covers content such as Aristotelian logic and deductive reasoning, mathematical arguments and proof, and the study of axiomatic systems like Euclidian geometry.

Computer Science (minor only)

Technology through the Liberal Arts

As computers become ever more central to human life, the study of computer science delves into the essential human questions at play in the liberal arts. Computer science investigates the nature of language, logic, and mind and forms students to see something new in the reality around them. While we certainly do learn to make things, computer science is more than a stack of technological skills. Its study leads to a broad view of the human encounter with the real and enriches our ability to set in motion a truly human civilization both technologically and philosophically grounded in the best our intellectual tradition has to offer.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY COMPUTER SCIENCE AT HILLSDALE?

The study of computer science at Hillsdale College prepares a student both to create and to understand the technological systems shaping our world. Formed by the Hillsdale core, students can build technology that prioritizes human fulfillment, and they can think

and speak in a rich way about the algorithms, artificial intelligences, and other computing issues at play in political, economic, and social spheres.

A serious student of the discipline will develop mind and test character through the rigors of translating natural language to formal, studying in ways both mathematical and philosophical the nature of this thing we call computation, and advancing in a craft capable of changing the world.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MINOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE?

The computer science minor covers the core elements of the discipline and sets the student up well for a career in technology, graduate study in computer science, and a lifetime of creating artifacts and deeply understanding what computers are doing and how to properly think of and interact with them.

“I enjoy peering inside of the black box which is modern-day computers. Learning how these devices actually work from the bottom-up gives insight into human ingenuity in the face of natural phenomena. Moving forward, then, we are better equipped as humans to improve our ways of developing methods to solve problems.”

—GINGER ANDERSON, ’24

APPLIED MATHEMATICS MAJOR | COMPUTER SCIENCE MINOR

UNIQUE FEATURES OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AT HILLSDALE

• Student-led Coding Club

• Mathematics and Computer Science Department Colloquium Series

“Hillsdale’s computer science classes have provided me with a general understanding of computer science and all related fields. I could confidently pick up any new coding language in a few weeks, and, with some googling, be able to perform at a competent level. I have a new appreciation for little things like the interaction of atoms to form a complex compound, eventually resulting in a living breathing human being: a textbook computation. I have been able to discover patterns in nature like a tree growing its branches in a particular way as being an optimization algorithm to minimize biological cost and maximize energy and competitive advantage. I think this program is one that should be taken by any who seek to understand the patterns not only of their computer, but also the physical world around them.”

—JOSHUA CAMP,

’24

APPLIED MATHEMATICS MAJOR | COMPUTER SCIENCE MINOR

The Humanities

Art | Art History | Graphic Design

Classics | Greek | Latin

English

French

German

Journalism

Music

Philosophy | Theology

Rhetoric and Media

Spanish

Theatre and Dance

Loving the Beautiful

Art is a celebration of life and a most noble pursuit—that of beauty. It is not only a skill of the hand, but also an expression of mind and heart.

Hillsdale’s Art Department celebrates the legacy of representational art in the periods between the Renaissance and late 19th century. You’ll examine enduring masterpieces by studying art history, learn how to communicate big ideas through graphic design, and discover how you can use your creative gifts to become a force for beauty in our world.

WHY STUDY ART AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale’s art program is centered around the search for truth and

beauty. To that end, students learn the traditional representational skills central to any art education. At the same time, we strive to make students aware that mere technical mastery should not be the end goal; mastering the craft is simply the most direct way of opening up the possibility of making truly extraordinary work.

As an art student, you will learn how to create works of beauty—whether through painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, or graphic design—and understand the rich history of art and its influence. But even more, you will learn to think critically and see the world in new ways, developing the character and habits necessary for success in all aspects of life.

“As a mom of two young children, my life as an artist ebbs and flows. I currently work out of my home studio, squeezing painting into nap times and evenings. I have my work hanging in a few galleries and shows, sell work on my website, and take commissions.

“I took Julio Suarez’s drawing class my freshman year. I remember doing a negative space drawing exercise and then walking up the hill and seeing Central Hall in a completely different way. The class quite literally changed the way I saw the world; my eyes saw the sky and the building in their truer sense.

“I am most often inspired by the natural world and the everyday. The material for art is life, and this is mine: God’s goodness and grace in the everyday (which really isn’t ordinary after all). I work in both oil paints and watercolors, switching depending on the subject and what I’m trying to accomplish.”

—CAROLINE HENNEKES GREB, ’21 ART MAJOR FINE ARTIST, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

WHAT CAN I DO WITH AN ART MAJOR?

The type of skill-based representational work taught at Hillsdale has seen a resurgence in popularity since the beginning of this century and is sought out by galleries and collectors. Whether doing portrait commissions or painting landscapes, a career as a fine artist is a real possibility for those with an entrepreneurial mindset. Many students have gone on to careers in teaching, graphic design, and photography. Art majors may also pursue advanced degrees in art history, museum studies, or art conservation.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Boomer Construction Materials—Marketing coordinator and general assistant

• James McCrery Architects—Executive assistant

• Michigan News Source—Newspaper photojournalist

• Self-employed artist | graphic designer

• Valor Public Schools—K-5 art teacher

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Art History Graphic Design

Art

UNIQUE FEATURES OF ART AT HILLSDALE

• A focus on teaching representational art

• World-class artists are invited to exhibit at Daughtrey Gallery and often conduct workshops and demonstrations for students

• Alpha Rho Tau art honorary, which will host Hillsdale’s first annual research conference in the visual arts this year

• Senior art exhibits, in which senior art majors are responsible for all aspects of a show of their works created during their time at Hillsdale

• A juried student art competition each semester with cash prizes

• Excursions to art museums both in the Midwest and the East Coast

• Funding to attend conferences and submit applications to art competitions

CORE COMPLEMENTS

The Art Department offers two options for Hillsdale students to fulfill their core requirement in the fine arts: History of Art, Prehistoric to Medieval, and History of Art, Renaissance to Modern. These three-credit survey courses explore the greatest architecture, painting, and sculpture of the Western world from the Paleolithic era to the twentieth century.

The Building Blocks of Modern Civilization

“In company with Sallust, Circero, Tacitus, and Livy, you will learn wisdom and virtue. You will see them represented with all the charms which language and imagination can exhibit, and vice and folly painted in all their deformity and horror. You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen.”

—John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 1781

WHY SHOULD I STUDY CLASSICS AT HILLSDALE?

Economy, Philosophy, Democracy, Republic, Politics— these are Greek and Roman words and institutions, and they

are also concepts at the core of our country and our world. The key to the fullest understanding of our ancient heritage is the study of the Greek and Roman languages. The precision and eloquence of these languages make it impossible to fully appreciate the classical works in translation; therefore, as a Hillsdale classics, Latin, or Greek major, along with taking literature and civilization courses, you’ll be required to gain competence in at least one ancient language. You’ll also be asked to sit for a comprehensive examination your senior year (so we’re sure to be sending you off well-prepared).

The size and vitality of the Classics Department at Hillsdale often rivals that of institutions much larger in size. In an age that looks upon the works of Homer or Virgil as cultural artifacts, Hillsdale sees them instead as vital sources of wisdom and truth that ask important questions about the human experience.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A CLASSICS, GREEK, OR LATIN MAJOR?

A major in classics provides an excellent preparation for a wide variety of academic and professional endeavors. The methodological training and

careful deciphering of classical languages has long been recognized as a respectable preparation for law or medical school; the philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic concepts of antiquity not only lead to a richer understanding of the world, but also provide valuable insights into management and leadership; the proper and precise diction and grammar learned through the study of classical languages can help prepare students for careers in editing, speechwriting, politics, or teaching.

THE PLACES YOU’LL

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Highlands Latin School—Teacher

• Pineapple Cove Classical Academy—Latin teacher

• Sun Life—Product marketing associate

• Paideia Institute- Assistant fellowship manager

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Oxford University

• University of Tübingen

• University of Virginia

• University of Notre Dame

• University of Chicago

Erin spent ten years teaching Latin, Greek, and classical civilization at private classical schools in Texas, and she also served as the grammar school assistant headmaster at a public classical charter school for several years. Since 2019, she has worked in public policy, focusing on fighting for more educational options, including classical education, for all students.

“Studying classics…gave me a new perspective on what a miracle civilization is—one that I’ve taken with me in everything I’ve done since.”

—ERIN DAVIS VALDEZ, ’01

CLASSICS MAJOR

M.A. IN CLASSICS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCUBATOR OF THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN

UNIQUE FEATURES OF CLASSICS | GREEK | LATIN AT HILLSDALE

• Eta Sigma Phi national classics honorary

• Participation in national translation contests

• Student presentations at national conventions

• Homerathon annual 24-hour live reading of Homer’s The Odyssey

• “The Antiquities of Rome” study-abroad course in Italy

CORE COMPLEMENTS

One of the options Hillsdale students can choose to fulfill their Western Literature classical liberal arts core requirement is Greek and Roman Literature and Culture, which explores ancient works of enduring meaning and their influence on the Western Tradition.

English Wonder and Wisdom in Life-Changing Literature

Authentic liberal arts education grants to students a rich heritage, an inheritance of inestimable value: the intellectual, moral, aesthetic, and spiritual traditions of our civilization. This is especially true of the serious study of English language and literature. As the great English poet John Milton memorably put it, “Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them…A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.”

WHY SHOULD I STUDY ENGLISH AT HILLSDALE?

As a Hillsdale English major, you’ll strive for deeper understanding of topics such as beauty, happiness, virtue, freedom, art, and truth. You’ll study works by great writers in small, seminar-style classes with professors who become mentors. You’ll become part of an ambitious and principled community of scholars who share a passion for reading, writing, and the great conversations born of books.

Your study of literature in the American, British, and continental traditions will demand patient reflection, disciplined analysis, and challenging conversation, but will reward you by forming your judgment and intuition. What’s more, you’ll notice

your communication skills are increased and refined, especially in writing.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH AN ENGLISH MAJOR?

Many Hillsdale English majors have chosen to continue their studies at the graduate level. With its emphasis on analytical thinking and the careful expression of ideas, the English major has long been recognized as an excellent preparation for the study of law. Hillsdale English majors and minors have also followed careers in journalism, publishing, government service, business, medicine, public relations, and education. More and more often, employers are seeking people who can formulate ideas and express them clearly and persuasively.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Altus Marketing—Account coordinator

• Bloomfield Christian School—Teacher

• First Things—Fellow

• Insight Global—Corporate recruiter

• Kuyper College—Admissions counselor

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Augustine Institute

• New York University

• University of Kansas

• University of Pittsburgh

• Westminster Theological Seminary

UNIQUE FEATURES OF ENGLISH AT HILLSDALE

• Visiting Writers Program brings distinguished writers to campus for lectures and workshops. Past Visiting Writers include Dana Gioia, Chigozie Obioma, Mark Helprin, Linda Gregerson, and Czeslaw Milosz.

• Creative Writing Honors Program is a special course offered once each academic year led by internationally recognized Nigerian novelist Chigozie Obioma. The course is taught in a hybrid format, both online and in person during a weeklong residency.

• Creative Writing Awards are monetary prizes available through annual competitions.

• Shakespeare Society student club

• The campus Writing Center provides opportunities for trained peer tutors to work with other students who need help with any stage of the writing process.

• Study-abroad programs at Oxford University or St. Andrews University

• Shakespeare in the Arb student-led drama troupe performs a Shakespeare play each spring in the College’s Slayton Arboretum (the “Arb”)

CORE COMPLEMENTS

All Hillsdale students enroll in two great books courses as part of the classical liberal arts core: Great Books in the Western Tradition and Great Books in the British and American Traditions. Great Books in Continental Literature is an optional course to fulfill the additional Western Literature core requirement.

French

The joie de vivre of French

Few languages rival French in terms of its beauty and its extraordinary contributions to the fine arts, history, literature, and philosophy. With an emphasis on those liberal arts fundamentals, Hillsdale’s French program offers an exciting opportunity to expand your understanding of France’s influence on the world. You’ll study great French works to draw connections between French culture and your own. You’ll have the option to immerse yourself in the language and French way of life at the Institut de Touraine in Tours, France. You’ll become a member of a global community of over 300 million French speakers by studying the only language alongside English that is taught in every country.

WHY STUDY FRENCH AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale’s French program is particularly strong in literature. You will read great works from all periods of French literature in the original language. Ponder the absurd with Camus and Ionesco, the Enlightenment with Diderot and Rousseau, and medieval chivalry with Chrétien de Troyes. Advanced literature seminars explore topics such as theatrical representation and staging, the fantastic in 19th and 20th-century literature, and perspectives on the principle of laïcité. In addition to literature courses, French majors and minors take a selection of courses in French civilization, advanced

conversation and grammar, and French for business. Beginning and intermediate French classes focus on the rich cultural traditions of the Francophone world. You’ll read about the popularity of extreme sports on the island of La Réunion along the coast of Africa, the rich chocolate traditions found in Switzerland and Belgium, and the job experiences of a special news correspondent in Canada.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A FRENCH MAJOR?

Possessing skills in a second language can give you an advantage in any number of professional fields. Learning a second language takes determination and regular practice. Living in another country helps you develop empathy, flexibility, resilience, and other important life skills. French majors find careers in education in the United States or abroad, diplomatic service, the military, international business, marketing, and the Peace Corps; or go to graduate school for medicine, law, or countless other fields.

Most importantly, your knowledge of French language and culture will open a door for you into a whole new world, rich with history, philosophical and political arguments, artistic creations, problems, and solutions, as well as the pure intellectual joy that comes from learning something new.

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STUDY ABROAD

Students can study abroad at the Institut de Touraine in Tours, France, over a summer or a semester. An experience of complete immersion is one of the most effective and memorable ways to achieve fluency in a language. Coursework transfers back as French credit. Hillsdale students live with a French host family and attend classes for 21 hours a week, all in French, with instructors specialized in teaching French as a foreign language. The Institute welcomes students from around the world to study French. There are numerous opportunities to explore the castles of the Loire Valley, Mont Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo, and Paris. The French Department encourages all majors and minors to study abroad during their time at Hillsdale College, and scholarship opportunities are available. Hillsdale students who have studied in Tours always say it was one of their best college experiences.

“My French education was superior. I had top-tier professors, and Hillsdale has built a broad and rooted program in truth and good books. I was lucky enough to study abroad several times and live in France for seven months after graduation. There’s no way the classroom can substitute the actual experience in the country surrounded by the language. Languages are so complex and individual to each community and people. They not only reflect our way of thinking, but also shape it. I’ve learned in my years of teaching that learning a language takes a long time. We should have grace for ourselves as we begin to acquire a second or third language.”

—LAURA KLEVEN,

’19

FRENCH MAJOR FRENCH 2 & 4 HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT MONTE VISTA GREAT HEARTS ACADEMY, TEXAS

UNIQUE FEATURES OF FRENCH AT HILLSDALE

• Creative writing assignments from writing poetry in French to performing a play co-written with your classmates.

• Work as a department tutor for beginning and intermediate students.

• Workshops with artists and researchers from France. Recent campus visitors include Boubacar Ndiaye, a French-Senegalese griot and storyteller; Yves Citton, a professor and author; and Patrice Pavis, a theatre scholar.

• Pi Delta Phi French honorary hosts activities such as film nights and excursions to museum exhibits, restaurants, or the opera in cities such as Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Detroit.

• Speak French at the weekly French table in the dining hall.

CORE COMPLEMENTS

For students pursuing the bachelor of arts degree, a 12-semester-hour competency level in French, German, Spanish, Latin, or Greek is required. If, after a placement examination, you place at the 201 level or higher, one semester of language study at Hillsdale satisfies the requirement.

Among the options Hillsdale students have to fulfill their Western Literature classical liberal arts requirement is any 400-level literature course in French, German, or Spanish.

German A Germane Study of German

The influence of German culture in America is unmistakable. From luxury cars, classical music, and church history, to beer and bratwurst, the language, culture, and history of the German-speaking world has much to offer. As a German major, you will gain an appreciation for Germany’s contributions to the arts, literature, business, and theology while also understanding its complex history and continuing importance in the Western world.

WHY STUDY GERMAN AT HILLSDALE?

Studying foreign languages is a quintessential element of the liberal arts. Hillsdale’s German program will introduce you not only to one of the world’s major languages, but also to the people, culture, literature, art,

STUDY ABROAD

music, and history of German-speaking countries—with classes taught in German from the start. You’ll become more aware of your own language and culture as you grow in proficiency in both written and spoken German. You’ll have the option to immerse yourself in German language and culture at one of Hillsdale’s two study-abroad programs in Germany. Studying German gives you access to a rich cultural heritage, connects you to what is happening outside the borders of your own country, and invests you in communities worldwide—valuable for business, travel, and future study in many disciplines.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A GERMAN MAJOR?

German pairs well with other majors like business, art, English, philosophy,

and history. Some students go into business and work for German-owned companies in the U.S., but a number of Hillsdale graduates in German have gone on to medical school or law school or other graduate programs. Hillsdale’s German Department boasts graduates who have gone on to receive Ph.D.s not only in German, but also in history, business, English, linguistics, theology, politics, and sustainability studies. More than 20 students have graduated from our program and gone on to graduate school in the past 10 years. Other students go into teaching at the secondary or college level. Studying German in isolation from other disciplines is a rare exception, but in tandem with other majors and minors at the undergraduate level, German is a fun and very doable second major or minor.

Hillsdale’s German program offers two unique study-abroad options: the Summer Study Program in Würzburg, Germany, and the Semester Exchange Program with the Universität des Saarlandes in Saarbrücken, Germany. The month-long Würzburg program, held in one of Germany’s oldest and most beautiful university towns, features an immersive program of language and culture learning taught by Hillsdale German faculty. Students enjoy numerous cultural activities and excursions outside of class, including trips to Berlin, Munich, and a theatre trip. Students participating in the Saarbrücken program may elect any field of study for which they are interested but should devote at least one-third of their coursework to German language and literature classes. Scholarship aid is available for both programs.

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“At Hillsdale, I had models of admiration and love in my professors, who were genuinely enthusiastic and in love with the material they were presenting. I feel like I teach students how to love literature in a more informed and rigorous way, and that’s something I took away from Hillsdale. Also, Hillsdale professors are outstanding role models of excellence in the classroom. It was inspiring and influential to sit in the classrooms of such phenomenal professors. I’m just beginning to learn what that looks like for me, to be a good teacher.”

—EMILY GOODLING, ’14

GERMAN AND LATIN MAJORS

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GERMAN, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

M.A., JOHANNES GUTENBERG UNIVERSITÄT, MAINZ, GERMANY, 2016

PH.D., STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 2021

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research—Teacher

• Catholic Diocese of Lansing—Admissions and communications assistant

• Enterprise Holdings—Management trainee

• Valor Public Schools—Teacher

• World Language Initiative—German coach

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• George Mason University

• The Ohio State University

• Wright State University

UNIQUE FEATURES OF GERMAN AT HILLSDALE

• Delta Phi Alpha German honorary sponsors events including our yearly Oktoberfest and Kaffee und Kuchen lecture series.

• Speak German at the weekly German Stammtisch (lunch table) in the dining hall.

• Regular showings of German films and excursions to local German events.

• Students are also encouraged and supported in submitting undergraduate research projects for presentation at regional conferences.

• Work as a department tutor for beginning and intermediate students.

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Among the options Hillsdale students have to fulfill their Western Literature classical liberal arts requirement is any 400-level literature course in French, German, or Spanish.

Voices of Truth

In an age when anyone can instantly disseminate their thoughts through a vast array of channels, well-informed, professional communication—print, digital, or audio—is more important than ever. The Herbert H. Dow II Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale offers students training in the fundamentals of journalism and broadcasting through practical learning, internships, and seminars with practicing journalists. Students with a journalism minor learn to write and speak well, which helps with any career— and especially with a career in the media.

WHY STUDY JOURNALISM AT HILLSDALE?

You learn journalism by doing journalism, which means learning to write and edit by working at the campus newspaper (ranked annually as a top campus paper by Princeton Review) and learning to talk and

produce at the campus radio station (best in the state, according to Michigan Broadcasters Association). Courses include: “Political Journalism,” “Sportswriting,” “Elements of a Talk Show,” “George Orwell,” and “Documentary Filmmaking.” The program director, John J. Miller, has enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism, including 25+ years as a writer and podcaster for National Review

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A JOURNALISM MINOR?

Hillsdale boasts three alumni working on the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal as well as three alumni working in the White House press pool. Our grads also hold prominent positions with FOX News, USA Today, National Review, The Daily Wire, The Daily Signal, RealClearPolitics, the Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and more.

“I did not intend to pursue journalism, but I ended up writing for the Collegian my freshman year and made journalism my minor by sophomore year. Professor John Miller has always been a mentor of mine. His advanced writing class was great in that it not only improved practically writing articles, but other papers for other classes. Write as much as possible for the Collegian and outside publications. Pitch a piece to the Examiner, or to the Daily Caller, or some of the other D.C.-based publications. Building that portfolio is really important because it also helps build connections with the editors who are in charge of giving jobs.”

—KAYLEE MCGHEE WHITE, ’19 POLITICS MAJOR | JOURNALISM MINOR

“RESTORING AMERICA” AND OP-ED EDITOR FOR THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

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MIRANDA DEVINE COLUMNIST, NEW YORK POST

UNIQUE FEATURES OF JOURNALISM AT HILLSDALE

• The program offers many scholarships, which are reserved for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who pursue the minor in journalism.

• We help students find internships, and often can support them financially. Later, we help with job placement

• Students routinely win awards in state and national competitions.

• All students are welcome to write for the campus newspaper and work at the radio station, even if they don’t pursue the minor in journalism.

• Distinguished Visiting Journalists: Every semester, a distinguished journalist visits campus and teaches a one-credit course; recent guests have included Miranda Devine of the New York Post and Dominic Green of The Wall Street Journal We also bring speakers each semester, such as Megan Basham of the Daily Wire, Melinda Henneberger of the Kansas City Star, and Kyle Mann of the Babylon Bee

• At the campus radio station—WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM, students can host their own shows and call play-by-play for football and basketball games.

Beauty in Harmony

Music, as the study of proportion and harmony, is one of the original seven liberal arts. More than that, music is as relevant today as ever for those who cherish beauty as an essential part of human flourishing. Recognizing such beauty requires keen judgement formed from a rich measure of understanding, and this is the essence of music as an ongoing discipline within Western civilization.

WHY STUDY MUSIC AT HILLSDALE?

Students with a love of music will discover many ways of pursuing it at Hillsdale, from individual lessons and a rich ensemble program to courses in the history, theory, and cultural heritage of music. Serious musicians and enthusiasts alike will find a

robust community focused on music as a vibrant performing art and time-honored discipline within Western civilization. Music is open to students of any major at Hillsdale, and more than a quarter of the student body participates in performance ensembles.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MUSIC MAJOR?

The major course of study is modeled after a traditional conservatory curriculum, and designed to provide foundational knowledge and technical skills necessary for students to pursue lives in music after graduation, whether professionally or as part of another vocation. The minor course of study is similarly meant to provide foundational training and experience, focused on both

applied and academic study as a starting point for students to continue to develop as musicians throughout their lives.

Hillsdale graduates have gone on to advanced study and professional careers in music, attending such esteemed graduate programs as the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the University of Colorado–Boulder, the University of North Texas, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan. Many of our graduates also use their musical training as classroom teachers, especially in classical academies, and as church musicians.

PERFORMANCE SPACES

Hillsdale College musicians perform in Christ Chapel, the Searle Center’s Plaster Auditorium, Markel Auditorium in the Fine Arts Building, and McNamara Rehearsal Hall and Conrad Recital Hall in the Howard Music Building.

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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

The John E.N. and Dede Howard Department of Music presents more than 100 concerts every year, from individual student recitals to professional performances by faculty and special guests. Hillsdale students also have opportunities to perform in master classes with guest artists several times every year. Students taking lessons are able to make use of the department’s collection of instruments and to compete in the yearly concerto and aria competition, with winners featured as guest performers with the Hillsdale Symphony Orchestra.

The Hillsdale Chapel Choir is the resident ensemble of Hillsdale College’s Christ Chapel, presenting weekly choral services as well as numerous concert performances throughout the year. Membership is by audition.

The Hillsdale College Choir is the foundational ensemble of our vocal program and the oldest established college choir in the state of Michigan, open to all students with a love of singing.

The Hillsdale Chamber Choir is an auditioned group of select students from the College Choir, with a focus on a cappella repertoire and additional performances throughout the year.

The Hillsdale Symphony Orchestra focuses on traditional symphonic repertoire of the Western canon, with numerous performances throughout the year. This ensemble is open to all students by audition or by recommendation of their studio teachers.

The Hillsdale College Big Band performs a variety of jazz standards and new compositions in several concerts throughout the year, often featuring celebrated guest artists alongside student soloists. Membership is by audition.

Additional performing ensembles include the Jazz Collective, Opera Workshop, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and various chamber groups and jazz combos. Students also have the opportunity to perform in musical theatre productions presented in collaboration with the Theatre Department, typically once a year.

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Students have two options in music to satisfy the fine arts requirement of the classical liberal arts core. The Understanding of Music is an introduction for students with no previous experience, and Advanced Understanding of Music is intended for students with some prior musical experience, including the ability to read notation.

Philosophy and Theology Eternal Questions

Philosophy means “love of wisdom.” Wisdom is not mere information about some particular subject; it is a grappling with the whole of reality. Philosophy begins in wonder, which incites reason to seek the truth about the most fundamental human questions: “Why do I exist?” “What is good and right?” “What is the nature of reality?” Theology sets fundamental questions in relation to the eternal. Our natural curiosity about the Divine—whether contemplated in revelatory texts or in traces of divinity in the material order—prompts us to press our investigations beyond particular

disciplinary bounds, to consider knowledge and purpose with ultimacy and eternity at stake.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY AT HILLSDALE?

Philosophy and theology have developed together in the West, and it is impossible to consider them in isolation. Hillsdale combines these disciplines into a single department. Through broad and intensive reading in classical and contemporary texts, rigorous logical analysis, and reflective evaluation, philosophy classes at Hillsdale will encourage your growth not only in knowledge and

virtue, but in judgment, taste, and wisdom as well. Students of theology don’t stop with the question of what to do or to believe. Theirs is the larger question of “Why?” Theology classes will help you explore the classical theological traditions in their most thoughtful reflections on our finite aspirations to grasp the infinite. Due to its commitment to interdisciplinary study, the department also offers a third, combined major in philosophy and theology.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PHILOSOPHY AND/OR THEOLOGY MAJOR ?

Like any liberal arts major,

philosophy or theology will prepare a graduate for virtually any vocation. The emphasis on critical and logical thought makes either major ideal for careers requiring clear communication, persuasive reasoning, abstract thinking, or creative problem solving. Hillsdale alumni have continued their study at the best graduate schools for philosophy and theology. Other students have gone on to pursue careers in ministry, education, business, urban planning, law, and medicine.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Alliance Defending Freedom—Project coordinator

• Ascent Classical Academies—Teacher

• Classic Learning Test—Email marketing manager

• Covenant Classical Christian School—Teacher

• Niekamp Law Ltd.—Legal assistant

• Seton Education Partners—Fellow

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Arizona State Law

• Concordia Theological Seminary

• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

• University of Miami

• University of Notre Dame

“Studying philosophy is a good thing to do if you’re curious about everything. It’s also very applicable because even though I am not dealing with philosophy on the surface, I have the ability to perceive, describe, articulate, ask questions, and communicate.”

—MADELINE JOHNSON, ’17

PHILOSOPHY MAJOR

PROGRAM MANAGER, CHURCH PROPERTIES

OF NOTRE DAME

UNIQUE FEATURES OF PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY AT HILLSDALE

• C.S. Lewis Society, which promotes the thought of C.S. Lewis

• Thomistic Institute chapter, which organizes guest lectures and reading groups that explore the Christian intellectual tradition, especially in dialogue with Aquinas

• Annual Gershom Lecture that promotes Jewish thought and Christian-Jewish dialogue

• Annual Kieft Lecture on Religious Freedom, Christian Expression, and Dialogue

• A C.S. Lewis course taught each semester by noted C.S. Lewis scholar Michael Ward

• Phi Sigma Tau national honorary for philosophy

• Theta Alpha Kappa national honorary for religion and theology

• Formal Logic Club, which encourages formal logic as a means of pursuing truth and clarity in discourse

• Student-led faith-based organizations, including Anglican Fellowship, Catholic Society, Jewish Mishpacha, Equip Ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Lutheran Society, and LatterDay Saints Student Fellowship

• Annual Faith In Life Lecture that considers the intersection of theology and religious practice

CORE COMPLEMENTS

All Hillsdale students enroll in both the Western Philosophical Tradition and the Western Theological Tradition as part of the classical liberal arts core. These three-credit survey courses explore the development of philosophy and theology and their influences throughout Western thought and culture.

Rhetoric and Media

The Art of Communicating

Rhetoric is classically a productive art, aimed at generating oratory and public speech, and taught to free persons of social standing. As a productive art and practice, rhetoric provides means for public, scholarly, and interpersonal engagement. The study of rhetoric and media at Hillsdale preserves this legacy while expanding rhetoric’s scope to include a broad-based education in the history, theory, and criticism of both the modes and means of communication. It seeks to convey a broad range of heuristic schemes for interpreting and analyzing how people use cultural symbols and

media technologies to make meaning, apprehend reality, articulate values, and order experience.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY RHETORIC AND MEDIA AT HILLSDALE?

Rhetoric and media students learn about the ways and means through which human beings shape and are shaped by their symbolic and technological environments. You’ll study how the connections between people and things—whether through speech, writing, images, digital code, or sound—affect the forms and patterns of human consciousness and co-existence.

You will gain an appreciative, critical understanding of how rhetoric and media influence our social and political organizations, sense of identity and community, traditions and time-binding practices, our worldview and way of life, and almost every other aspect of lived reality.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A RHETORIC AND MEDIA MAJOR?

Rhetoric and media graduates can use their knowledge of communication and their ability to articulate ideas in a clear, skillful, and persuasive manner to pursue careers in public relations, advertising,

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Daily Caller News Foundation—Political reporter

• Epic—Technical solutions engineer

• Insight Global—Recruiter

• The KAIROS Company—Project assistant

• One America News Network—Florida correspondent

journalism, policy research, law, politics, teaching, business and finance, ministry, and human relations, among others. Hillsdale graduates in rhetoric and media have pursued careers in the fields of radio, journalism, computer programming, consultancy, think-tank research, teaching, speechwriting, regional and national politics, luxury travel advising, creative development, human relations, and even biotechnology. Some go on to attend law schools, including the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia.

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Ball State University

• George Mason University

“I believe I got the most liberal arts experience with my major because I studied every subject through the lens of rhetoric. Not only will the rhetoric and media major make you a really good thinker and writer, but it will also help you learn how to take facts and form a persuasive argument. I studied marketing campaigns and messaging, and how aesthetics influences people. I learned to pay attention to details and how to add those details into your argument or presentation. I also learned how to carry myself. These skills are applicable to any field you pursue.”

—REAGAN REESE GENSIEJEWSKI, ’22

RHETORIC AND MEDIA MAJOR | JOURNALISM MINOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, THE DAILY CALLER

UNIQUE FEATURES OF RHETORIC AND MEDIA AT HILLSDALE

• Annual Edward Everett Prize in Oratory, an endowed, all-college persuasive oratory competition featuring a $3,000 grand prize

• College internships in a number of areas including media, advertising, public relations, research writing, publishing, video production, and broadcasting

• Research opportunities such as faculty research assistantships, an honors thesis, and academic conferences (both regional and national)

• Lambda Pi Eta academic communication honorary

• Pi Kappa Delta competitive speaking or forensics honorary

• Mock Trial Team (currently in the top 4 nationally)

• Debate Team (nationally ranked in Parliamentary Debate)

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Every Hillsdale student enrolls in Classical Logic and Rhetoric as part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit course situates a student’s understanding of the material of logic and rhetoric within its intellectual and practical constructions, and it provides a relational understanding of these “arts of the word” among the liberal arts and sciences.

Spanish

A World of Possibilities

The United States is on track to become the world’s biggest Spanishspeaking nation by 2050. As a Spanish major, you’ll be equipped to communicate more broadly and effectively in our increasingly bilingual society. You’ll be given access to the best that has been thought or said in the Spanish-speaking cultures and learn to experience directly, rather than in translation, the history and literature of Spanish civilization. A mastery of the Spanish language is not only important for communicating in the near future, but also a vital skill across industries—domestic and international.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY SPANISH AT HILLSDALE?

As you develop your knowledge of the language, literature, history, and cultures of Iberia and Latin America, you will grow in your ability to understand literary, scientific, and theological texts from around the world. Furthermore, as you develop your ability to speak with

clarity and precision in Spanish, you will enrich your life and career opportunities by being better able to connect with Spanish speakers at home and abroad. You’ll also find that your study of Spanish will help you to communicate better in English, as studies have shown.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SPANISH MAJOR?

As a true liberal arts major, the Spanish major is versatile, and our graduates enter a variety of career paths. Many become teachers, but many others go on to graduate school in law, medicine, Spanish, or other fields. The Spanish major also pairs well with several other majors and opens doors in careers from biology and mathematics to philosophy, business, and law enforcement.

Charity works for a non-profit that assists immigrant and refugee families. She helps them with finding jobs, housing, and schooling.

“My professors’ passion for Spanish language and culture made me really appreciate my heritage and encouraged me to keep speaking the language and not lose vocabulary. We also read books by authors from all over the Spanish-speaking world, which expanded my vocabulary to include idioms from different Latin American countries. This was helpful because every day I speak with families from all over Latin America who have different accents and vocabulary. I love working with the Spanish-speaking community.”

—CHARITY TYNE-PATRICK, ’21

SPANISH MAJOR

FAMILY CASE MANAGER AT HEARTFELT TIDBITS, CINCINNATI, OH

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STUDY ABROAD

Hillsdale offers qualified students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Spanishspeaking culture and study for a summer or a semester either in cooperation with the Center for Cross-Cultural Study in Spain, Argentina, or Puerto Rico, or on shorter, professorled trips to Spain or Latin America. Admission to these programs is normally restricted to students who have taken two years of college-level Spanish.

THE

PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• The American Spectator—Associate editor

• Great Hearts Academies—Teacher

• Meddeas—Language assistant

• NALCAP—Conversation assistant

• Orthopedic Rehab Specialists Physical Therapy— Physical therapy aide

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Baylor College of Medicine

• Indiana University Bloomington

• Universidad de Alcalá de Henares

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SPANISH AT HILLSDALE

• Sigma Delta Pi national Spanish honorary that hosts activities such as Spanish trivia night, lectures, and excursions to museum exhibits or restaurants

• Iberian and Latin American Film Series that showcases films from Spanish-speaking countries

• Speak Spanish at the weekly Spanish table in the dining hall

• Work as a department tutor for beginning and intermediate students

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Among the options Hillsdale students have to fulfill their Western Literature classical liberal arts requirement is any 400-level literature course in French, German, or Spanish.

Theatre | Dance

Bridging the Liberal Arts

Theatre is the voice of the liberal arts. It is a tool for expressing humanity’s curiosity and desire to understand its place in the world. Theatre draws upon literature, visual art, music, history, politics, theology, and psychology, among other subjects, and is a vehicle for exploring a community’s collective concerns.

As one of the finest liberal arts institutions, Hillsdale College and its students understand that life is more than one’s livelihood; it is a call to pursue what is good, true, and beautiful. The theatre represents all of these things. Its goodness stems from the qualities it instills in our students and the way it blesses our communities. It reflects the truth of centuries of human knowledge and experience. Its beauty manifests not only in a performance, which is finite, but also in its lasting and transformational impact.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY THEATRE AND DANCE AT HILLSDALE?

The Theatre and Dance Department offers a robust curriculum rooted in the liberal arts. We teach a comprehensive range of courses on acting, directing, playwriting, and theatrical design, as well as a rigorous theatre history course sequence, all of which take their cues from Hillsdale’s curriculum and mission.

Our studio courses—like acting, directing, and playwriting—are taught by professors with professional experience in the industry. We do not seek merely to train the next generation of theatre artists, but to cultivate minds and hearts that will create art of lasting value.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Our seminar courses—such as theatre history and dramaturgy— are taught by accomplished scholars who challenge students to understand the art and practice of theatre as foundational elements of Western culture.

Tower Players, Hillsdale College’s resident theatre company, produces four theatrical productions and two dance concerts per year, providing outstanding opportunities for students on stage and behind the scenes. With works ranging from ancient classics and Shakespeare, to American musicals, to promising student playwrights, Tower Players has been the center of theatrical life on campus for over 75 years. All students are welcome and encouraged to be involved in campus productions.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A THEATRE MAJOR AND/OR DANCE MINOR?

Hillsdale theatre alumni work in just about every field imaginable. Many have had careers in professional theatre as actors, directors, playwrights, designers, or in arts management. Our graduates have appeared on and designed for Broadway and in major venues across the country. Some have written screenplays for films and TV series. Many excel as educators in college or K-12 classrooms. Alumni routinely report that their work in the Department of Theatre and Dance successfully equipped them for graduate school, law school, or as professionals in other fields. This is not surprising; our philosophy is to help students to situate their craft in ways that will enrich and benefit them no matter what path their lives may take.

“I studied theatre and economics at the same time. Economics is a social science and theatre is a study of conflict resolution—or lack thereof. It all comes down to understanding people—their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. I think theatre is one of the best modes of developing empathy. I truly believe I have a better understanding of the good, the true, and the beautiful because of the Hillsdale College theatre program.”

—CAITLIN GRACE, ’12

THEATRE AND ECONOMICS MAJORS

STUNT PERFORMER | INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THEATRE AND DANCE AT HILLSDALE

• Tower Players resident theatre company offers opportunities for students to participate in three plays, a musical, and staged readings each year. Students can take the stage as actors and directors, or learn valuable skills in the scenic, lighting, or costume shops.

• Professional Artists Series brings professional theatre and dance artists to Hillsdale for public performances and master classes with students.

• Annual departmental trip to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, where our students experience world-class theatre in an unforgettable setting.

• Annual regional conference of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where students meet peers from across the region to attend productions and participate in workshops and competitions. Our students routinely place as finalists in acting, musical theatre, playwriting, dramaturgy, and other competitions.

• Tower Dancers resident dance company offers opportunities for students to participate in two annual fully staged productions

• Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society. The Hillsdale chapter provides support for Hillsdale’s Tower Players productions, celebrates the work of students who have participated in theatre, and performs community service.

• Local chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts

CORE COMPLEMENTS

One of the courses students can choose to fulfill the Fine Arts requirement of the classical liberal arts core is Understanding Theatre. Through readings, lectures, discussion, live performances, video presentations, and creative projects, students learn the basic concepts and terms necessary to appreciate theatre as an art and its development as an expression of Western culture.

The Social Sciences

Business

(Accounting | Financial Management | International Studies in Business and Foreign Language | Marketing)

Economics | Political Economy

History | Military History and Strategy

Education

(Classical Education and Early Childhood Education)

Politics

Hillsdale in D.C.

Pre-Law

Psychology

Military Leadership

American Studies

Sociology and Social Thought

Sport Studies

(Exercise Science | Physical Education | Sport Management)

Business: Accounting | Financial Management | International Studies in Business and Foreign Language | Marketing

Preserving Freedom through Commerce

Without liberty, free enterprise would be impossible, but by the same token, a thriving commercial society is integral to preserving freedom. At Hillsdale, we recognize the importance of business in a healthy society and seek to educate the next generation of business leaders. However, we reject an approach to business education emphasizing simple, narrow, functional specialization. To successfully contribute to an enterprise, businesspeople must understand the organization’s mission from a holistic perspective—it is not sufficient to have “know-how,” but also “know why.” Thus, our accounting, finance, and marketing majors understand how their expertise fits into the overall objectives of the organizations they help lead. We do not view business education as being in opposition to the classical liberal arts but as a complement to it.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY BUSINESS AT HILLSDALE?

All majors and minors are required to first take “Enterprise in a Commercial Republic,” Hillsdale’s introduction to the historical role of business in the American Experiment accomplished through a discussion of the strategic issues that have confronted managers in the past, present, and future. You will then complete coursework

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Amazon—Senior customer success manager, transportation manager

• Clayton & McKervey, P.C.—Tax accountant

• Clifton Larson Allen—Tax Associate

• Dell Technologies—Inside sales representative

• Deloitte—Risk and financial advisory analyst, staff accountant

• Denver Broncos Football Club— Corporate partnerships associate

• J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.—Financial advisor program, private banking analyst

in both a generalist business core and in a major field of study in accounting, finance, or marketing. Your Hillsdale business education concludes with a capstone experience calling upon you to use your acquired business expertise in an integrated and analytical manner to solve real-world business problems.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BUSINESS MAJOR?

Hillsdale’s intensified business coursework prepares majors for placement immediately upon graduation. Big Four accounting firms, major financial services firms, and major corporations recruit employees from Hillsdale year after year due to the successful performance of our graduates. Business coursework at Hillsdale challenges majors to master business concepts ranging from financial performance to consumer behavior, while sharpening their strategic thinking. Coupled with a liberal arts background, business students develop valuable skills—like quantitative analysis, persuasion, storytelling, teamwork, and leadership—that are transferable to many career roles. Firms hiring Hillsdale graduates include Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young, Amazon, General Motors, General Dynamics, Northern Trust, and UBS.

• Partners Group—Private equity analyst

• Plante Moran - Auditor and tax staff

• SC&H Capital—Investment banking associate

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Michigan State University

• Oxford University

• University of Michigan

• University of Notre Dame

FOUR BUSINESS MAJORS

ACCOUNTING

Accounting is the backbone of all successful businesses. You’ll become fluent in best business practices, tax law, principles of auditing, and how to interpret information in both an economic and social context.

“I started to think seriously about a career in accounting when I saw the relationships my mom, who was an accountant, had with her clients, and it inspired me. I loved Hillsdale’s accounting professors and classes. As a student, I volunteered with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. It provided the opportunity to get real-world experience doing taxes while also helping people in the community.

“As a Hillsdale student, I did an internship for a semester at Moss Adams, where I have worked since graduating. The manager who interviewed me told me that my ability to write well and communicate articulately really stood out. One of Hillsdale’s strengths is that it equips you with a well-rounded background in addition to the skills you acquire in your major. I also benefitted from my interactions with friends who were majoring in other fields. I learned from them and also further developed skills in listening to people and communicating with different audiences, skills I use in my job as I work with clients from a variety of backgrounds.”

—MARGARET FREELAND GASSNER, ’14

ACCOUNTING AND GERMAN MAJORS

TAX SENIOR MANAGER AT MOSS ADAMS, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Study markets, investments, best practices, and efficient management, and learn how financial decisions yield powerful results for any industry.

“Earning a finance degree from Hillsdale College gave me valuable tools needed for success in the business world. The coursework was rigorous and taught me how to think critically, analyze problems, and communicate my creative solutions effectively. I appreciate how invested the professors were in my development while I was on campus, as well as their continued support after graduation. The concentrated one-on-one time with the professors has given me a comfort level with seasoned operators in the business world that sets me apart from my peers. For anyone considering a career in business, Hillsdale College offers an education that is both practical and grounded in strong values.”

—CALVIN ANDREWS, ’22

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MAJOR

INVESTMENT ANALYST, ASSET MANAGER, DORMIE CAPITAL PARTNERS, DENVER, COLORADO

MARKETING

Jumpstart your career in a dynamic global business climate by developing the needed skills to cater to consumers, develop products and services, and communicate your mission across channels.

“Studying marketing at Hillsdale gave me a language to talk about and understand business, but my liberal arts education gave me the greatest context to become a business leader. From my freshman core courses in English, history, and religion, to senior-year capstone courses in business and leadership, Hillsdale fostered an environment of constructive learning focused on the foundations of education— what is good, true, and beautiful—and what is the highest and ultimate good. That education, paired with opportunities to lead—as founding president of Students in Free Enterprise, among others—and fantastic conversations with classmates and friends who sharpened me, challenged me to understand what it means to be a mission-driven business leader.”

—SAMUEL RUSSELL, ’08

MARKETING MAJOR

CEO, THE BUTTERED BISCUIT RESTAURANTS

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN BUSINESS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE

This interdisciplinary major combines language study with business fundamentals to prepare you for a 21stcentury career in business, international government, or public administration. The respective expertise of our foreign language faculty and those in the Economics, Business, and Accounting Department will give you a running start on a global career.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF BUSINESS AT HILLSDALE

• Center for Commerce and Freedom, which sponsors an annual conference as well as two undergraduate fellowship programs:

U Ben Franklin Fellowships offer studies in business and an annual trip to a center of commerce such as New York City

U Center for Commerce and Freedom Fellowships offer scholarships and work opportunities with the Center for Commerce and Freedom and with faculty members in the Economics, Business, and Accounting Department

• Small Business Seminar, a weeklong program each December in which students meet with business leaders and develop a personal business plan

• Minors in entrepreneurship and general business

• Coursework relevant to industry success with students achieving very high pass rates on CPA, CFA®, and SIE exams

• Food for Thought: Lunch and Lessons in Leadership executive speakers series

• Accounting Club assists students with networking and exploring careers in accounting

• American Marketing Association student chapter

• Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity that hosts speakers and provides business case competition and networking opportunities

• Investment Club gives students real-life investment experience by managing a portion of the College’s endowment

• Management and Consulting Club provides opportunities for students to participate in business case competitions

• Students from business majors can participate in the Association for Corporate Growth Valuation Cup

• Alpha Mu Alpha honorary recognizing outstanding marketing majors

• Sigma Beta Delta business, management, and administration honorary

Economics | Political Economy Human Action

Economics is about human action. In Hillsdale’s economics program, you’ll receive a solid grounding in modern economic theory, technical tools, and applications to history and contemporary issues. You’ll study mainstream Neoclassical and Austrian theory, and learn how a system of private property rights and freedom of exchange leads people pursuing their own interests to work for the well-being of others. You’ll learn how the market system creates a peaceful, prosperous society, and study alternative systems, including socialism and interventionism. You’ll examine the problems that arise from scarcity of resources

and knowledge, and learn how entrepreneurship and the price system generate knowledge and coordinate society without a central planner. You’ll also receive a good introduction to modeling, problem solving, and data analysis.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY ECONOMICS AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale’s program is set apart by its emphasis on the work of the Austrian School economists such as Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and Israel Kirzner, and Public Choice economists such as James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock. As a Hillsdale

economics major, you’ll develop a deep understanding of how economic ideas and the peaceful practice of commerce have contributed to our Western heritage and freedom.

Hillsdale also offers an interdisciplinary major in political economy that integrates the three disciplines of economics, history, and politics. You’ll use theory and history to understand how economics and political systems help shape the course of history. This focus provides students a unique preparation for law school or future work in business, political, or governmental positions.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH AN ECONOMICS MAJOR?

Hillsdale economics graduates are successful in the job market and in graduate school. Recent graduates have been hired by employers including McKinsey and Co., PwC, the Federal Reserve, Nielsen, Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and The Wall Street Journal. Graduate school placements include Ph.D. programs at Harvard, London School of Economics, George Mason University, University of California–Santa Barbara, Indiana University, and Arizona State University.

“My experience studying in Hillsdale’s Economics Department not only prepared me well for graduate school and my career, but also helped shape the way I think altogether. In an introductory course, my professor helped me quickly realize that economics is not simply about money or the economy but is an analytical toolkit that gives insight into everything we do. I found that the principles of economics and the ideas they inspire are complementary to Hillsdale’s mission. Having the opportunity to study individual actions and thought processes and how they have been able to coordinate to produce the society we know today has given me a unique perspective in everything I participate in and think about—whether analyzing the impacts of policies and regulations, handling day-to-day business tasks, or communicating and discussing thoughts and ideas with others.”

—DREW GODSELL, ’22

ECONOMICS AND GERMAN MAJORS

M.A. IN ECONOMICS, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 2024

M.A. FELLOW, MERCATUS CENTER ANALYST, PATOMAK GLOBAL PARTNERS

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Crowe LLP—Public sector consultant

• Epic—Technical solutions expert

• Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland— Economic research analyst

• Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia— Research assistant

• General Motors—Financial analyst

• Iowa Judicial Branch—Judicial specialist

• Lockheed Martin—Business development analyst

• McKinsey and Co.—Research analyst

• Sentry BioPharma Services, Inc.— Project Manager

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• College of William and Mary

• George Mason University

• Montana State University

• Notre Dame Law School

• University of Michigan

UNIQUE FEATURES OF ECONOMICS AT HILLSDALE

• Study-abroad programs at Regent’s University in London (summer), as well as at the London School of Economics and Oxford University in England, and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland

• Ludwig von Mises Lecture Series that brings notable speakers to campus from the field of economics for a three-day conference

• Von Mises Library, the 2,800-volume personal library of world-renowned Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises, housed in Hillsdale’s Mossey Library

• Praxis political economy student organization that aims to promote interest in studying the relationship between politics and economics, primarily by hosting respected speakers including Israel Kirzner (New York University professor emeritus), Fr. Robert Sirico (Acton Institute), and Lawrence H. White (George Mason University)

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Two courses student can choose to fulfill the social sciences elective requirement of the classical liberal arts core include Introduction to Political Economy, which emphasizes the study of markets, the role of government, and constitutional law; and Principles of Microeconomics, which examines markets, prices, production, costs, competition, monopoly, wages, rent, interest, profits, unions, and international trade.

History | Military History and Strategy (minor only)

The Living Past

To understand the present, we must also understand our past. Studying history allows us to maintain what Edmund Burke called the “eternal contract” between the dead, the living, and the yet unborn. History draws us into the great conversation about those things that Matthew Arnold called “the best of what’s been thought and said.”

WHY STUDY HISTORY AT HILLSDALE?

Though the study of history is certainly “useful,” as a liberal art, it remains a subject of study befitting free people and worthy of investigation for its own sake. Because it brings us face to face with examples of the true, good, and beautiful (and their opposites) throughout time, history has frequently been described as “philosophy teaching by example.” Already in antiquity, then, the Greek historian Polybius could refer to the study of history as “an education in the truest sense.”

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Cedar Classical Academy—Teacher

• Florida Department of Education— Deputy director of research and analytics

• New York Life Insurance and Investments— Insurance producer

• Piper Sandler—Technology investment banking analyst

• The American Spectator—Fellowship

• The Texan—Assistant editor

Hillsdale’s History Department, one of the largest on campus (and among the largest per pupil of any college or university in the U.S.), allows for small class sizes in a broad array of subject offerings—from Ancient Christianity to the Renaissance to the History of the U.S. Presidency. Our curriculum remains traditional and coherent, eschewing current ideological trends, and our professors focus on engaging students in a real conversation with primary source documents.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A HISTORY MAJOR?

The competencies gained in historical study—careful research and reading, critically sifting evidence and weighing arguments, clearly communicating—are indeed eminently “useful.” The skills central to a liberal arts education are those employers of all sorts consistently say they want in employees. The short answer is

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Baylor University

• Boston College

• Concordia Theological Seminary

• Johns Hopkins University

• University of Chicago

that one can do nearly anything with a history degree, and Hillsdale graduates do just that. History majors have found careers in law, politics, government, teaching, archive and museum work, library research and management, and business. Hillsdale history graduates have attended law schools including Harvard University, Yale University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Indiana University, and Pepperdine University. Others have gone on to pursue graduate studies in history at places such as University of St. Andrews (Scotland), The Ohio State University, University of Oxford, University of Kansas, University of Pennsylvania, and Indiana University, among others.

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“I saw in the study of the past a way to come to know myself, my place in the world and in my community, and as a way of helping others come to see that as well. If you’re studying history, do it for its own sake, for the love it. It will be far more rewarding if that’s why you do it.”

—ZACH HOWARD, ’10

HISTORY MAJOR

M.DIV., BETHLEHEM SEMINARY, 2016

M.A., UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, 2019

PH.D., DURHAM UNIVERSITY, 2024

ACADEMIC DEAN AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AND HUMANITIES, BETHLEHEM COLLEGE AND SEMINARY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

MILITARY HISTORY AND STRATEGY MINOR

Unique among American universities and colleges (with the exception of military academies), Hillsdale’s Center for Military History and Strategy offers a minor that is open to all students regardless of their major. Courses prepare students not only for future careers in foreign policy, the intelligence community, the government, or military service, but, above all, for their role as informed citizens. The study of war and strategy is understood to be relevant to all citizens of a constitutional republic with civilian oversight of the military. The Center also brings leaders in the field of military history and strategy to campus each semester to give lectures, which are open to students.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF HISTORY AT HILLSDALE

• American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT) internships

• Study-abroad opportunities at University of Oxford and University of St. Andrews

• Conference and lecture programs with the Center for Military History and Strategy

• Museum Studies interdisciplinary program that offers coursework, senior projects, and local and national internship opportunities for students interested in the preservation of American history

• Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program that brings guest lecturers to campus to teach seminars

• Phi Alpha Theta international history honorary

• Faculty book-release lectures

• Faculty-led travel/study opportunities in Italy, England, France, and Turkey

• Day trips to area museums

• Movie nights

CORE COMPLEMENTS

All Hillsdale students enroll in two heritage courses as part of the classical liberal arts core—The Western Heritage and The American Heritage. Both three-credit survey courses use primary source document readers created by the Hillsdale faculty.

Education (minors only)

Investing in Future Generations

Central to any philosophy of education is one’s understanding of the human person. Human beings are created by God to know themselves, the created order, and their Creator. They are endowed with natural faculties that empower them—to the extent they are able—to grasp the true, the good, and the beautiful. Truth is the proper object of the human mind.

Knowing the truth, willing the good, and apprehending the beautiful lead to true human happiness.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY EDUCATION AT HILLSDALE?

Become a part of the liberal arts tradition and prepare yourself to carry it forward as a teacher at the elementary or

secondary level. As a classical education minor, you’ll gain a broad knowledge based in the seven classical liberal arts—the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music). Early childhood education minors develop an understanding of teaching in preschool through the early elementary grades. With either minor, you’ll become

part of a movement to reclaim education’s role in cultivating wise and virtuous human beings. While Hillsdale does not offer state certification, it does prepare students for teaching in classical and other schools not requiring certification, and it works to prepare students who will go on to certification programs following graduation.

“I found my formation from the classical education program invaluable as a classroom teacher. The professors recognized that teaching is an art to be mastered, not a system to be engineered. The program’s formation in the thought and practice of classical education was eminently practical, though formative beyond its practicality. Rather than bombarding us with inflexible models of education to be discarded the first day in a real classroom, Hillsdale taught us the principles of education that are universally applicable because they are universally human.”

—PATRICK MITCHELL, ’21

PHILOSOPHY MAJOR | MATHEMATICS AND CLASSICAL EDUCATION MINORS

UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY | MATH COORDINATOR

SACRED HEART ACADEMY, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

UNIQUE FEATURES OF EDUCATION AT HILLSDALE

• Liberal Arts Teacher Apprenticeship offers qualified students an opportunity to experience a quality K-12 classical school.

• Mary Proctor Randall Preschool, Hillsdale’s on-campus preschool, where students may begin observing and working with children as early as their freshman year

• Hillsdale Academy, a model K-12 classical school that offers opportunities for observation

• Classical School Job Fair, an annual on-campus event that draws recruiters from classical charter and private schools nationwide to hire Hillsdale seniors as teachers. Our graduates routinely receive multiple offers to teach at the best classical schools in the country.

• Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education offers an M.A. degree for those interested in teaching or administrative positions in classical schools. Students receive a broad philosophical, historical, literary, curricular, and pedagogical perspective on classical education.

• Nearly 80 Hillsdale College Member and Curriculum K-12 Classical Schools nationwide provide employment opportunities for Hillsdale graduates. Currently, over 80 alumni work as teachers or administrators in these schools.

CLASSICAL EDUCATION MINOR

By knowing the rich heritage of the liberal arts tradition and how to teach classically, you’ll excel at the essential role and be much more—a force for change in American education.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MINOR

The finest early education teachers plan curricula based on time-tested theories of how children learn best. This program provides you with a teachingbased framework so you can inspire children at the very beginning of their educational career.

Freedom. Justice. Virtue.

The College’s twin goals—pursuing truth and defending liberty— are inseparable. The most important founder of the Western philosophical tradition, Socrates, made the study of moral and political things his central concern. Nearly all of the greater philosophers (think Plato and Aristotle, Hobbes and Locke, Rousseau and Nietzsche) and nearly all of the great writers of literature (think Homer and Virgil, Sophocles and Shakespeare, Dante and Milton, Melville and Twain, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky) make political themes preeminent throughout their work. The reason for this is that all serious human questioning emerges from our concern with living the good life. And life, for human beings, is always fundamentally political: we live in societies and under the horizon of authority— authority which is always moral, religious, and political in nature. Serious self-understanding requires that we interrogate those authoritative opinions about justice and virtue that govern our lives and that we think through our relationship and obligations to the political community. It requires we come to understand the nature of politics and the political community so that we can build and preserve good political orders that serve our true needs—and so that we can deal with bad political orders that harm or endanger us. While a liberal education was never understood exclusively in political terms, its principal end was to form a class of men who were truly freemen, not slaves, and this meant they could be proper citizens— men capable of partaking in ruling and being ruled in turn, to use Aristotle’s formulation. Jefferson and the American Founders, no less than the Ancient Greeks, believed that civilized communities should promote liberal education to train their ruling classes. Equipped with an education in politics, leading men understand how and why they must preserve the freedom and the conditions of civilization that make liberal learning in all its forms possible.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY POLITICS AT HILLSDALE?

If you want a clear, honest understanding of the exciting and dangerous world we live in, a politics major is for you. Hillsdale provides an outstanding education in how power is used and misused today and in the ideas that underlie our great political conflicts. It teaches the history and character of the American regime—from the republican constitutional order of the Founding to the modern state. Students in our program pursue a rigorous, in-depth study

in three areas: (a) in the great works of political philosophy, from Plato to Nietzsche, in order to understand the nature of politics and justice, the varieties of political order possible in the world, and the ideas that animate political movements; (b) in American politics and constitutionalism, with particular emphasis on studying the arguments of the Founders and the leading statesmen and political thinkers who’ve shaped our political institutions and way of life; and (c) in international and comparative politics, including the study of the history of American foreign policy and the totalitarian movements and the great wars and contests of the 20th and 21st centuries. Politics students are educated to understand what civilization is and what it requires—and they’re prepared to defend it.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A POLITICS MAJOR?

Politics students can obviously work in politics at all levels—from state and local politics to national and international politics—both inside and outside of government. But politics students are also well-prepared to work in law, education, media, and business. Recent graduates have also attended law and graduate schools including Harvard, Claremont Graduate School, University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago, Boston College, University of Michigan, and Baylor University, among others.

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THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• American Legislative Exchange Council— Multimedia story producer

• American Philanthropic—Consultant analyst

• The Daily Signal—Reporting fellow

• Fox Corporation—Booker

• General Dynamics—Intelligence analyst

• Goldwater Institute—Public policy fellow

• State Policy Network—Grant writer

• Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation— Research assistant

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• American University

• Boston College

• Campbell University

• Lewis & Clark College

• University of Dallas

UNIQUE FEATURES OF POLITICS AT HILLSDALE

• Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP) (see page 58)

• George Washington Fellows Program (see page 58)

• Pi Sigma Alpha national politics honorary

• Departmental lectures by guest speakers

• Political Economy interdisciplinary major

• Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Politics and the Master of Arts in Politics. The principal aim of the Graduate School is to educate students in the language of American constitutionalism and to place its graduates in positions of public service in politics, in journalism, in the Academy, and elsewhere. Undergraduate students have opportunities to take advantage of special lectures and program offerings as well.

CORE COMPLEMENTS

Every Hillsdale student enrolls in The U.S. Constitution as part of the classical liberal arts core. This three-credit course teaches basic American political concepts such as natural rights, social compact theory, and religious liberty, as well as constitutional features such as limited government, separation of powers, and the rule of law.

Hillsdale in D.C.

Democracy at Work

Hillsdale College’s presence in Washington, D.C., extends the College’s teaching mission: to teach and promote the principles and practice of American constitutionalism in order to shape citizens, practitioners, and statesmen worthy of the blessings of liberty. The Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship serves as Hillsdale’s home base in Washington for students interning through the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP).

WASHINGTON-HILLSDALE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (WHIP)

The Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program is a “study-abroad” program in which juniors and seniors spend an entire semester interning in serious organizations, taking robust academic classes, and exploring Washington, D.C.’s rich history and political landscape. Students serious about entering the political or professional world ought to apply, though they need not be a politics major: while many

intern in Congress and political organizations, the city offers plenty of opportunities in the art world, museums, business, finance, education, and so much more. Students receive 12-13 credit hours for both the internship and rigorous academic classes taken with Hillsdale in D.C. professors during the semester. The College arranges housing in one of the city’s most beautiful historic districts for the students.

GEORGE WASHINGTON & WINSTON CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM

The George Washington & Winston Churchill Fellowships Program is for students serious about pursuing a career in the public square. It is a competitive three-year scholarship program in which students take additional politics or history courses and spend one semester on WHIP. Open to all majors, students complete a rigorous research and writing program and participate in special seminars with guest speakers.

THE

PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative WHIP Internships (2021-2024)

• Alliance Defending Freedom

• Ethics and Public Policy Center

• Immanuel Lutheran School

• U.S. Department of State

• Washington Examiner

• The White House

“I owe much to Hillsdale and my time on WHIP for preparing me for my work as a writer and editor. The Kirby Center faculty helped me to develop a broader knowledge of political philosophy and introduced me to some of the most influential writings of the modern era. The fruits of those classroom discussions still resurface frequently in my work today.”

—CARMEL KOOKOGEY RICHARDSON, ’21 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE

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Washington and Churchill Fellowships

WHIP

THE STEVE AND AMY VAN ANDEL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

, based at the College’s Kirby Center in Washington, D.C., offers a Master of Arts in Government focused on the consideration and practice of those liberal arts that are required for just government. The master’s program is specifically designed to fit the schedules of busy working professionals, and is geared toward Hill staffers and lawmakers, policy experts, government employees, journalists, speechwriters, lawyers, and those working in nonprofit advocacy. Courses provide the necessary intellectual foundation for a career in American politics, one deeply enriched by Hillsdale College and its teaching mission.

Pre-Law

Outstanding Preparation in Law

Law schools aren’t looking for students with a degree in “pre-law,” and Hillsdale College doesn’t offer one. Instead, Hillsdale College’s classical core curriculum trains students to pursue moral and intellectual virtue, to gain mastery in different domains of knowledge, to interpret and analyze difficult texts, to speak and write clearly, to synthesize information and ideas, and to be creative problem solvers.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY LAW AT HILLSDALE?

Hillsdale College has an outstanding record of achievement in preparing students for a successful legal career. Every year, Hillsdale students are admitted into top law schools in the country, including Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Virginia, and the University of Michigan.

Hillsdale students regularly secure prestigious internships and clerkships, including eight clerkships on the U.S. Supreme Court in the last fifteen years. Graduates have found positions as federal and state judge clerks, judge advocates, state supreme court judges, law school professors, and corporate and private attorneys.

Our 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio gives students the

opportunity to develop close personal relationships with their professors. These close relationships result in individual instruction for students, professional mentoring by professors, and meaningful letters of recommendation.

“[Law is an] incredible place to apply what I learned at Hillsdale: understanding of human nature, of institutions, and community. The Classical and Christian education [at Hillsdale] prepared me to excel in law school and instilled an ambition to serve the common good.”

— ELLIOT GAISER, ’22

POLITICAL ECONOMY AND RHETORIC AND MEDIA MAJORS

J.D., UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, 2016

SOLICITOR GENERAL OF OHIO

LSAT PERFORMANCE

Hillsdale College students regularly have the highest LSAT averages of any college or university in the state of Michigan. The LSAT, or Law School Admissions Test, is one of the most important factors for getting into law school. Hillsdale seniors in 2023-24 scored an average of 166 on the LSAT, putting them in the 89th percentile.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF PRE-LAW AT HILLSDALE

• Pre-Law Director: Our Pre-Law Director, Dr. Nathan Schlueter, with almost 20 years of experience, advises interested students on every aspect of the law school admissions process. He makes early contact with students who are interested in law school and is available to help students through the entire application process.

• Pre-Law Club: Our Pre-Law Club is affiliated with the Federalist Society, which provides valuable resources for regular guest speakers, debates, and close interactions with people in law.

• Law and Society: This one-hour course, typically taken during the student’s sophomore year, covers everything students need to know in order to discern whether they want to go to law school and gives them the resources to succeed. The course includes a practice LSAT; a visit to a law school; and guest lectures on law, the law school admissions process, and careers in law.

• Courses in Law: Every semester the College offers courses in law, including Constitutional Law, Business Law, Constitutional History, and Law and Economics.

• Internships: Our Career Services Office and our Kirby Center in Washington, D.C., help provide interested students with internships that will help them learn about the law and gain valuable experience and skills.

Psychology Where Science and Humanities Meet

What is the soul? Is it the mind? Is it consciousness? How does it relate to the body? What insights does a modern field of investigation offer on these ancient puzzles?

WHY SHOULD I STUDY PSYCHOLOGY AT HILLSDALE?

As a Hillsdale psychology major, you’ll learn about psychology as a contemporary science and as a tradition of reflection about human nature stretching back to antiquity. You’ll learn the field’s current practices, study the thinkers who charted its course in the

20th century, and consider what the discipline lost in declaring independence from philosophy—as well as what it gained. You’ll discover that modern psychology’s proper relationship to the past is not a question answered once and for all, but is the kind of question a liberally educated person asks afresh throughout life for the sake of truth, beauty, and living well.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR?

Psychology majors at Hillsdale are prepared for a variety of career paths,

including select graduate programs. For those ambitious to enter research-driven graduate programs in experimental or clinical psychology, faculty members assist students to help reach their goals and understand the preparation needed for those programs. For those uninterested in graduate work, the analytical, observational, writing, and speaking skills acquired in the program offer superb preparation for entry-level careers in business, education, non-profit organizations, and mental healthcare.

“I really enjoyed that we read actual texts of thinkers in Hillsdale’s psychology classes. We were doing deep dives, which was definitely confirmed when I went to grad school, and that deeper sense of understanding really impacts how I practice now.

“I think every person going into this field should have a liberal arts education because you’re working with people, and it’s so important to understand a wide variety of topics of thought. Ultimately, as therapists, we’re helping other people become holistic beings.”

—CHRISTA GREEN, ’20 PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

M.S.W., GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY, 2022 MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• ABA Therapy Solutions, LLC—Behavior technician

• Butler Hospital—Research assistant

• Edustaff—Teacher

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute—Research assistant

• Hudson Legal—Paralegal

• Susan B. Anthony List—Digital associate

• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center— Lab assistant

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Augustine Institute

• Cleveland State University

• Colorado State University

• Duke University

• Regent University

UNIQUE FEATURES OF PSYCHOLOGY AT HILLSDALE

• Careful study of important theoretical texts in the history, philosophy, and science of psychology

• Training in the field’s current methods, including inferential statistics and experimentation

• Close faculty-student collaboration, including LAUREATES summer research program (see pages 14-15)

• Seniors choose to do an independent empirical research project, a psychology-related practicum off campus, or a thesis engaging theoretical questions of special importance

• Equipment and materials including virtual reality, biofeedback, physiological measures, and intelligence and personality tests

• Psi Chi international honor society for psychology

CORE COMPLEMENTS

One of the courses students can choose to fulfill the social sciences elective requirement of the classical liberal arts core is Psychology in the Modern Era

This three-credit survey of the discipline covers research design, the biological basis of mind, sensation and perception, learning and memory, social psychology, developmental psychology, personality, and psychopathology.

Military Leadership (minor only)

Duty, Honor, Patriotism

With its foundational commitment to “defending liberty” grounded in classical republican ideals of citizenship, Hillsdale College has always been a friend to the military and the military a friend to the College. Military service is a tradition of the College that dates to the Civil War when over 500 Hillsdale College students served in the Union army and Professor Whipple taught military science courses to help prepare them. Moreover, the core military virtues—duty, honor, patriotism—that are central to American officership are also civic virtues at the heart of our classical liberal arts education. To this end, the minor in Military Leadership provides an important contribution in our curriculum and the fulfillment of Hillsdale’s mission.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY MILITARY LEADERSHIP AT HILLSDALE?

The most important responsibility of a military officer is leading the men and women of our armed forces—because in war, the lives of those you lead are at stake. Beyond the military, students who aspire to positions of authority and responsibility in any career field—business, the professions, politics, ministry, and education—should consider the Military

Leadership minor. It offers foundational courses in leadership that provide “sound learning” (as stated in the College’s mission statement) grounded in the liberal arts tradition as well as the biblical/Christian tradition. The minor, therefore, is no mere technical training in skills and strengths for influencing others and achieving your personal ambitions. Instead, it offers sound liberal learning that will help you develop your mind and improve your heart so that you may become truly worthy of the great responsibility and challenge of leadership, as an officer in our armed forces or in any civilian career field.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MILITARY LEADERSHIP MINOR?

The minor in Military Leadership is a course of instruction that prepares students for commissioning as officers in the American armed forces. The minor’s focus is leader development with emphasis on character formation. It is open to all students, whether pursuing commissions or not, and will be of value to students preparing for future leadership roles in all fields, including business, the professions, politics, ministry, and education.

“The leadership classes I took at Hillsdale College taught me the deeper truth and ultimate mark of a true leader: character. While technical proficiency and tactical prowess matter, good leaders must possess the desire, love, and knowledge of the right things. The Military Leadership program prepares its future officers as students to pursue this selfless life.”

—GRANT BOYES, ’22

POLITICS MAJOR | CLASSICAL EDUCATION MINOR

U.S. MARINE CORPS

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UNIQUE FEATURES OF MILITARY LEADERSHIP AT HILLSDALE

• Courses taught by experienced senior military officers. General Robert B. Neller, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.) teaches a class called “Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield,” and Major General Melven G. Spiese, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.) teaches a class called “Post-Cold War U.S. National Security.”

• Liberty Battalion student-led club in which students train, coach, and mentor each other in preparation for Officer Candidate School

• Trips to American Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields

• Alumni panels in which alumni currently serving on active duty as officers return to the College to share their experience and mentor current students pursuing commissions

American Studies

All American

American Studies majors are compelled to approach the study of America from numerous angles, particularly American literature, American history, and American politics. This allows students to take a holistic approach to understanding the American experiment: regime, culture, heritage.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY AMERICAN STUDIES AT HILLSDALE?

The United States of America is the great experiment in selfgovernment under law, based in the unalienable natural rights of all men that results from their having been created in the image of God. It is nothing less than an attempt to establish a people, a nation, and a culture, free from the hatred and oppression of the Old World. If we are to preserve liberty and justice, we must understand the regime that was created to preserve these blessings, and the dangers that we face today. Students who major in American Studies are seeking a broad-based, interdisciplinary approach to studying and understanding America. By approaching a single subject from numerous angles, students get a more complete picture of the uniqueness and complexity of the American experiment and of American culture. The insistence on multiple perspectives prevents students from becoming myopic in their views, or overly tied to the perspective or methodology of a single discipline. The major also allows for maximum flexibility in pursuing individual interests.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH AN AMERICAN STUDIES MAJOR?

Students with an American Studies major can pursue graduate education, law school, K-12 teaching, public policy, campaigns and elections, working for legislative staffs, executive branch offices or administrative agencies, print and electronic journalism, publishing, and more. An American Studies major will equip students with the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills to succeed in almost any profession.

“There’s a lot of freedom that comes with the American Studies major. With freedom comes the responsibility for self-government. That’s the teaching at the heart of the American republic. It’s also the teaching at the heart of the American Studies major. I got a really comprehensive education that probably rivals or surpasses what a lot of people get in master’s programs because of the level of instruction. I feel confident about my education and what I learned.”

—MICHAEL LUCCHESE, ’18 AMERICAN STUDIES MAJOR FOUNDER AND CEO, PIPE CREEK CONSULTING

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• American Teacher Initiative

• Abiding Savior Academy

• U.S. Army THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

UNIQUE FEATURES OF AMERICAN STUDIES AT HILLSDALE

• Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (see page 58)

• Russell Kirk Scholarship

• Delta Pi Nu American Studies honorary

• Student-led events such as lectures and seminars

Sociology and Social Thought

Selfhood, Interaction, and Social Life

The interdisciplinary program in sociology and social thought at Hillsdale brings together contemporary perspectives from the social sciences with religious and philosophical perspectives in particular and the liberal arts emphasis in general. You’ll be provided a broad, cross-disciplinary understanding of contemporary society and culture, organized around a core of studies in the theoretical and methodological traditions specific to sociology. The focus of the program is historical and interpretive, while core courses are geared toward familiarizing you with the range of contemporary approaches to the discipline. You’ll mix courses in sociology with approved coursework in philosophy and theology and other appropriate disciplines.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL THOUGHT AT HILLSDALE?

Our program deliberately situates the study of sociology in relation to the humanities as well as the sciences and balances the valuing of tradition characteristic of Hillsdale College with careful, critical studies of modern and contemporary developments and perspectives. We give careful attention to a tradition in the discipline of sociology that has cultivated a morally informed understanding of society and culture, but avoids confusing sociological inquiry with the advocacy of particular political ideologies.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL THOUGHT MAJOR?

Sociology can contribute to great preparation for careers in a variety of areas, including social work, counseling, law, ministry, work in criminal justice or corrections, politics and government, human resources, journalism, and even business or marketing. In addition to encouraging critical thinking and high-quality writing, sociology provides insight into social interaction, human groups, social institutions, and human cultures that is applicable to a wide range of endeavors.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• The Chaldean News—Reporter

• Southwestern Advantage—Associate sales leader

• U.S. Senate—Staff assistant

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Aurora University

CORE COMPLEMENTS

One of the courses students can choose to fulfill the social sciences requirement of the classical liberal arts core is Understanding Society and Culture. This threecredit course offers a broad introduction to the various theoretical perspectives of the field and is historical, conceptual, and cross-disciplinary.

Sport Studies Mind, Body, Spirit

Within the Sport Studies Department is a deep study of the complexities of the human body, which garners an appreciation for the divine providence that allows us to exist and function each day. You will expand your knowledge pertaining to the development of the body and will contemplate how pursuit of virtue in the physical sense relates to growth of the mind and spirit. While our classes develop knowledge pertaining to the function of our bodies, students are encouraged to connect information learned in sport studies classes to knowledge gained in the core curriculum. As the classes within the major become more specialized, opportunities arise for students to analyze and problem-solve a situation utilizing their broad and diverse knowledge. Three major concentrations are offered within Sport Studies: exercise science, physical education, and sport management.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY SPORT STUDIES AT HILLSDALE?

Sport Studies classes explore the historical, philosophical, theoretical, and practical aspects of sport and exercise. Students with one of the Sport Studies majors develop a profound understanding of health and sport-related topics that perfectly augments their liberal

arts education. The curriculum of our majors is designed to provide a robust study in a specific area, while also allowing for exploration of other disciplines.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A SPORT STUDIES MAJOR?

Exercise science majors commonly attend an allied healthcare graduate program, such as physical therapy, nursing, physician assistant, or chiropractic medicine. Additionally, exercise science graduates have frequently taught in K-12 classical schools following graduation.

Sport management majors continue professional careers in a wide variety of sport- and business-related fields. Careers in sport marketing, ticket sales, coaching, teaching, sport broadcasting, and sport administration are common paths to follow, while some pursue graduate degrees in business administration, law, education, and marketing. Our graduates are prepared to work in youth/high school, college and professional level sport markets.

Physical education majors often go on to careers in K-12 education or coaching.

“My experience in the exercise science program established the strong foundations necessary to not only be accepted to multiple DPT (doctor of physical therapy) programs, but also have the skills necessary to succeed in a nationally ranked program. In speaking with peers from undergraduate programs across the country, I can confidently say Hillsdale has prepared me as well or better than any other program. The smaller and in-person classes, along with the challenging curriculum, provided a unique learning environment. Tying it all together was the expertise and attentiveness of the professors, who helped me learn not only the content, but also how to internalize and build upon it. My experiences at Hillsdale have given me the skills necessary to succeed in the classroom and have laid the foundation for me to continue my growth as a future physical therapist.”

—DILLON MANION, ’23

EXERCISE SCIENCE MAJOR ATTENDING WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (ST. LOUIS) GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PHYSICAL THERAPY

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Representative Hiring Organizations (2021-2024)

• Blue Water Healthy Living—Sportswriter

• Mercy Health St. Mary’s—Patient care associate

• Michigan Pain Specialists—Medical assistant

• Priority1—Territory sales manager

• Redline Athletics— Strength and conditioning coach

Representative Graduate Programs (2021-2024)

• Misericordia University

• Palmer College of Chiropractic

• University of Findlay

• University of Western States

• Wayne State University

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SPORTS STUDIES AT HILLSDALE

• Assist instructors with research projects on topics such as sport and injury risk identification, track and field training programs, and associations between human performance measurements.

• Assist athletic trainers in management of athletic injuries.

• Sport Management internships within the department to gain experience and knowledge regarding the operations of an NCAA Division II athletics program.

• Exercise Physiology class conducts lab utilizing an iWorx metabolic testing apparatus that can take measurements pertaining to aerobic capacity, metabolic rate, and energy substrate utilization.

• Health and wellness classes utilize blood glucose readings, blood pressure measurements, and cardiac ECG testing.

• Rehab Sciences Club

• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

• Athletic Department internships

CORE COMPLEMENTS

All students enroll in Physical Wellness Dynamics as part of the classical liberal arts core curriculum. This two-credit course engages students in a basic wellness program supplemented by weekly seminar sessions and is intended to encourage a healthy, well-balanced life.

Collegiate Scholars Collegiate Scholars Program

Hillsdale College seeks to enrich the academic experience of high-performing students by providing opportunities to become more thoroughly acquainted with the contents and methods of inquiry of the liberal arts, preeminently of the Western intellectual tradition of humanistic and scientific learning, in a manner consonant with the aims of the College’s core curriculum. This goal is met through a combination of special seminars, campus lectures and discussions, retreats, subsidized foreign travel to a destination relevant to the Program’s purpose, and the completion of an interdisciplinary senior thesis. Students meeting the minimum grade-point average requirement of 3.4 are encouraged to apply during the second semester of their freshman year.

SAMPLE COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS SEMINARS

• History of Mystery Stories

• The Ancient Faith in Modern Times

• Dean Koontz and the Meaning of Life

• Physics and Philosophy through Science Fiction

• Gregorian Chant and the Carolingian Renaissance

“The Collegiate Scholars Program (CSP) has brought me academic enrichment in a relaxed and fun environment. The one-credit seminars are a great opportunity to experience a wide range of professors while pursuing niche topics with people who are genuinely interested in the class. The retreats and events during the school year are a nice break from the stress of academics at Hillsdale, serving as a reminder that education is how we use our leisure time. Altogether, CSP brings another level of joy and learning to my time at Hillsdale!”

—MEREDITH VANDERWEIDE, ’26

“CSP, in a nutshell, is the Hillsdale education taken ‘further up and further in.’ It is a deeper dive into the liberal arts education with other likeminded students. CSP involves retreats, classes, and in-semester events.

“CSP enhances my experience by challenging me and forcing me to reevaluate my motivations in my education. Even at Hillsdale, it can become easy for education to become a ‘have to’—I have to write this essay. I have to read 50 pages. CSP causes me to study the beautiful things. It confers a certain value from invalidating the ‘have to’ because we choose to!”

—HARRISON LAYMAN, ’25

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