Hillsdale College will soon offer seven additional courses at the Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center in Washington, D.C. These new courses include core and major specific classes, opening the Kirby Center to a wider range of students.
Starting in the spring of 2013, the Kirby Center will launch a new Washington, D.C., study abroad program, add- ing classes to the two already offered at Hillsdale’s D.C. campus. Unlike the Washington Hillsdale Internship Program, the study abroad will not require students to complete an intern- ship but instead will offer a complete course load worth of classes.
Participants will be predomi- nantly juniors, though it may be open to second semester sophomores and first semester seniors. The enrollment goal for the program’s first semester is 20 students.
While WHIP is focused on interning with academic work in
the evenings, the new program is entirely focused on academ- ics.
“It is simply a standard, academic semester at Hillsdale, though the campus happens to be in D.C,” said Provost David Whalen.
A prospectus of the program, provided by Associate Profes- sor of History Paul Moreno, explains the program as “the convergence of Washington’s unique educational opportunities and Hillsdale’s traditional liberal arts education.”
The program will offer select courses drawn primarily from the core curriculum. Upper-level electives relating to the city of Washington, D.C., and its poli- tics will also be offered.
In addition, Whalen stated that the D.C. staff will help students find upper-level course work at the major D.C. universi- ties, including George Mason University and Georgetown University and remotely from the main Hillsdale campus.
“The program is, to as great a degree as possible, a continu- ation of a student’s study here
on this campus with the added benefits of the intellectual and cultural opportunities available in Washington,” Whalen said.
The program will use muse- ums and monuments to augment lessons in the classroom. Guest lecturers will speak before the students frequently.
Moreno left the Hillsdale campus to work full time at the Kirby Center as the academic director of the new program. Even with his new position, Moreno will continue his duties as a regular Hillsdale faculty member, teaching and research- ing.
“As the Kirby Center’s focus is on constitutionalism and citizenship, we will shape the program to see the relationship of liberal education and liberal (in the Founders’ sense) poli- tics,” Moreno said.
Moreno will work closely with the Kirby Center staff and the Hillsdale College campus staff. He said he will ensure the grading scales and workloads of the students meet Hillsdale standards.
He will be joined by David Bobb, director of the Kirby Center, in teaching courses to students studying in D.C.
Students will stay in college- owned housing close to the Kirby Center or in Heritage Foundation housing across the street from the Kirby Center. Pricing for semesters in D.C. will be comparable to the price of a semester on campus.
Brittany Baldwin ‘12, part of the administrative staff for the program, had the chance to participate in WHIP and the George Washington Fellowship Program during her time as a student at Hillsdale.
“Both programs enabled me to practice living the virtues we so often discuss in a setting outside of this quaint and rather rare campus. This challenge strengthened my resolve to always pursue truth, despite op- position,” Baldwin said.
Students interested in the program should contact Moreno or Baldwin by email.
