The first students in Hillsdale College’s new Graduate School of Classical Education have arrived. If all goes well, they’ll earn master’s degrees in the spring of 2024.

“I’m incredibly excited about this program because I believe it can be a gold standard for what a graduate program in classical education should be,” Assistant Professor of Education David Diener said.

There are 11 students in the group. For the first semester, they are taking three core curriculum classes together. Beginning in the second semester, the students will have their choice of elective courses.

“The classes in this program are extremely high quality and very rigorous like the rest of Hillsdale classes,” Program Coordinator Jaime Boerema ’22 said. “It’s really important for the cohort to have a strong community, and that’s one of the reasons that all the students are taking those first courses together as they learn these fundamental and beautiful things before they branch out into areas of interest.”

The three core classes this semester are History of Liberal Education taught by Assistant Professor of Education Erik Ellis, Philosophy of Education taught by Diener, and Humane Letters taught by Associate Vice President for Curriculum and Professor of English David Whalen. 

“All of the classes are amazing,” Rebecca Willis ’18, a student in the program said. “They really are. I’m not just saying that.” 

Willis taught in Kentucky for four years at Highlands Latin School, a classical Christian school. 

When Dean of the Graduate School of Classical Education Daniel Coupland first talked to Willis about the program, Willis said the program had everything she wanted.

“During my four years of practical experience in the classroom, I came across a lot of questions,” Willis said. “When I looked at the course list and was talking to Dr. Coupland, I knew these courses would answer my questions.”

According to Coupland, the first cohort was originally going to have 10 students. 

“We had so many quality applicants that we decided to take 11,” Coupland said. “Nine of them have some connection to Hillsdale College: eight were undergraduates and one was a graduate student.”

There are more Hillsdale graduates than non-Hillsdale graduates in this cohort, Coupland said.

“That makes sense because they experienced the Hillsdale education at the undergraduate level and were drawn to the school and its ideas,” Coupland said. “When we opened up the graduate program, these Hillsdale graduates already knew about the program but were also interested in continuing their Hillsdale experience in graduate school.” 

According to Coupland, the program wants to attract classes of 15-20 students in future years. 

“Depending on the year it may skew a little higher or lower in terms of undergrad graduates of the college,” Coupland said. “We think it’s probably healthy that the program has a mix of both Hillsdale undergrads and people who have gone and completed their undergrads at other institutions.”

According to Diener, the new program aligns with the undergraduate education program and Hillsdale’s philosophy of education.

“The biggest reason why classical schools close is because of poor leadership,” Diener said. “As institutions, it’s incredibly important to have well prepared teachers in the classrooms because the heart of education is in a classroom. If there aren’t good administrators running the school who understand the mission and vision of classical education, the school isn’t going to be able to fulfill its mission.”

Willis said she would like to return to teaching after graduating from this program and then would consider working in administration. 

“I love being a part of my students’ days, and I love them being a part of my day,” Willis said. “However, I do think that there is a great need for good leaders in education, and I can see administration in my future.”

Teaching experience is not a prerequisite for the program, but it is recommended, Coupland said.

“We think that it will be a much richer experience for students if they have teaching experience,” Coupland said. “It could be a year, six months, or a couple of years.”

The majority of the people who applied for the program have K-12 teaching experience, but not all of them do. 

“Students interested in the program should not say they don’t qualify because they don’t have any teaching experience,” Coupland said.

Willis said she is grateful to the donors and staff members who made this program happen. 

“For years people have been planning this program and have generously donated a lot of time, money, and resources,” Willis said. “I’m so grateful that Hillsdale is doing this, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that they’re giving us.”

It’s important for the Hillsdale community, students, and also the people who know about Hillsdale but are not necessarily connected to the college, to have a good understanding of what this program is and what it is offering, Boerema said. 

“I encourage anyone interested in the program to come and talk with us about it,” Boerema said.