On Nov. 2, Dean of Masters in Classical Education Daniel Coupland announced the graduate program in classical education’s plans to expand the program in the future and eventually offer courses online.

Coupland led the presentation, explaining the purpose of the program, its class requirements, and guidance on the application process. 

“The focus is a broad, philosophical, historical, literary, curricular, and pedagogical perspective on classical education,” Coupland said. 

The master’s program aims to answer six fundamental questions. According to Coupland, the questions involve understanding classical education, its history, its deficiencies, and how one leads others well in the practice of contemporary classical education.

The graduate program welcomed its inaugural class of 11 students this fall and hopes to expand to as many as 20 students in future years, according to Coupland. 

Coupland said students in the program study great minds, like Aristotle and John Dewey, and interact with primary sources.

“These are some names that our students are interacting with right now, learning about classical education both from antiquity and modernity,” Coupland said. “For example, we’re not going to read critiques of Dewey, we’re going to engage with his work directly.”

Coupland said while the program doesn’t require teaching experience for admission, it strongly encourages it because spending time in the classroom cultivates a richer learning experience.

“The target audience is primarily people who are teachers and administrators and who want to pursue a graduate degree,” Coupland said.

The program also offers two apprenticeship classes for students to work with nearby schools to get hands-on teaching and administrative experience.

“Within a two-hour radius of Hillsdale we have about a half a dozen charter, private, protestant, Catholic, Lutheran, and classical schools that we have a very close relationship with,” Coupland said. 

At these schools, graduate students have the opportunity to spend time in class with master teachers and attend meetings with administrators, whether it be regarding school policy or resolving a parent conflict, Coupland said.

Senior Rachel Warren, who attended the session, said she plans to pursue teaching after graduation. 

“I’m not planning on going to grad school, but after college, I do want to teach,” Warren said. “I just wanted to learn more about the program in case somewhere down the road, I am interested. Or if I get questions from people, I can better answer their questions about it.”

Senior Katherine Luke said she hopes to get a master’s degree in the future. 

 “I’m interested in administration and education,” Luke said. “I’m not sure what my plans are for next year, but I would love to, at some point, get a master’s in classical education.”