Published on: September 17th, 2019

Hillsdale College Launches Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C.

College expands Washington, D.C. presence with unique master’s in government degree
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Washington, D.C. – Hillsdale College today announced the launch of the Steve and Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C. The program offers a Master of Arts in Government, combining the study of political thought, American founding principles, and statesmanship.

“Today, the connection between liberty and learning is widely forgotten, and their mutual support has grown tenuous,” said Larry P. Arnn, Hillsdale College President. “Repairing the breach is a task both urgent and noble.”

“Our students will study politics as a human activity oriented toward justice—a series of choices that require prudence to achieve the best attainable results,” added Matthew Spalding, Dean of the Steve and Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government. “Only by knowing the good for which we aim can we then know where we are, what to do, and how to do it.”

The Master of Arts in Government degree is designed for working professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills through serious study of the American political tradition. Located on Capitol Hill, the program positions students to bring the principles and practices they study to their work in government, law, media, and nonprofit sectors. Classes are led by local Hillsdale College faculty, including Dr. Matthew Spalding, Dr. Matthew Mehan, Mr. Michael Anton, and others, as well as faculty from the main campus, such as Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry P. Arnn, Dr. Ronald J. Pestritto, and Dr. Paul Rahe. Additional courses will be taught by guest practitioners and prominent adjunct scholars.

Students pursuing a degree from the Steve and Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government will complete a total of 36 credit hours in three core areas: political thought and culture, American politics, and statecraft. To accommodate working professionals’ schedules, classes will be held on evenings and weekends during fall, spring, and summer semesters. Significant scholarships are available, often up to full tuition. The program will take 2.5 to 3 years to complete, and students will have access to all Hillsdale College resources. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and licensed to operate in the District of Columbia by the Higher Education Licensure Commission.

The formal inaugural class is slated to begin their classes in January of 2020, but the school will offer lectures and courses for a select pilot cohort in the fall of 2019. For more information, visit dc.hillsdale.edu or contact [email protected].

About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.