We are pleased to announce that we’re now accepting applications to the OAC graduate program.

Those eligible to apply to the new program are:

1. Students who have graduated from the OAC’s four-year undergraduate program
2. Students who have already taken graduate-level courses from ARI (completion of which may earn you credit in the new program)
3. Students who have taken undergraduate-level courses from ARI prior to the academic year 20012002

Space in the program is of course limited. The deadline for submitting applications is July 30, 2010. Those who are interested in applying can find the online application form here. Applicants will be notified of the results by September 6.

Summary of Program

On a selected and rotating basis, ARI will offer graduate courses, both live and taped, in three main areas: Objectivism; history of philosophy, including selected issues in contemporary academic philosophy; and history, including history of science.

In addition to this course work, students will be required to hone their writing and teaching skills.

Each student will be assigned an adviser to track his progress through the program and to help him prepare for an intellectual career.

To graduate from the program, students will have to complete all mandatory courses, earn a defined number of total credits in various areas, satisfactorily complete assignments in writing and teaching, and work successfully with their adviser.

There is no tuition for the program, and most full-time students will receive telephone scholarships to help defray their long-distance charges.

Note that 1 credit corresponds roughly to a semester course (13 weeks), with typically 24 hours of lectures per week.

The courses offered during the 200708 academic year can be viewed here, along with a list of other previously offered courses.

Description of Requirements of Program

Advanced Courses on Objectivism

• The Metaphysics and Epistemology of Objectivism (2 credits)
• The Ethics of Objectivism (2 credits)
• The Politics and Esthetics of Objectivism (1 credit)
• Seminar on ITOE (1 credit)
• “Confusion” papers—seminars that Dr. Leonard Peikoff gave to graduate students in 19941995 (4 credits, mandatory)
• OPAR lectures—lectures and Q&A that Dr. Leonard Peikoff gave just before the publication of Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (1 credit, mandatory)
• The DIM Hypothesis—a recent course Dr. Peikoff gave based on his forthcoming book (1 credit)
• Practicum in Philosophical Method (2 credits)
• Seminars on specific topics (? credit and up)

For graduation, 10 credits from this area are required, 5 of which must come from completing the mandatory classes.

Advanced Courses on Philosophy

• Seminars on major figures/movements in the history of philosophy (? credit and up)
• Seminars on significant issues in academic philosophy (? credit and up)

For graduation, ? credit from this area is required.

Courses in History and the Philosophy of Science

• History of Physics (from Ancient Greece to the 19th century) (2 credits)
• General History of the West (2 credits)
• Seminars on selected topics in history (? credit and up)

For graduation, 2 credits from this area are required.

Academic writing (for those pursuing a career in academia)

• Working on academic papers for publication, with at least two papers submitted for publication to professional journals

Non-academic writing (for those pursuing an intellectual career outside of academia)

• Completion of four op-eds
• Completion of one article for publication

Teaching

• Minimum of two presentations at ARI teaching workshops

Evaluation of Adviser

• Satisfactory yearly evaluations from adviser