Are you interested in learning Rand’s philosophy in depth and applying it in the intellectual arena?
Do you want to play a role in shaping today’s intellectual debates?
Then apply to The Objectivist Academic Center by April 15, 2013
What is the OAC?
The Objectivist Academic Center is the premier program offering courses, seminars and career training to future Objectivist intellectuals.
It is a distance-learning program of the Ayn Rand Institute. The Ayn Rand Institute was founded on the conviction that Ayn Rand's philosophy would fundamentally change today's culture for the better if more people were to adopt it. ARI’s mission is to advance Ayn Rand's ideas in order to influence the culture's intellectual climate.
But the intellectual climate of a culture is established by the ideas put forward by the leading intellectuals of that culture: the historians, economists, philosophers, scientists, journalists, policy analysts, writers—those whose careers involve the dissemination of ideas, whether by teaching, public speaking, writing, or other means.
To change our culture by spreading Ayn Rand’s philosophy requires new intellectuals who have a deep understanding of that philosophy and a commitment to a professional career spent working to shape the intellectual debate by injecting new ideas into their fields. As an essential part of the Ayn Rand Institute’s mission, we have established the OAC as an educational program to train these future intellectuals.
Who should apply?
The OAC is aimed at young, ambitious students with the energy and drive to make a difference in the world. It is aimed at students who are planning to pursue intellectual careers in academia or in public policy. Students entering the OAC’s Core Course need not have fully decided on such a career, but they should be open to exploring what an intellectual career would involve.
If you've embarked on a serious study of Ayn Rand’s works you know that her writings are packed with radical, thought-provoking philosophical ideas. Studying those ideas in detail is a challenging and highly rewarding experience, because Ayn Rand’s philosophy is a rich, complex and integrated system of thought.
The OAC is designed for students who want to fast-track the process of digesting and understanding these ideas by studying them in a structured way—in the context of a systematic curriculum designed and taught by instructors who are knowledgeable of the common errors, confusions and questions that come up in one’s mind as one is learning the material.
The OAC admits students across a whole range of fields within the humanities and sciences. Students who are seriously considering careers in such fields as economics, history, psychology, philosophy, literature, physics, chemistry, biology, etc., are welcome to apply—as well as those considering careers in journalism or policy analysis.
What is the program?
The OAC begins with a one-year intensive course—the Core Course—focused on philosophical understanding and communication skills. The goal is to help students develop a proper thinking methodology and to offer training in the art of objective communication—communicating ideas objectively both in speaking and in writing.
The Core Course is very interactive, which provides an opportunity for you to learn more about ARI and for us to learn more about your goals. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of a career in academia or public policy, fueled by the power of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, then consider applying today!
The Advanced Education Program features advanced training in Objectivism: a deeper understanding of the content of the philosophy as well as a strong focus on the proper method of philosophical thinking. There is also a focus on communication skills at a more advanced level; for instance, the program includes workshops on teaching, aimed at students planning to become college professors.
The Advanced Education Program is aimed at students preparing to pursue careers as professional intellectuals. A wide range of skills and activities are required to achieve a successful intellectual career. In addition to deep knowledge of one’s field and training in proper thinking methods, one must also develop a proper career orientation. One important goal of the Advanced Education Program is to help its students to develop the professional skills necessary to implement that orientation.
In addition to our unique programs, the OAC has other important values to offer. OAC students are eligible to apply for grants and other forms of financial aid, including scholarships and writing grants, to assist them in their intellectual studies and careers. And by enrolling in our programs students gain the enjoyment and benefit of having classmates who share their passion for Ayn Rand’s ideas.
What is the program format?
The OAC is a distance-learning program intended to supplement, not replace, a standard college education. Some of our courses are offered online through a web-based educational platform and others are conducted live via teleconference, with recordings of each class available on the Web. Local students also have the option of attending classes at the headquarters of the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, California.
There is no charge for either the one-year introductory Core Course or the Advanced Education Program. We even offer a number of telephone scholarships to help students defray their phone expenses.
