Why Should I Attend?

For the first time students have the opportunity to embark on a systematic study of Ayn Rand’s philosophy—Objectivism—with the guidance of expert instructors.

Objectivism upholds reason as an absolute, rational selfishness as the proper moral code and laissez-faire capitalism as the only moral social system. Our program is a tremendous aid for students who seek to understand this revolutionary philosophy.

Ayn Rand’s philosophic revolution includes new views on a broad array of topics: the nature of the mind, the relation between free will and causality, the nature of concepts, the relation between reason and emotion and the moral and the practical, the meaning of “selfishness,” the nature of art and much more. So much new content can seem overwhelming at first. Our program helps to make it easier for you. Our experts help you understand Objectivism, including: the exact meaning and implications of each of its principles, what concrete facts the principles are based on, how the principles fit together into one logical system of philosophy, how the principles apply to writing, thinking, communicating and living your life.

Here is what some OAC students have said about the program:

“Studying at the OAC is like training for a black belt in Objectivism. It has broadened my understanding of Ayn Rand’s philosophy and helped me to better understand today’s culture in terms of the fundamental ideas shaping it.”
—OAC student

”The OAC provides the opportunity to study Objectivism in a structured and methodical program. Given the absence of courses on Ayn Rand’s philosophy in the academic world, the value of the OAC’s curriculum is truly unique.”
—OAC student

The structure of the four-year undergraduate program is as follows: 

First-year students take introductory courses in philosophy and writing.  In the second year, they study Objectivism using Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand as a textbook. In this course students are guided step-by-step through every essential point in Ayn Rand’s philosophy. Starting with the basic axioms of her philosophy and proceeding in hierarchical order, students study her theory of knowledge, her view of human nature, her ethics of rational self-interest, her principled defense of capitalism and the core ideas of her theory of art. This survey of Ayn Rand’s total philosophy is followed, in the third year, by courses that stress the method of proper thinking, of keeping one’s knowledge in general and Objectivism in particular clear in one’s mind and therefore usable as a guide to life. Fourth-year classes focus on how to effectively communicate one’s knowledge in writing and speaking. (For more details on our courses see the "Undergraduate Program" and "Graduate Program" links on the right-hand menu.)

The instructors at the OAC are all experts in their fields. Most have had extensive experience teaching at the university level. In addition to helping you answer specific questions about Objectivism and its application to various fields, our instructors help inculcate the proper methods of thinking, so that you are better equipped to find answers on your own and become a self-sufficient thinker. One OAC student said, “My thinking skills have improved substantially as a result of my OAC classes—and literally every area of my life has profited.”

In addition to the benefits of a systematized program and the opportunity to learn from experts in Objectivism, the OAC offers the benefits of interacting with like-minded students and the opportunity to make friends with individuals who share your chosen values.

The OAC also offers financial support. For information about our many resources, such as our tuition scholarships and writing grants, see the sections on Financial and Intellectual Support.

OAC students on what they have gained from the program:

"Every week, I look forward to my OAC classes. They are a much-needed place where rational discussion and instruction reign, and where my instructors earnestly wish to see me challenged and thriving. When I hang up the phone from these classes, my mind is always racing as I grapple with a new insight or idea. These classes remind me of what my mind is there for."
 — K.S., 4th-year OAC student

"There is a difference between reading about Objectivism and being able to truly understand it and apply it to your life; OAC is that difference. I cannot express how much I have grown as a writer, as an intellectual and as a person as a result of this program. The teachers at the OAC are some of the leading Objectivist intellectuals of our time. The opportunity to study Objectivism with them as your guides is one that should not be taken lightly. The program is not easy, but the OAC teachers and administrators work hard to allow it to fit your schedule. This is something that any aspiring intellectual should take advantage of."
— S.A., 3rd-year OAC student

"Anyone can read Ayn Rand's writings and adopt her conclusions, but the OAC gives students the opportunity to study and practice the methodology behind the philosophy. If you want to get to the point where thinking in rational, integrated principles feels like it's second nature, then start by applying to this program."
— J.R., 3rd-year OAC student

"Being a student in the OAC is a completely sui generis experience. For those of you thinking of applying: do it! There is simply no substitute for the instruction you will get in the OAC. Studying Objectivism on your own can't get you the kind of fresh perspectives you will get from your professors and fellow students. While I've learned a lot about the content of Objectivism, I've learned even more about proper methodology. I've gained a completely irreplaceable value from being a student there."
— S.S., 3rd-year OAC student

"The OAC gives one the opportunity to learn Objectivism with the guidance of a great instructor, the value of which cannot be overstated. You can go along by reading Ayn Rand on your own, but philosophy is a live subject that has its reality in every thought and action, and for this reason having a living mind from which to learn it is an invaluable aid. The better students can take away lessons in the art of philosophical thinking that will enable them to do good work in philosophy, one of the most difficult professions there is. The OAC is an opportunity that should not be passed up by any aspiring intellectual with an interest in Objectivism."
— M.S.B., 4th-year OAC student

"The OAC has guided me, step by indispensible step, in grounding and internalizing the principles of Objectivism. It has also connected me with like-minded peers of my general age group, which has opened a floodgate of both social and intellectual opportunities. Most fundamentally, though, it has armed me with a method and style of thinking that pervades every area of my life and informs nearly every action I take, whether in my classes, my writing, or my personal life. By teaching us to understand Objectivism first-hand, the OAC empowers us to reap its benefits in daily life. Yet it would have taken decades of arduous study and mental labor to learn the equivalent of what the professionals at ARI taught us in four years. Viewed in this light, the OAC is literally a life-saver."
— G.G., OAC Grad student

"I am a doctoral student in a top 10 philosophy program. As someone pursuing a professional career in academic philosophy, the OAC has provided me with an exceptional range of benefits. First, the courses have been stellar. Even in the best academic departments, it is nearly impossible to find intellectuals who can match the OAC faculty in competence, honesty, and dedication to a serious treatment of philosophical ideas. Second, the quality of comments I receive on my written work from my OAC adviser is very high — generally a good deal better than the comments I get from my dissertation advisers (who, by academic standards, are extremely competent specialists in the field). Third, the career advice and support I have received from the OAC has been invaluable. It is doubtful whether I would even have been able to enter such a top-notch academic program without it. Finally, it is hard to overestimate the benefit of being surrounded by a benevolent and supportive network of OAC faculty, advisers, administrators and fellow students. In my estimate, if you are serious about Objectivism and you are serious about pursuing a career in academia, you would be crazy not to enter the OAC."
— C.B., OAC Grad student

"The OAC offers its students a unique opportunity to acquire not only a solid understanding of Objectivism, but also the skills to advocate it effectively. The flexibility of the OAC also allows me to dedicate time to the study of Objectivism without imposing undue burdens. My OAC classes are also a welcome reprieve from the often-painful grind of graduate work. I'm a better thinker, writer and speaker, and a more knowledgeable intellectual thanks to the OAC. I can't recommend the program highly enough."
— D.M.H., OAC Grad student