Academics Archives

Lasers, Superconducting Magnets, and More: A Selection of Chemical Instrumentation

One of the best aspects of Hillsdale College’s chemistry program is the unparalleled access that students and faculty have to well-equipped lab facilities. Chemistry and biochemistry students regularly get the opportunity to use a wide range of chemical instrumentation. We’ve collected some of the most interesting instruments below – check them out!

Chemistry and Community: Heidi Hendrickson, ’09, On Her Hillsdale Education

During her doctoral studies at the University of Michigan, Heidi also pursued a masters degree in educational studies. It was during one of her education classes that she encountered a misinterpretation of Plato in her readings – and she decided to challenge it.

Out of My Element

As a junior English and French major, I’ve finally summoned the courage to take my core science classes. This semester, I entered Strosacker Science Building for the first time, feeling more than a little intimidated by the thought of balancing equations and wearing lab goggles. Within the first few minutes of my Chemistry 101 class, however, Dr. Hamilton’s kindness and sense of humor put me at my ease.

Science Isn’t for Everyone at First, Even for Your Professor

You came to Hillsdale to be educated in the liberal arts—emphasis on the arts. Yet, students are still required to have some knowledge of the sciences. Don’t like chemistry? Don’t worry—you’re in good company. In fact, you might even end up liking it.

9 Tips to Keep You Organized

It’s that time of the year: when midterms, essays, and projects hit, and when the extracurricular activities seem to steal away all of your time. If you’re not organized, now’s the time to reassess your system and ensure it’s working for you. Academic counselor Christy Maier says, “If you aren’t organized, it’s hard to use your time and your resources efficiently. Time is the most valuable resource any college student has.” Ms. Maier provides some tips to survive the semester’s peak time.

A Shady Thesis: Rachelle Ferguson Explores Virgil’s Eclogues

Written by Katie Kortepeter A classics and English double-major, Rachelle Ferguson, ’17, is already a published playwright. Next January, her classics side will take the stage as she presents a […]

Learning German with Dr. Naumann

Learning to talk is hard. It takes a long time, it’s frustrating, and it requires extreme patience from the teacher. Most people learn to speak from their parents and a sibling or two. When learning a second language—especially from word number one—the process is a whole lot more frustrating and requires infinitely more conscious effort than learning a mother tongue at two years old. It also requires infinitely more patience from the teacher.

The Dynamic Balance Between Music and Liberal Arts

Dr. Derek Stauff, the newest musicologist in the Hillsdale music department, brings with him a plethora of knowledge in music history—specifically 17th century German music—and an energy to equal that of the current music professors.

Deutsch Ist Wunderbar: 10 Reasons You Should Study German at Hillsdale College

It’s the language of Schiller and Kant, Merkel and Schwarzenegger. Millions speak it, and millions study it. So if you’re considering studying a foreign language at Hillsdale, you should look at German, and here’s ten reasons why.

CCA attendees taking notes during a lecture.

5 Tips For Surviving Your First CCA

As part of Hillsdale’s core curriculum, each student is required to take at least one CCA as a course. The lectures of this year’s first CCA will focus on the life and statesmanship of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. If you’ve never taken a CCA before, here are some tips to get you started.

The Danger of the Liberal Arts

“There is some danger in the liberal arts,” Dr. Fennell told us in that first lecture. “If you wanted to stay where you’re at, you should have become a dental hygienist.” I didn’t tell him that in my childhood, entering the world of cavities and dental chasms had been my modest aspiration. But something other than my idea of common sense propelled me into the astonishing world of Dr. Fennell’s classroom, and into an uncommon store of wisdom.

College Tips from a “Wise Fool”

Freshman year presents itself in a flurry of new faces, and unfamiliar routines. Freshman year will present challenges to all students. With this uncomfortable truth established, here are a couple of tips that might help.