Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
If you’ve been listening to the Ricochet Podcast recently (or any of our other shows, for that matter), you’ve heard us talking about Hillsdale College and their online courses. In the last year, Hillsdale has started a series of online courses on the Constitution and Western Civilization. They now have over 500,000 people who have registered to participate. That’s pretty incredible for a small school of 1,400 in rural Michigan.
The lectures, including a number from Hillsdale’s president, Dr. Larry Arnn, are outstanding. Plus, they’re all archived so you can go through them at your convenience.
Now, Hillsdale has a brand new online history course called “American Heritage.” You can register – for FREE – at Ricochet.com/Hillsdale.
I probably don't need to tell our readers just how valuable these courses are. If you need any more convincing, however, let me leave you with a quote from Dr. Arnn, from his introductory lecture to the course:
We’re living right now at one of the key moments in American history, one of the pivots. We’ve got a nation that can’t continue…being organized in two different ways…How are you going figure out what the right way is? The answer is to learn the story of the country and learn the principles and institutions that have guided us.
I don’t know the last time you took an American history course … but we could all use a refresher. Register here. For your further edification, I've included the course schedule below:
1."Introduction: How to Think About American History"
Larry P. Arnn
Lecture Available February 25
2."Colonial Settlement"
Mark Kalthoff
Lecture Available March 4
3."Enlightenment and Natural Rights"
Terrence Moore
Lecture Available March 11
4."The American Founding"
Paul Rahe
Lecture Available March 18
5."Democracy: American Promise and its Dangers"
Paul Rahe
Lecture Available March 25
6."The Crisis of the Union"
David Raney
Lecture Available April 1
7."The Gilded Age and the Robber Barons"
Burt Folsom
Lecture Available April 8
8."Progressivism"
Paul Moreno
Lecture Available April 15
9."America as a World Power"
Tom Conner
Lecture Available April 22
10."The Reagan Revolution"
Terrence Moore
Lecture Available April 29
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Comments:
Oct '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
I started the Constitution 101 months back but didn't follow through with it. Now I'm going back and retaking the course. I'm going to do a marathon and go through them all until I'm up to date.
The best thing, for me, about the course is that I don't have to do any of the homework. If only real universities were like that my grades would've been much better.
Mar '11
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
I was going to post on this, but since you have, Peter, I'll simply paraphrase from the center of Dr. Arnn's first lecture:
A concise, yet capacious (Claremont-influenced) summary of present discontents.
Edited on February 27, 2013 at 7:56pmJun '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
I love these courses, and am looking forward to this newest offering. I've complete the first three - just listening to the lectures and the Q&A sessions.
Nov '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Started this course Monday evening. Great. Really a lot to think about. Though I am wishing someone would publish the Federalist Papers in NIV format. I have to read paragraph's over and over again to understand what is being said, and even then I am not sure I got it.
Sep '12
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Speaking of history, someone should write a thorough, engaging book on the Cold War. I wonder if Mr. Robinson could recommend such a book? I'd love to read it.
Nov '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
As a point of discontent, I am now stuck with whether I should come to Ricochet, or the forums at Hillsdale. Nice going Rob. Yeah, I blame Rob.
Dec '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
I too have been looking for such a tome. Scouring Amazon.com (using the handy Ricochet Amazon link on the bottom right), checking Audible.com, pillaging my local library...all in vain!
It is with despair that I fear I may never find the object of my desire. If only, such a tome existed*.
*and if only the author would narrate it for Audible....
Edited on February 27, 2013 at 9:07pmDec '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Beck did. I don't think it's all of them, but it's a pretty good start.
Nov '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Incidentally, the Hillsdale forums have a really nice spell check. Just sayin'....
Nov '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Well my birthday is coming up, and you didn't get me anything last year, nor the year before. I'm not feeling the love.
The King Prawn
Beck did. I don't think it's all of them, but it's a pretty good start. · 13 minutes ago
Oct '12
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
A nice offering but one must be aware that this course offering may contain bias. History is a large and complex topic and not one single course or book will bring you the complete view.
I studied the Northern Ireland conflict for a period of time (1996-2008) and found that the "histories" tended to very by quite a bit. As much as the founding has been written about there is always still more. A new volume titled "The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution " added a lot of information, specifically on the issue of slavery and the Consitution. Take the course but continue to read other sources.
Jan '12
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Reading that lineup makes me nostalgic for my days hanging out in Hillsdale's history department.
Dec '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
The description makes that book sound perfect for a read and discuss here.
Jul '12
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Direct link: History 102: American Heritage—From Colonial Settlement to the Reagan Revolution
I read a book by Burt Folsom and the Young Americas Foundation a year or two ago called Myth of the Robber Barons, and was greatly pleased.
Edited on February 27, 2013 at 11:02pmMay '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
This is amazing. I was about to come onto Ricochet to ask the best online learning method for a Canadian interested in really knowing about the history and founding of the US of A. Thanks for answering my question before I could even ask it. I am guessing I should start with Constitution 101?
May '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
I'm mostly interested in the founders, any Richocheti suggestions for reading material of the non academic variety (ie. interesting reading)?
Dec '12
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Tim, I'm betting that Ricochet contributor Dr. Paul Rahe of Hillsdale would have something to suggest. Interesting that Churchill is your avatar, as Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale, has written a book on him, and there is a bust of the man in the Hillsdale Library. Churchill is well-loved and respected at Hillsdale. You can send a personal message to Dr. Rahe, I believe, from the main page here at Ricochet.
Hubby and I will certainly take History 102. He has taken both Constitution courses, and I took History 101.
Nov '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Tim, "His Excellency", a biography of Washington.
May '10
Re: Learning History with Hillsdale ... For Free
Thanks much. And I'm sure Churchill is also well loved in the White House these days or...oh wait...