Those keen on designing the future they wish to see must first craft their own journeys to success — this is a fact Antioch College knows best, especially when it comes to teaching students to lead change in social movements. Where better to learn how to spark change than at an institution recognised as a Member of Colleges that Change Lives?
The process of becoming a world-changer begins with the right degree, which isn’t hard to find in Yellow Springs, Ohio — a town regarded as one of the state’s coolest. Amidst Antioch’s connected community, every curriculum is as unique as its maker — entirely customised to backgrounds, interests and aspirations. Students even assemble groups of their own around performing arts, political engagement, athletics and more, meaning campus life varies year to year, depending on the perspectives that arrive from near and far.
Throughout, faculty members provide valuable guidance, leading students down a path of self-directed study which entails engaging with core topics through a range of academic disciplines and real-world experiences. Options abound through the academic divisions of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Cooperative Education, Language and Culture, the Quantitative Reasoning Centre, and the Writing Institute.
The enriching journey begins with students choosing between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Then, in their second year, they enrol in a Design Your Degree course, which arms them with the toolkit and perspective needed to articulate what they wish to achieve. However specialised or multidisciplinary their major is, is entirely up to them.
Popular areas of study include Anthropology, Biology and Biomedical Science, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Environmental Science, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Political Economy, History, Interdisciplinary Arts, Literature and Writing, Media Arts, Pre-Legal Studies, Psychology, Sustainability, and Visual Arts, amongst many more.
Through Antioch’s Humanities division, students relish in history, literature and philosophy to gain a better understanding of themselves and their world. Through the Social Sciences, they acquire concrete knowledge about political and social institutions. In the Arts division, students and faculty analyse and produce documentary and narrative film, radio, 2D and 3D visual art, experimental theatre and performance art.
Those looking to change the world through the power of science would be pleased to know Antioch is also home to a faculty that boasts disciplinary expertise in Forest Ecosystem Analysis, Forestry, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Biology. The science division offers multiple opportunities to explore professional experiences as well.All students can join lessons in French Language and Culture, Spanish Language and Culture, Global and Transnational Engagement, and Social Enterprise and Innovation.
“Antioch has changed me in many ways but the most important and meaningful lessons here have pushed me to be more confident and self-determined,” says Odette Chavez-Mayo, a Media Arts graduate who won the En Foco Photography Fellowship in 2020.
Such outcomes are guaranteed to those who make the most of Antioch’s unique, historic experiential learning requirement. In fact, its Cooperative Education Programme has been up and running for over 100 years, providing students with opportunities to make names for themselves in partner organisations, self-directed learning enterprises, or through research. At the same time, they learn to navigate complex work environments, communicate publicly and experiment with solution-oriented approaches to social change. These experiences can take up approximately a third of their programme.
It’s little wonder why all graduates step out of Antioch and into organisations or further study to make an impact. For example, 2015 graduate Ryann Patrus was just awarded a PhD in Disability Studies from Ohio State University’s Department of Comparative Studies. 2016 graduate Gabe Iglesia has accepted his second posting as a diplomat with the US Foreign Service — this time in Seoul, South Korea. Meanwhile, 2017 graduate Taylor Spratt was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English at a University in Brazil — her research focuses on youth civic leadership and participatory budgeting.
If you’re ready to tackle today’s complex social and ecological challenges, Antioch College warmly welcomes you to enquire further. Already convinced? To fast-track a self-directed academic experience of a lifetime, click here to apply today.
Follow Antioch College on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.