Frequently Asked Questions

 

What degrees does Hiram offer?

Hiram College is a four-year college of liberal arts and sciences. The College awards the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) for majors in the arts, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). 

In the U. S., the terms “college” and “university” refer to post-secondary (tertiary) education. Students begin the application process to colleges and universities during their final year of secondary education with the expectation that they will successfully complete secondary study prior to actual enrollment in a college or university.

The bachelor’s degree is awarded by U.S. colleges and universities, most generally at the conclusion of four years of academic study beyond secondary school. The two most common degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.).  They are equally recognized as the foundation for admission to graduate study for the Master’s (M.A. or M.S.) and the doctorate (Ph.D.) in any disciplines, as well as to professional schools such as business, law, and medicine.

Is Hiram the right academic match for me?

Colleges of liberal arts and sciences are among the country’s oldest institutions of higher education and are distinctive to American tertiary education.  Liberal arts degrees are university degrees—equivalent in every way for employment and entrance into graduate and professional schools. At a liberal arts college, education is first and foremost an academic preparation in which the primary focus is on the professional success and personal fulfillment of undergraduate students.

A liberal arts college helps students achieve success in several ways. First, there is an emphasis on the development of critical thinking and communication skills. Emphasis on writing, public speaking, analysis, and problem solving – useful skills in any profession – are integrated across all disciplines. Second, students receive a broad base in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. At Hiram, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines through interdisciplinary courses is one of the distinctive features of the curriculum. Finally, each student has in-depth exposure to one academic subject through intense work in a field of study, called a "major."

Majors at Hiram require a senior seminar or research project suitable to the discipline that serves as a capstone to the student’s area of specialized focus. 

A liberal arts education offers flexibility not found in other educational systems. For students who arrive on campus knowing the major they wish to pursue, coursework in their chosen field may begin immediately. Other Hiram students elect to emphasize more than one major during their four years of study. For students who arrive wanting to explore their options before making a final choice, there is ample opportunity to do this prior to year two, by which time most students will have determined their major. In any of these scenarios, the liberal arts make sense.

Does Hiram offer the right learning environment?

Faculty

Do you care who your teachers are? We hope you do, because our faculty will care who you are. At Hiram College, faculty take great pride in working with students individually. They are master educators, distinguished by their love of teaching. Classes are small, usually with 12 to 18 students. Your teachers will know your name and an invitation to an event in a faculty member’s home is common. Most importantly, they'll know you well enough to gauge when and how to challenge you to achieve at the highest level possible.

Calendar

Does the way a school organizes its academic calendar really make a difference? We think so. We know that students have different learning styles and some course content is better suited to more intensive work. Our academic calendar, with long (12-week) and short (3-week) sessions complementing each other, exposes you to learning formats best-suited for different subjects. Since not all classes are the same, why should they be taught using the same format? In the 12-week, you'll be able to cover a breadth of material, undertake major research projects, and make connections in material learned in concurrent classes. In the 3-week sessions, you'll enroll in one small, seminar-style course on a special topic where the focus might be study abroad, field experience, or hands-on research opportunities. If you thrive in learning environments of small class sizes, personal attention, and varied class formats, Hiram is a good match for you. On the other hand, if you thrive in large lectures or prefer standardized tests and a chance to fade into the crowd, Hiram is definitely not a good choice for you.

Students

Will you fit in? If you're a bright student, you'll want to surround yourself with other students who are your intellectual peers. The majority of students in Hiram's entering classes score in the top 15 percent on national testing and graduate in the top quarter of their high schools' classes.

Does Hiram provide the learning opportunities I need for my future?

Internships

How do you learn best? If the answer is: "by doing," Hiram may be the right choice for you. Hiram's rich diversity of internship opportunities gives students the chance to experience a career before graduation. Not all colleges offer this opportunity. A college major is not the same thing as a future career. Choosing a major at a liberal arts college opens up many career opportunities, not just one. If it doesn't suit you, you can change your career aspirations without necessarily having to change your major. At many non-liberal arts colleges, changing majors and /or career goals may cause you to loose valuable college credit because careers are directly linked to highly specific majors. At Hiram we recognize that the two may be related but are not necessarily linked.

Communication skills

Communication skills are critical for success, whether based in good writing or technology. From first to senior year, students benefit from the close working relationship with their faculty who provide critical evaluation of written work in all disciplines, not just the humanities. The writing center provides additional support for any literary endeavor – from a short paper to a senior project. So regardless of whether your skills are average or advanced, there are opportunities to improve them.

Extensive availability of technology in Hiram’s classrooms also fosters learning.  Students have access to computers across Hiram’s wireless campus in residence halls, computer labs, the library, and through a laptop loan program in the student union.  Availability of technology is enhanced by training in the use of a variety of software packages and tech support services available for all students.

International Experiences

Your exposure to other peoples and cultures should not end when you enroll at Hiram. International students who attend Hiram College are welcome to participate fully in the study abroad program.

Since 1970, over one-third of Hiram graduates have participated in the College’s faculty-led study programs on six continents. The curriculum is directed north, south, east, and west to include diverse courses in countries and cultures around the globe.

Is Hiram the right size and location for me?

Hiram College is located in an academic village of 600 residents and 1,200 students. The campus, which blends traditional college buildings and historic homes, provides a close-knit, academic community, ensuring a student-centered environment that is virtually crime-free. The fact that all students must reside on the campus and many faculty members live within walking distance of the College fosters a sense of community that extends beyond the classroom. Hiram’s international students, who come from cities both big and small, praise the natural beauty of the area and yet the College is only a 40 minute drive from the heart of Cleveland – a major city and home to a world-renowned orchestra, art museum, theatre district, professional and recreational sports, and other recreational attractions.

What’s campus life like at Hiram?

College should give you opportunities to exercise leadership skills and prepare for a future of working with others in many different settings and situations. Hiram is small enough that students can make a difference. In fact, we depend on students to fill all sorts of leadership roles on campus. International students are fully integrated into the life of the school and serve as officers on student senate and other organizations, as well as engaging in cultural, community service, and athletic activities. For students who like a thousand things to do each night and events already planned for them, Hiram is not the best choice. Hiram students are participants, not observers. They are active in more than 70 campus organizations. For students who want the opportunity to shape the world around them, Hiram is a great match.

What’s the weather like at Hiram?

Hiram College is situated in Ohio, halfway between New York City and Chicago.  Northeast Ohio lies in the temperate zone between 41 and 42 degrees North latitude and has a continental climate, moderated by the proximity to the Great Lakes. The region enjoys four distinct seasons, with a wide range of temperatures and humidity.

What will I do when I graduate from Hiram?

Our 150 plus years of experience tells us that the answer is: "Whatever you want to do!" While many of our graduates enter the work force after completing their studies, 60 percent choose to go to graduate or professional school within five years. Hiram College graduates have gained admission into some of the finest and most selective graduate and professional programs in the country. They have distinguished themselves in a variety of fields including law, research, business, education, and communication. If you wish to continue your education, a Hiram College degree can open doors for you at some of the most respected graduate schools in the country.

Is Hiram a good financial match for me?

All applicants, including international first year and transfer students, are eligible to be considered for merit-based scholarships (i.e., awarded without consideration of a family’s financial circumstances). Hiram College Global Scholarships are awarded to first year students and are renewable annually to students who maintain satisfactory academic progress. In preparing a realistic financial plan for a full college career, an international applicant should have a minimum of $15,000 of available funds per year from sources other than Hiram College.