About Hiram College
The Academic Calendar
Hiram's 12-3 academic calendar, the Hiram Plan, is composed of two semesters. Each 15-week semester combines a comprehensive 12-week session of classes followed by an intensive 3-week immersion in a single course. No other college offers students this degree of flexibility and range of formats for learning. The 12-week session, which consists of three or four courses, allows students to undertake major research projects and make connections between lessons learned in concurrent classes. The 3-week session, in which students enroll in only one course, offers seminar-style classes of limited size perfect for intensive study, field studies, internships, and short study abroad programs.
Calendar: 2004-2005
August 16-19, 2006 International Student Orientation
December 20, 2006 First Semester Concludes
Dec 21, 2006-Jan 7, 2007 Semester Break
January 8, 2007 Second Semester Classes Begin
March 3 - Mar 18, 2007 Spring Break
May 10, 2007 Second Semester Concludes
May 13, 2007 Commencement
The Academic Program
The bachelor's degree is awarded by colleges and universities in the United States for completion 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 for admission to graduate study for the master's degree (M.A. or M.S.) and doctorate (Ph.D.) in any discipline, as well as to professional schools such as business, law, and medicine. Hiram College awards the Bachelor of Arts degree for majors in the arts, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
All colleges and universities offer similar courses of study in arts and sciences at the undergraduate level. Colleges, such as Hiram, have the advantage of close faculty-student interaction, smaller classes, and meaningful participation in student activities.
With an average class size of 16 students, Hiram has a strong tradition of excellence in undergraduate education. Faculty members emphasize teaching along with their research and often meet students outside of class to continue classroom dialogue and to socialize. Hiram's commitment to mentoring results in active student involvement in faculty-directed research. Of Hiram's 69 full-time faculty members, 95% hold the Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field.
Hiram, like all American colleges and universities, requires students to complete advanced work in general education as well as a major field of study in order to earn the B.A. degree. The College offers lectures, seminars, and independent study, as well as research and study abroad opportunities in all of its majors. Many departments provide internships in which students gain practical, hands-on experience in a field of study.
Hiram is nationally recognized and accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and certified by the American Chemical Society. These accreditations assure students that credits earned at Hiram College may be transferred to other post-secondary colleges and universities and that Hiram College graduates are readily accepted into advanced graduate degree programs.
Hiram has local chapters of many nationally organized honor societies. Among these are Phi Beta Kappa (outstanding academic excellence), Kappa Delta Pi (education), Lambda Pi Eta (communication), Omicron Delta Epsilon (international society in economics). Phi Beta Kappa membership has long been recognized as the highest distinction an individual can receive for scholarly excellence in undergraduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences in the United States. It is a distinctive honor for an institution to be awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Since the society's founding in 1, only 241 additional colleges and universities have been deemed worthy of establishing a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Hiram's Chapter designated Mu of Ohio, was instituted in the spring of 19
Majors and Minors
Majors are offered in art, art history, biochemistry, biology, biomedical humanities, chemistry, classical studies, communication, computer science, computer systems management, economics, elementary education, English, environmental studies, French, German, history, management, mathematics, music, nursing, philosophy, physics, political science, psychobiology, psychology, religious studies, sociology, Spanish, and theatre arts. Teacher licensure is also available in a variety of fields of secondary education.
Minors, or secondary areas of study that may be combined with a major, are offered in all departments. In addition, students may minor in specialized areas such as exercise and sport science, international studies, photography, writing, and health care humanities.
Engineering
The College offers a dual degree program in engineering that is designed for students who wish to have a broadly based education and become professional engineers. Students attend Hiram for three years and then spend two additional years at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, or Case Institute of Technology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. At these universities, the traditional engineering fields of chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering are offered. In addition, more specialized areas of engineering such as biomedical, computer, engineering and public policy, fluid and thermal science, aerospace, metallurgy and material science, polymer science, and systems science and mathematics are available at one or both of the engineering schools. Upon successful completion of the five-year program, the student receives a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the engineering school and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hiram College. In addition, dual degree plan students at Washington University have the option to obtain technical employment while in school, pursue majors in two departments within engineering and complete a Master of Science in Engineering in one additional year by taking both degrees simultaneously.
Preparation for Graduate and Professional School
Pre-professional preparation is reflected in Hiram's exceptional record of placing students in graduate and professional schools. This stems from the quality of our academic program and advising system that helps students prepare to enter post-baccalaureate study. International students benefit from the expertise of pre-professional advisors who are aware of entrance requirements specific to international (non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident) students. After graduation from Hiram, students are prepared to enter most competitive professional programs in the areas of:
- Business Administration
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Veterinary Medicine
Students planning careers in the health care professions may choose Hiram's Biomedical Humanities major that provides a science core and a mixture of interdisciplinary and department courses emphasizing ethical, religious, social, economic, and non-technological issues in health care.
The Community
Hiram College, located in Hiram, Ohio, is 35 miles (55 km.) southeast of Cleveland. The College's red-brick buildings and historic homes blend with area homes to form an academic village surrounded by wooded, rolling hills. Hiram's rural setting ensures a safe, student-centered environment. The fact that all students 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. The close-knit village atmosphere has a powerful influence on attitudes and relationships. A sense of mutual regard exists among students, faculty, staff, and the community. This means that professors are more than just accessible; they've chosen to teach here because they relish their roles as mentors. Under their guidance, nearby cities like Cleveland become familiar territory and faraway countries like Zimbabwe become learning laboratories. In addition to exploring all that Hiram offers, Cleveland, with its professional athletics, superb music and theater, popular entertainers, and noted museums, is less than an hour away. Home to the Cleveland Orchestra (considered by many music critics to be one of the world's finest), the Museum of Art (with its outstanding collection), and Jacobs Field (home of the Cleveland Indians professional baseball team), Cleveland is a cosmopolitan city, and its surrounding communities provide perfect complements to Hiram's academic village.
Climate
Northeastern Ohio lies in the temperate zone between 41 and 42 degrees N latitude and has a continental climate, moderated by the proximity to the Great Lakes. It enjoys four distinct seasons, with a wide range of temperatures and humidity.
Orientation
All first-year students participate in New Student Institute at the beginning of fall term. This week-long program introduces students to academic and campus life at Hiram College. A two-day orientation program for international students and U.S. citizens from abroad takes place just prior to the Institute. Upon request, the Center for International Studies will arrange for a college driver to transport new students from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to campus free of charge.
Student Life
Hiram students participate in many organizations including athletic teams, student government, music and theatre groups, newspaper, radio station, religious organizations, and community service groups. Most academic departments have clubs (open to all students), and many student organizations reflect Hiram's international community and interest in world affairs. The College's location makes outdoor activity popular; sailing, canoeing, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and downhill and cross-country snow skiing are easily accessible. Activities and services for international students and U.S. citizens and permanent residents living abroad are organized by the international student advisor in the Center for International Studies and by Intercultural Forum.
Intercultural Forum
Comprised of both international and domestic students, Intercultural Forum (better known as "IF") fosters international unity and awareness on campus through a variety of programs. The most popular event from this student-led organization is the annual International Dinner and Variety Show.
Facilities
A college campus in the United States is much like that of a small university. At Hiram College, the main campus occupies 110 acres (44 ha.), containing many characteristically collegiate buildings used for classes, research, offices, and housing. Several academic departments are located in historic 19th-century houses.
All buildings are wired for communication by computer, across campus and throughout cyberspace. Facilities include academic buildings and residence halls that contain IBM-PC labs and computerized classrooms. Students have free 24-hour access to e-mail, the campus computer network, and the Internet, either from residence halls or from any of the PC labs. Each student room is equipped with one data port per person. Rooms are wired for cable with a full array of traditional channels as well as channels programmed by the College.
The Hiram College Library, new in 1995, maintains 185,000 volumes, curriculum and research materials, videos, musical scores, CDs, audiovisual equipment, government documents, periodicals, and a number of special collections. Electronic resources provide access to the Internet, and Hiram's membership in the OhioLINK Consortium of schools provides students with access to a resource collection equivalent to one of the ten largest research libraries in the U.S.
Science facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories for scanning electron microscopy, molecular and cellular biology, physiology and endocrinology, biochemistry, neurobiology, neutron flux, X-ray analysis, and holography. These facilities are housed in Gerstacker Science Hall that opened in spring 2000. In addition, the nearby James H. Barrow Field Station of 260 acres (105 ha.) provides students with opportunity for study and research.
Arts facilities include a 450-seat theatre; a music building with an electronic music laboratory and recital and practice rooms; an art building with gallery, photography darkrooms, painting and ceramic studios, and a small cinema; and a video production facility in the library.
Hiram's Les and Cathy Coleman Sports Recreation and Fitness Center facilities, opened in 2006, are available to students free of charge. These include a weight-training room, swimming pool, basketball court, field house, and racquetball courts. Practice and playing fields, tennis courts, an all-weather track, and a cross country ski trail are adjacent to the Center.
Students live in residence halls and eat in the College dining hall or at the student-run vegetarian co-op. Residence halls are small and each has its own personality. Students are required to reside on campus in one of 11 residence halls that have options for female-only or coed living. Most rooms are shared by two students, and all are furnished. International students may arrange to live on campus over breaks during the academic year and during the summer months.
The Kennedy Center, the student union, provides a place where students can meet and socialize. It houses a food court, Starbucks Coffee, bookstore, game room, computer lab, meeting rooms, the radio station, and a spacious lounge. The facility serves as the focus for a wide range of student activities. In addition to Hinsdale Hall, the main classroom building, historically significant houses such as Bonney Castle, Jesse Smith, Pendleton, and Mahan serve as home to various departments. They provide quiet study areas, seminar classrooms, and common rooms where departmental, academic, and social activities take place. The Hiram Inn located on campus provides comfortable accommodations for families and friends visiting the College.