HCSPiP OVerview

The Hamilton College Summer Program in Philosophy (HCSPiP) brings together creative teachers, ambitious undergraduates, and engaging graduate students, for three concurrent, innovative, two-week courses in philosophy.

Students gain experience with new approaches to philosophy, working with outstanding philosophy teachers and a diverse group of students chosen for their desire to learn together.  All students in the program participate fully in all three courses. Classes meet daily, Monday through Friday. Evenings contain both structured activities and unstructured time to study and relax with other undergraduate philosophers.

Teachers have the opportunity to experiment with new pedagogy. All courses are chosen for their promise of innovation and engagement. 

Tutors, all current graduate students in philosophy Ph.D. programs, gain experience and serve as a bridge between the faculty and the undergraduates. They are resources both for academic support for the courses and for networking for students thinking about continuing their philosophy studies after college.

All participants are provided with room and board while they are at Hamilton College and receive stipends from the Truax Fund in Philosophy.

In addition to coursework, the HCSPiP provides a one-day Adirondack trip, a July 4 celebration, and other activities, all imbued with the natural interests of our participants in philosophy.

The program culminates, for faculty, in a conference on pedagogy at which the three instructors of the courses present their work and hear from a keynote speaker. Instructors share their experiences, what they tried and what they learned. The conference is streamed so that instructors from other institutions can learn from the work at HCSPiP.  Past conferences are archived here. 

• HCSPiP related scholarship (including blog posts and a YouTube video) is located here.
• Here is a promotional presentation about the program.
• Here is some information about past programs.

Truax Fund

The Hamilton College Summer Program in Philosophy is funded by the Chauncey R. Truax Fund for Philosophy.