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Goddard College




Goddard College was founded by Royce Stanley "Tim" Pitkin, a progressive educator and follower of John Dewey and other, similar exponents of Educational Democracy . Pitkin conceived of the college as a place for "plain living and hard thinking." Having no grades, narrative transcripts, and learner-designed curricula, Goddard was one of the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities, which also included Franconia, Nasson, Antioch, and several other institutions.

Always a locus of innovation in higher education, in 1963, Goddard introducted the first Adult Degree Program for working adults. This program has been copied around the world and since that date over 20 million adults have been educated using this innovative, intensive, student-centered model. In 2002 , after 54 years, the college terminated its traditional age onsite experimental bachelor's degree program. Today its 600+ adult students attend residencies in either Plainfield or Port Townsend. Only two programs are available at the Port Townsend site: the MFA in Creative Writing and the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts (new to Port Townsend in the fall of 2007). Also new for the fall of 2007 is the first low residency Bachelor of Fine Arts program in creative writing. Students must transfer in a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits to be eligible for the program.

Although governance of the college has always been Communitarian , Dr. Mark Schulman has been its president since 2003 . The history of Goddard has been tumultuous, like many Free School s practicing the Pedagogical theories of educators like John Dewey . Though many free schools have ceased to exist, Goddard remains alive, well, and unusual, still promoting education as a process of self-discovery in which the learner is firmly in charge. Accordingly, while Goddard is not for everyone, it has been, and continues to be, a home for creative, persistent, and self-directed students.

Goddard is also home to a public radio station that serves central Vermont, WGDR, 91.1 FM.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s , Goddard College was a mecca for politically astute, highly intelligent students. The students at Goddard were among the most active and influential students to organize and speak out in opposition to the Vietnam War .


ACADEMIC PROGRAMS1


  • BA in Individualized Studies Program

  • BA in Health Arts & Sciences: Nature, Culture & Healing Program

  • --- Mexico Trip

  • BA in Education and Licensure Program

  • --- Community Education BA Concentration

  • --- Teacher Licensure - BA

  • BFA in Creative Writing Program

  • MA in Individualized Studies Program

  • --- Consciousness Studies Concentration

  • --- Environmental Studies Concentration

  • --- Transformative Language Arts Concentration--- MA in Health Arts and Sciences - Nature, Culture and Healing Program

  • --- Mexico Trip

  • MA in Psychology and Counseling Program

  • --- Sexual Orientation Concentration

  • --- Organizational Development Concentration

  • MA in Education and Licensure Program

  • --- Community Education MA Concentration

  • --- Partnership Education Concentration

  • --- School Counseling Concentration

  • --- Teacher Licensure - MA

  • MA in Socially Responsible Business and Sustainable Communities Program

  • MFA in Creative Writing Program

  • --- Plainfield, VT Residency Option

  • --- Port Townsend, WA Residency Option

  • --- Clockhouse Writer's Conference

  • MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts -- Plainfield, VT Residency Option

  • MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts - Port Townsend WA Option



FACTS


  • Campus area: 175 Acres (0.7 km²)

  • Enrollment: approx. 610

  • School type: Private

  • Year founded: 1863 , as Goddard Seminary

  • Address: 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667



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