The Objectivist Academic Center (OAC) is a program of the Ayn Rand Institute, a nonprofit institute devoted to promoting the philosophy of Ayn Rand. The OAC’s purpose is to teach students eager to learn Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism.

Most of the courses we offer are conducted via teleconference, and recordings of each class are made available on the Web. Anyone with telephone or Internet access can participate. Local students also have the option of attending classes at our headquarters in Irvine, California.

The OAC is the first and only educational institution of its kind. We offer a systematic program of instruction in the essentials of the philosophy of Objectivism and in the nature of objective thought and communication. Our mission is to help develop the intellectuals of tomorrow, the lecturers, teachers and writers who will uphold reason and objectivity in the culture. Nowhere else will you find such a distinctly Objectivist curriculum.

We offer both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. The undergraduate program focuses on developing a basic understanding of philosophy, of Objectivism as a philosophical system, of the application of Objectivism to one’s own life, and of the methods of communicating rational ideas in writing. The focus of the graduate program is on mastering Objectivism, with special attention paid to proper philosophical methodology.

To learn more about the OAC, please visit our Web site, where you can also register to watch a free video, "Ayn Rand’s Ideas—an Introduction," by OAC Dean Dr. Onkar Ghate.

In addition to offering our classes via telephone or Internet to anyone in the world, we make special arrangements, where possible, to accommodate a student’s unusual school or work schedule.

Most full-time college students receive tuition waivers and telephone expense reimbursements to help students defray their costs to attend. For current tuition fees, please visit our Web site.

The OAC welcomes applications from anyone who is passionate about studying the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Our undergraduate program is designed for those who are pursuing careers as professors, teachers and writers in such fields as philosophy, economics, psychology, literature and the sciences. In addition, we accept individuals in or considering other professions.

To apply to the OAC, please fill out the online application form on our Web site. We accept applications throughout the year; our program begins each year in the fall.

Ayn Rand’s philosophy is a rich, complex and integrated system. It can take the brightest of students several years to fully grasp even its basics.

For decades students have been studying on their own, trying to understand and digest Ayn Rand’s philosophy without the aid of a systematic curriculum. Now they have a place where they can study her philosophy in a structured way, thereby increasing and accelerating their understanding of Objectivism.

The instructors in the OAC are knowledgeable about the common errors, confusions and questions that come up in one's mind as one is learning the material.

In addition to the benefits of a systematized program and the opportunity to learn from experts in Objectivism, the OAC offers the benefits of interacting with like-minded students and the opportunity to make friends with individuals who share your chosen values.

If you have any questions about the OAC …

• visit our Web site and its FAQ

• call us at 1-877-AYN-RAND (1-877-296-7263)

• e-mail: oac@aynrand.org