The Chicago Campus, hosted at the University of Chicago's International House from 2006 to 2017, represented Shimer College's final iteration, immersing students in a vibrant academic hub. The Great Books curriculum persisted, prioritizing seminar-based exploration of enduring ideas in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts. This urban setting enriched discussions with diverse perspectives from surrounding institutions.
Assessment relied on narrative evaluations, oral defenses, and capstone projects, eschewing grades for qualitative feedback. The program incorporated occasional interdisciplinary electives, such as science and society or literature and law, leveraging Chicago's resources. With 80-120 students, the close-knit community fostered mentorship and collaborative research.
This phase highlighted Shimer's adaptability, integrating digital humanities tools while preserving textual focus. Graduates pursued advanced degrees, policy roles, and entrepreneurship, embodying the college's ethos of critical inquiry. The Chicago location amplified networking, with seminars often spilling into Hyde Park's intellectual scene, culminating in a legacy of innovative liberal education.
Shimer College's Mount Carroll Campus, operational from 1853 to 1978, offered a rigorous liberal arts education centered on the Great Books curriculum. This approach emphasized close reading, critical discussion, and interdisciplinary inquiry through small seminar-style classes. The program was designed to foster intellectual independence and ethical reasoning, drawing from foundational texts across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts.
Students engaged in oral exams and written essays, with no multiple-choice tests, promoting deep comprehension. The curriculum evolved slightly over decades but remained committed to Socratic dialogue. Electives included advanced seminars on Eastern thought or contemporary issues, always tied to great texts. This holistic education prepared graduates for diverse careers in law, education, business, and public service, emphasizing lifelong learning. The campus's rural setting enhanced focused study, with about 100-200 students annually participating in these intensive courses.
Overall, the Mount Carroll era solidified Shimer's reputation for transformative education, influencing subsequent iterations of the program.
During its tenure at the Waukegan Campus from 1978 to 2006, Shimer College continued its signature Great Books program, adapting the curriculum to an urban lakeside environment while maintaining small class sizes and seminar discussions. The focus remained on Western intellectual tradition, encouraging students to grapple with primary sources in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and integrative studies. This period saw refinements to include more diverse perspectives within the canon.
The curriculum required comprehensive oral and written evaluations, with students leading discussions to build confidence and analytical skills. Special topics seminars occasionally addressed non-Western texts like the Bhagavad Gita or Confucian Analects for comparative purposes. Enrollment hovered around 100 students, benefiting from proximity to Chicago's resources for guest lectures and internships. This era emphasized community governance, with students participating in curriculum committees.
Shimer's Waukegan phase reinforced its commitment to dialogic learning, producing alumni who excelled in academia, nonprofits, and creative fields. The program's intensity—averaging 15-18 hours of weekly seminars—cultivated resilient thinkers ready for complex global challenges.
