The Hamilton Center is devoted to research and teaching on Western civilization and the principles of a free society. Here students see past their horizons and prepare for lifetimes of leadership by studying the greatest works of the Western tradition and beyond. Open inquiry and the pursuit of excellence grounded in Western civilization and the American experience are the foundation of an education that will lead our students to thrive not just while at the University of Florida, but throughout their lives and careers. Liberal education promises to be a transformative experience and the university, “the meeting place of the greats”. The Hamilton Center fulfills that promise.
With ties to Oxford and Cambridge, the Hamilton Center offers students the chance to study at some of the most elite institutions in the world. Our students enter an unparalleled pipeline for singular opportunities. And here in Florida, the Hamilton Center brings world-class scholarship and instruction to the classroom every day.
The Hamilton Center’s faculty are at the top of their fields. Leading researchers in the humanities and social sciences, they also are devoted teachers. Students receive close mentorship from their professors, who teach them in small classes. This kind of teaching not only encourages free expression and the pursuit of truth, but also develops the skills and networks our students need to succeed in their careers after UF. Free thought, free expression, free from agenda — that is what students can expect from Hamilton Center classes.
Hamilton Center classes aim to open students’ minds and prepare them for the real world, where we all confront and engage with a wide range of ideas and people. At the Hamilton Center education is about engaging new ideas derived from timeless classics, and training the next generation of American leaders, not about promoting an ideological agenda. Our commitment to intellectual diversity stems from our belief in rigorous scholarship. Our classes lay the groundwork for career success and an intellectual life beyond graduation.
See the news we are making and the events we are hosting.
Hamilton Center faculty are currently teaching a number of Quest courses and (Un)common Reads courses. Students can find a list of the courses we are teaching here.
The Hamilton Center will offer two majors starting in August 2025: Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) and Great Books and Ideas. Pending approval, the Center also plans to offer two additional majors starting in August 2026.
Hamilton Center majors will teach transferrable skills and ways of approaching problems that prepare students to succeed and having meaningful careers in a variety of fields, including law, government, public policy, finance, consulting, health, nonprofits and other areas.
