HUMAN MEANING AND THE MORAL LIFE

What is the Summer Seminar?

The Austin Institute high school seminar, is a highly interactive, week-long seminar that plumbs the depths of the human person.

​

What are the topics covered?

Each day we will address a different aspect of what it means to be human:

• A human person is an embodied soul.

• A human person changes over time, and not always for the better.

• A human person has a conscience and a moral sense.

• A human person strives toward a specific goal: happiness.

• A human person must discriminate between competing claims. 

 

Who can apply?

High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year.

​​

Who teaches the classes?

​​

                                   

                                       

​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Are other activities included in the program?

Classroom instruction will be supplemented with outdoor activities, cultural outings, film viewings, and all the best Austin offers. So, students can expect a generous dose of fun mixed in with their studies. 

​​

What is the cost, and what is included? 

A non-refundable $350 registration fee will be required of all accepted applicants to reserve a place in the seminar. This one-time fee partially covers the cost of tuition, room, board, and books. All other costs (except for travel expenses) are covered by our generous donors. 

​​

Are scholarships available? 

Scholarships are available for those with proven financial need. 

​​

Where would I stay?

Men and women will be housed in separate wings of a private dorm near the University of Texas at Austin. Resident advisors will stay in the same wings as students to advise and assist students during the duration of the program.

​​

What are the application requirements?

You need to submit the following: 

1. One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or tutor.

2. A 500-word essay answering the following question: “Is virtue something that can be taught? Or does it come by practice? Or is it neither teaching nor practice that gives it to a man, but natural aptitude or something else?” (Plato, Meno, 70a).

​​

Who should I contact if I need more information?

Please direct all the questions to our Director of Curriculum, Dr. María José Ruiz González, at mjr@austin-institute.org

​

Why should I apply?

Take a look at last year's seminars and get a glimpse of them.

​