Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture
The Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture (IRPC) is dedicated to the rigorous
study of religion’s influence on American and world history and its contemporary importance
for cultural and political life. The Institute also explores a range of pressing issues
facing contemporary society and the enduring value of America’s founding principles.
IRPC enhances the Washington College curriculum by supporting a range of courses each academic year. The Institute has developed or is jointly organizing multiple courses, lecture series, symposia and workshops. Additional student opportunities, including studying with international partners and for scholarships and fellowships, are available.
Department of Political Science
Joseph Prud'homme
The Burton Family Chair in Religion, Politics, and Culture | Associate Professor of Political Science | Affiliated Faculty in Religious Studies- 800-422-1782, ext. 6486
- [email protected]
- 227 Goldstein Hall
Building Skills in Civil Dialogue
Through invited lectures by visiting scholars and particularly by the annual Cincinnatus Debates, students with the IRPC learn to thoughtfully consider multiple perspectives and engage respectfully across differences. This commitment to developing the ability and temperment to contribute in a democracy of people with varying deeply held convications embodies the Washington College approach to civic engagement.
" ...a good moral character is the first essential in a man...It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous. "
—George Washington
Learning Through International Travel
Whether traveling to the University of Oxford in England or Charles University in Prague, students learning with the IRPC have opportunities to encounter international perspectives on some of the foundational principles of society.
Department of Political Science
Joseph Prud'homme
The Burton Family Chair in Religion, Politics, and Culture | Associate Professor of Political Science | Affiliated Faculty in Religious Studies- 800-422-1782, ext. 6486
- [email protected]
- 227 Goldstein Hall