Institutes

Principia’s institutes extend learning beyond coursework, helping students develop skills and deepen their understanding of a variety of topics.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Principia College Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation—Principia’s newest institute—seeks to promote and inspire entrepreneurial spirit on campus. Its multidisciplinary approach encourages collaboration and creativity. Through the center, you can join start-up challenges, attend talks by renowned entrepreneurs, and participate in workshops covering design thinking, prototyping, business planning, launching, and obtaining financial grants. The center is supported by Don (US'64, C'68) and Christina (C'66) Koch and by the College’s 50th Reunion Classes of 1966 and 1967.

Euphrates Institute

Join the Principia College Chapter of the Euphrates Institute to develop a deeper cultural, religious, and historical understanding of the Middle East and to promote understanding between the Middle East and the West.

The Euphrates Institute envisions a world at peace, beginning with the Middle East. Principia College partners with the Euphrates Institute and hosts a Euphrates chapter on campus. Through the institute, students organize speaking events, attend conferences, and have opportunities to travel to the Middle East.

Institute for the Metaphysics of Physics

Participate in the revolution going on in quantum physics.

Explore the nature of reality through experiments in Principia’s quantum optics laboratory with astrophysicist Dr. Laurance Doyle, founding Director of Principia College's Institute for the Metaphysics of Physics (IMOP) and Principal Investigator at the SETI Institute. Dr. Doyle believes Principia College students and faculty are especially well placed to explore the metaphysics of quantum physics, as scientists make new discoveries about reality, matter, and the role of consciousness in science.

Along with directing IMOP, Dr. Doyle gives guest lectures and hosts formal and informal opportunities to talk about physics and metaphysics. He also connects Principia students with internships alongside other world-renowned scientists at SETI.

Leadership Institute

Improve your leadership skills—or start developing them.

The Principia College Leadership Institute provides students with the tools, training, and coaching to practice leadership. The institute also offers a Leadership Certificate, which recognizes students who have participated in a range of leadership experiences and activities during their time at Principia College.

Center for Sustainability

Become an agent of change on campus and in the world.

Principia College's Center for Sustainability is a vibrant nexus embracing academic pursuits, practical applications, and lively conversations about complex challenges that face the human family in the 21st century.

You can get involved right away—implementing sustainability projects, developing green purchasing policies, volunteering at a chemical-free farm right here on campus, or participating in sustainability-related community service.

The Center for Sustainability also coordinates an academic minor in sustainability, sponsors the Sustainability Speaker Series, and helps match students with sustainability-related internship and career opportunities.

Land Stewardship

Principia’s Land Stewardship program provides students the opportunity to engage in forest stewardship, prairie restoration, gardening, GIS projects, and more. Students perform a range of tasks essential to caring for our native ecosystems.