Where hip-hop meets higher education: Virginia Tech Hip-Hop Studies

Culture, creativity, scholarship: Virginia Tech’s Hip Hop Studies program. Co-founded by Craig Arthur, associate professor of practice in the Academy of Transdisciplinary Studies, and Frederick Paige, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, this innovative program offers students and local community members a unique opportunity to examine hip hop’s influence on society, identity, and artistic expression. Through hands-on projects, critical discussions, and community engagement, students gain valuable skills in cultural analysis, storytelling, and creative production—helping prepare them for careers in media, education, the arts, and beyond.