Spartan Debate Institute

The 2021 Spartan Debate Institute will capitalize on our leadership in online debate and host the camp virtually. We are making the decision early to prepare to host the best online debate camp we can.

What you get at Spartan Debate Institutes:

• Leadership in online debate - MSU Debate was one of the trailblazing organizations testing online debate many summers ago. The Spartan Debate Institute was the first debate camp to go online in summer 2020. That leadership will continue at the online debate camp in 2021.
• Quality faculty and contributors - among the finest college and high school debate coaches in the nation including remote contributors to seize the opportunity of online instruction
• Comprehensive and rigorous curriculum designed to be done online - inclusive of all debate arguments and styles with a flexible schedule to accomodate different time zones and busy summers
• Instruction for all levels - labs for newcomers and novices to TOC Champions

In 1992, the debate team at Michigan State University teamed up with a few local high school debate coaches to create a new debate institute, centered around maximizing rigorous instruction and value for the students who would attend.

In the years since, the Spartan Debate Institutes have grown, hosting more than 3,000 debaters, hailing from all 50 states, coming from schools and debate circuits of all shapes and sizes.

Our commitment to each and every student still revolves around the same principles we pioneered in our first summer.

* Price reflects an Early Application Discount of $200 for debaters who apply and place a deposit before April 5, 2021. After that time, the price is $2300 for the 4 Week Session and $2900 for the Spartan Scholars.

• Established Commitment to Practice Debates
  By providing SDI students with a packet of affirmative and negative positions at registration, practice debates and speeches typically begin the second day of the camp. All sessions conclude with judged tournaments for relaxed, yet structured, opportunities for students to validate their educational experiences with extensive student-teacher interaction.
• History of Competitive Success
  SDI Alumni have won tournaments or Top Speaker awards at the Tournament of Champions, St. Marks, the Glenbrooks, NFL Nationals, NCFL Nationals, and various state championships. Many have gone on to succeed at the very highest levels of intercollegiate debate, including receiving the Copeland award for the top intercollegiate debate team, as well as reaching late elimination rounds at CEDA Nationals and the National Debate Tournament.
• Curriculum Diversity
  The SDI retains staff members and lab placement for all skill levels, ranging from a pre-novice lab for individuals with no debate experience, to novices, to those seeking to polish national level varsity skills.
• Superb Instruction with a Rigorous Curriculum
  We have gone to great lengths to bring in top-level members of both the college and high school debate communities to ensure the most well rounded exposure possible. Our staff is not just a dedicated group of successful high school coaches, college coaches, and current college debaters who have excelled. Our staff members are chosen because they are experienced and dynamic educators who have a passion for debate and planned instruction.
• A Proven Dedication to Student Learning
  Although MSU has the fastest growing institutes – from 43 to 300+ students in eight years – we maintain a low student-staff ratio and a commitment to extensive individual instruction by limiting large lectures and focusing on small group interaction.
• Competitive Prices and Scholarships
  We are committed to offering outstanding debate instruction at affordable prices, which include tuition, and room and board. Limited need-based financial assistance is also available. The Spartan Debate Institutes offer well-rounded debate instruction at a great value.

SDI Application Deadlines:

April 5 – Early Application Discount Deadline for 4 Week and Spartan Scholars

April 26 – Financial Aid Application Deadline

May 17 – Application Deadline