Our Philosophy

Photo of a female student painting Otterbein College, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is grounded in a Christian heritage that fosters concern for purpose and meaning in life, the dignity of persons, and the significance of community. The Otterbein tradition offers dialogue with other faiths and philosophies, intellectual stimulation, openness to the day's issues, and incentive to new understanding. Thus, Otterbein College seeks students, faculty and staff who represent societal diversity. The College maintains an openness to all qualified persons and does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, ancestry, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, veteran status or marital status.

The fulfillment of these purposes requires you to read well, write well, think clearly, identify ideas, know how to discuss, to listen, to seek data and to have powers of synthesis and creativity. Otterbein seeks to provide you with focal points around which self-education may continue after graduation and with attitudes appreciative of those values reflected in the purposes of the College. In striving for such attitudes, you must see your own specialties in a larger perspective and be prepared with a complement of intellectual skills to join creatively in thoughtful dialogue.

The patterns of academic requirements and nonacademic life are designed to help you share in the goals of the College. For example, Integrative Studies offers you a concrete academic opportunity to develop self-awareness and social consciousness through the readings, lectures, class discussions and conversations on the campus. In such fashion you learn to view your special interests from a broader perspective.

The college major you choose also offers the opportunity to develop informed, well-disciplined intellectual abilities. The major will help provide a focus for your college experiences and will form the foundation for career development.