A message from the Chair of Integrative Studies -
Amy Jessen-Marshall - Associate Professor of Life and Earth Sciences
Welcome to the Integrative Studies Program website.
Integrative learning is about making connections.
It’s about the relationships between the liberal arts and the disciplines.
It’s about the growth from a first year student to a graduating senior.
It’s about building an inquisitive and open mind and discovering who you are both in your own community and in the world.
I believe we must all live the experiences that are embedded in Integrative Studies.
I had the opportunity to share some of my experiences of living a life as a Global Citizen
and it’s connections to the 2007 Common Book in the opening convocation address for new students,
this past September of 2007. Behind this link you’ll find the stories I shared, if you are curious to see my perspective.
The Integrative Studies program at Otterbein College has a long history,
and as we look at the doorway into the fourth decade of our program we are blessed that our program
founders were so insightful and willing to be risk takers in the development of our General Education curriculum.
Because our General Education curriculum is different than what you’ll find at most institutions.
We do not just dip our toes into the Introductory classes found within disciplines with the hope that a
little exposure to a lot of topics will make you a well rounded student. Instead we dive in, asking our
faculty to creatively teach courses from nearly every discipline on campus that revolve around our current
central theme of “human nature”. What does a Philosopher say about human nature?
INST250 will help you answer that question. How does an English faculty member teach you to question
relationships and the nature of existence? (Plus help you learn to write) Your courses in INST270 and
300 will show you. Come take INST240 on “Origins” with me and my co-teacher Dr. Lescinksy and we’ll give
you a scientific perspective on this topic. The evolution of the human form, human culture and ultimately human
consciousness will challenge you to consider what makes us unique and how we define it.
By the time you are done, you’ll have completed ten courses in Integrative Studies,
if we’ve done our jobs well you’ll understand where you come from and where you are going. You’ll see
how you fit into a global society and you’ll be empowered to be an active participant in it. Because Integrative Studies
doesn’t end when you graduate. A global citizen continues to question the world and find their place within it.
You may not make some of the connections that Integrative Studies would like you to make until you are well beyond
your time at Otterbein, but we hope after traveling with us through our program that you’ll look back when you are gone
and discover it’s been a worthwhile journey.
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