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Academics

The Humanities at Otterbein

Why the Humanities at Otterbein

At Otterbein, our integrative approach to education provides you with the smartest way to study the humanities. Through the humanities you learn to think critically, analytically and creatively to solve complex problems.

You learn to ask questions in order to gain new insights, as well as find meaning, inspiration and wisdom in your own and others’ successes and failures. You learn to understand and appreciate other’s points of view in order to better understand your own beliefs and values. You learn to communicate effectively.

You also learn to see the connection between all areas of knowledge, and to understand the past in order to envision the future. Your Otterbein experience will allow you to stand out in your career, in your community and in the world.

Program Highlights and Opportunities

Small class sizes
Often you will be in class with 20 or fewer of your peers, and Otterbein’s faculty-student ratio of 11:1 means you’ll receive personal attention from faculty who truly know you.
Humanities Advisory Committee
The Humanities Advisory Committee allocates funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support speakers, activities, publications, classes and more in the area of the humanities.
Opportunity to double major
Many of Otterbein’s humanities majors give you the flexibility to pursue a second major and/or minor. Some students choose to pursue multiple humanities majors, while others pursue disciplines outside of the humanities, such as business, psychology, sociology, theatre, music, communication and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
The GO:Fund (Guaranteed Opportunity Fund)
Beginning in Fall 2015, new students enrolling as freshmen into a major offered by one of Otterbein’s humanities departments may be eligible for a one-time, $2,500 grant to support their study abroad or internship experience.
Student publications, internships & professional experiences
Travel courses and study abroad opportunities
Student organizations (honor societies and clubs)
Research and creative work through the 5 Cards

Professional Articles: Why the Humanities

Why Humanities? The Huffington Post, Daniel Little
Parents and siblings are sometimes a bit baffled when their student declares a passionate interest in the humanities. Why can't she pursue a practical degree like accounting or computer science? What is the use of a dozen courses in the humanities? More basically, what are the humanities? / read more
Why Study the Arts and Humanities? The Huffington Post, Daniel R. Schwarz
Following the recent report of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on the crisis in the Humanities entitled "The Heart of the Matter," I have seen quite a few insightful commentaries, most stressing economic utility -- how the humanities help students succeed in whatever endeavor they pursue -- and some stressing how the humanities contribute to making students better citizens in a democracy.
/ read more
Why Study Humanities. What I Tell Engineering Freshmen
The National Endowment for the Humanities, John Horgan
Horgan writes in the Scientific American (June 20, 2013) that, "it is precisely because science is so powerful that we need the humanities now more than ever. ... The humanities are more about questions than answers."
/ read the PDF article
5 Reasons to Major in Humanities Before Entering the High-Tech Industry
USA Today, Jonathan Swartz
Students trying to get a foot into the high-tech industry typically choose their major very pragmatically. Thinking that majors like computer science and engineering will provide them all the necessary skills to find employment at Google, Apple or Facebook, most students don’t think twice about pursuing a degree in the humanities. / read more
11 Reasons to Major in the Humanities (Business Insider)
Holy James Joyce, A Humanities Degree Can Get Me a Job (USA Today)
Why the Humanities Matter (TIMES Higher Education)
Don't Dismiss the Humanities (NY Times)

/ Humanities at Otterbein

Undergraduate Admission
p/ 614.823.1500
e/ uotterb@otterbein.edu

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Spotlight On...

Alumna Reflects on Lessons Learned at Otterbein

Liz Hardy

Otterbein often teaches students lessons they keep with them for the rest of their lives. Sometimes these lessons come in the form of academic pursuits. Sometimes they come from a sense of collective pride and service. And sometimes they come from friendships and losses. For Liz Hardy ’07, all of these came together equally to shape her future.

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