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B.S. in Actuarial Science

Otterbein University Course Catalogs

2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 18, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Department and Program Mission Statements


Art Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
Biology and Earth Science Department
Business, Accounting and Economics Department
Chemistry Department
Communication Department
Education Department
English Department
Engineering Department
Environmental Studies Program
Equine Science Department
First Year Experience Program
Health and Sport Sciences Department
History and Political Science Department
Honors Program
Integrative Studies Program
Leadership Studies Program
Mathematical Sciences Department
Modern Languages and Cultures Department
Music Department
Nursing Department
Physics Department
Psychology Department
Religion and Philosophy Department
The Department of Sociology, Criminology and Justice Studies
Theatre and Dance Department
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

Art Department

  • Art w/Art Education Concentration major, BA
  • Art w/Studio Concentration major, BA
  • Art History minor
  • Arts Administration minor
  • Studio Art major, BFA
  • Studio Art minor

The mission of the Art Department is to offer studio and art history programs linked to the University’s liberal arts foundation, making it a destination for individuals studying the visual arts in studio practices, art history, arts education and arts administration. Graduates will become committed professionals with a variety of professional options, prepared to grow as engaged, life-long learners dedicated to the visual arts field and its global impact. Additionally, the department is committed to offering visual arts courses that complement the liberal education of all students at Otterbein. The mission of the Art Department supports and embraces the mission of Otterbein University.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, BS

The program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology operates under the auspices and guidance of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to assist in the development, preparation, and education of undergraduates with interests in the molecular nature of life processes. The program promotes active, experiential, collaborative learning and critical reflection in order to develop a community of lifelong learners who can think critically, make informed decisions, respect others’ point of view, and be responsive to the changing needs of science and society.

Biology and Earth Science Department

  • Biology major, BA & BS
  • Biology minor
  • Earth Science minor
  • Environmental Science, BA & BS
  • Zoo and Conservation Science, BA & BS

The mission of the Biology and Earth Sciences Department is the incremental development in all students of core scientific competencies and intellectual skills, the provision of breadth and depth of educational opportunities, and the enhancement of a community that values learning. As scientists we believe that science is best learned by active inquiry and strongly encourage this at every level, including original student and faculty research projects. As liberal arts scholars we encourage interdisciplinary transfer of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Business, Accounting and Economics Department

  • Accounting major, BA & BS
  • Accounting minor
  • Public Accounting major, BA & BS
  • Economics major, BA & BS
  • Economics minor
  • Finance major, BA
  • Finance minor
  • International Business and Management major, BA
  • International Business and Management minor
  • Management major, BA
  • Management minor
  • Marketing major, BA
  • Marketing minor
  • Pre-MBA minor

 

The mission of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics (BAE) at Otterbein University is to provide a personalized education of distinction that leads our graduates to inquiring, ethical, humane, and productive lives as global citizens. The Department seeks to produce well-rounded, professionally prepared graduates, ready to lead and serve their family, community, employers, and the world at large.

Within our majors, we seek to educate students through a curriculum where values, leadership, and ethics are modeled and taught. In accordance with the University’s mission, and in partnership with all areas of the University, the Department seeks to reach beyond the boundaries of the classroom to develop each student through the intellectual, experiential, and social dimensions of their college experience. 

The Department is committed to an educational philosophy that stresses personal and professional development of both students and faculty, and incorporates the various disciplines of business as a part of a broad liberal arts education. Respect for others, community involvement, leadership, and service are encouraged and demonstrated through the professional and personal conduct of students, faculty and staff.

Chemistry Department

  • Chemistry major, BA & BS
  • Chemistry minor

The mission of the Department of Chemistry is to provide an increased understanding of chemistry and an appreciation of scientific inquiry for all students on campus. We also seek to prepare our majors to become independent scientists who can explore challenging problems from multiple perspectives, building on a foundation of disciplinary knowledge from a curriculum that has been approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Department of Chemistry strives to prepare our students for professional work in chemistry, in accordance with the guidelines of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Our ACS-approved program provides extensive training across a wide array of chemistry lectures and labs, focusing on quantitative training and hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation. Our faculty members facilitate independent research experiences for chemistry students throughout their undergraduate careers. We also aim to make chemistry accessible for all Otterbein students, participating in the Integrative Studies program to raise the level of scientific literacy across campus. We likewise provide substantial support coursework for the Departments of Physics, Biology and Earth Sciences, Nursing, Equine Studies, and Health and Sport Sciences, as well as the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) Program. Our Department offers both B.A. and B.S. degrees in chemistry; the latter is ACS-certified and thus nationally recognized for its thorough curriculum. These degree options provide preparation for a variety of postgraduate paths, including graduate school, research positions in the chemical industry, and a variety of professional programs in health-related fields (medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy). We also offer a minor in chemistry.

Communication Department

  • Communication Studies major, BA
  • Communication Studies minor
  • Health Communication major, BA
  • Health Communication minor
  • Journalism & Media Communication major, BA
  • Journalism & Media Communication minor
  • Public Relations major, BA
  • Public Relations minor
  • Sports Communication minor

Creating communication scholars and practitioners who understand audiences and engage in strategic choices to create competent communication in public forums and interpersonal relationships as professionals and citizens within diverse communities.

Education Department

  • Early Childhood Education major, BSE
  • Middle Childhood Education major, BSE

The professional education unit of Otterbein University is committed to providing coherent, developmentally-based teacher education programs that prepare teachers to create and work within learning communities which maximize the potential of all learners. The unit promotes collaborative learning and critical reflection in order to develop a community of life-long learners who can respect diverse perspectives, make informed decisions, and be responsive to the changing needs of individuals in our society.

We believe in:

  • The Power of Knowledge: Effective teachers are knowledgeable and see themselves and their students as life- long learners. Our graduates will be able to make informed decisions based on complex data.
  • The Interdependency of Pedagogy and Content: Knowledge is not a series of discrete bits of information. Effective teachers help their students see relationships among different areas of study and their application to the real world. In our curriculum, liberal arts and professional courses are intentionally connected. In the same manner, pedagogy and content often are addressed together.
  • The Potential of All Children: Every child deserves to be taught by quality teachers who believe that each child is capable of learning. The Otterbein teacher education program provides its candidates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions for creating learning environments that are developmentally responsive for each of the students they teach.
  • The Richness of Diversity: Our program prepares teachers to accept, honor and enhance the diversity within the school environment. Diversity includes but is not limited to ethnicity, gender, social class, sexual orientation, and special needs.
  • The Possibilities of Technology: As teaching and learning become more complex, the effective use of technology within the classroom becomes even more essential. During their teacher education program, Otterbein students will not only use technology as an integral part of their own professional preparation and see technology modeled for classroom productivity, but they will also learn how to use technology effectively in their classroom.
  • The Necessity of Reflection: The transition from being a student to becoming a teacher requires a great deal of reflection and introspection on the part of teacher education candidates. In order to truly discover their teacher persona, teacher education candidates must take a critical look at what they believe about teaching and learning throughout their program and strive to incorporate those values in their own teaching.
  • The Merit of Experiential Learning: Otterbein is committed to continuous and progressive field experiences. The program exposes teacher education candidates to a variety of educational settings.
  • The Importance of Accountability: Our program is committed to the formative and summative assessment of the knowledge, dispositions, and skills of teacher education candidates in order to assure that graduates from the program are effective and qualified teachers. Furthermore, the unit will use the information obtained from these assessments to change, alter, and/or modify the program so that the quality is maintained.

Engineering Department

  • Systems Engineering major, BS

The Engineering Department is currently offering a BS in Systems Engineering. This is a new program which meets the goal of “The Engineer of 2020” as outlined in a recent report issued by the National Academy of Engineering. It is blends the best aspects of Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial engineering and focuses on producing effective engineering problem solvers for industry. Systems Engineering majors receive both a technical education as well as a broad based liberal arts exposure which is consistent with the mission of Otterbein University. The program focuses on the practical and applied aspects of engineering as well as theory.  

Graduates of the Systems Engineering program are prepared to go to work for manufacturing industries as well as being able to continue on with graduate education. The strong emphasis on the fundamentals of engineering science prepares students to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam offered by the state of Ohio as the first step in securing a professional engineering license. The summer internships afford students the opportunity to get practical experience within the four years of the undergraduate program.

English Department

  • Creative Writing major, BA
  • Creative Writing minor
  • Film Studies minor
  • Literary Studies major, BA
  • Literary Studies minor

In English Studies, you will explore the transformative power of the written word. You will come into voice as thinkers, readers, and writers. You will engage literature as a form of personal, creative, and cultural expression, one that bears witness to gripping human realities and enduring social questions. And you will practice writing as a critical and artistic endeavor. In the process, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in:

  • British, American, African, Latino/a, Caribbean, Indian, Asian, and other world literatures
  • Fascinating historical, national, and cultural contexts
  • The work of classic and contemporary writers
  • A rich range of literary genres and subgenres
  • Film, digital media, and graphic formats
  • Groundbreaking theoretical ideas about language, texts, identity, power, gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, authors, readers, etc.
  • Imaginative, expository, critical, and interpretive writing
  • Opportunities for professional development and real-world experience
  • Our programs culminate in an independent writing project and a senior reading. Holistically, English Studies will nurture your ability to read, analyze, argue, imagine, write, edit, teach, research, and pursue your own interests and passions.

Environmental Studies Program

  • Environmental Studies minor
  • Sustainability Studies major, BA & BS

The Environmental Studies Program seeks to foster a complex understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary environmental issues and provide students with the necessary set of frameworks and tools to address these issues locally, regionally and globally. Graduates will be able to work effectively with a wide array of constituencies, including educational, regulatory, scientific, and public relations professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors. They will work to achieve sustainable environments, understand sustainable concepts, and live sustainable lives.

Equine Science Department

  • Equine Business Management major, BA
  • Equine Business Management minor
  • Equine Pre-Veterinary/Pre-Graduate Studies major, BS
  • Equine Veterinary Technology major, BS

The Department of Equine Science provides a transformative educational experience preparing students to participate effectively, professionally and ethically within the growing equine industry. Instruction is enhanced by our commitment to provide:

  • Authentic experiences through hands-on applied skills and industry involvement.
  • Interdisciplinary and collaborative learning experiences.
  • Exploration of the human/equine bond.
  • Creative and professional development.
  • Technological competency.
  • Development of leadership in the equine industry including civic engagement, and local and global sustainability.

First Year Experience Program

  • First Year Seminar (FYS) Courses

The First Year Experience Program guides your transition into Otterbein University classrooms and communities. Through a network of supportive resources, including a First Year Seminar, FYE nurtures your academic skills and passions, and immerses you in the life of the university. The program encourages you to explore yourself and world, your beliefs and values, and your educational and professional goals. It also asks you to think about what it means to be responsible to yourself, to Otterbein, and to local and global communities.

Health and Sport Sciences Department

  • Allied Health major, BA & BS
  • Athletic Training major, BA & BS
  • Exercise Science and Health Promotion major, BA
  • Health Education major, BA
  • Nutrition minor
  • Sport Management major, BA
  • Sport Management minor

The Department of Health and Sport Sciences of Otterbein University will prepare students to become competent, self-directed professionals.
In addition to the University’s core values, the Department of HSS will develop these additional core values:

  • Accountable
  • Collaborative
  • Culturally Competent
  • Engaged
  • Ethical
  • Health Conscious
  • Motivated
  • Professional
  • Self-directed
  • Socially Responsible
  • Balanced Health Lifestyle

History and Political Science Department

  • Global Studies major, BA
  • History major, BA
  • History minor
  • Legal Studies minor
  • Political Science major, BA
  • Political Science minor
  • Public Administration major, BA
  • Public Administration minor

History
Historians explore the processes of change that cross societies, connect cultures, and link our increasingly complex and global present with the past. By offering a range of courses covering the diversity of historical experience across the globe and from ancient times to the dawn of our own century, our curriculum presents a rich field of narrative and analysis. Students gain a deepening awareness and curiosity about the past, acquire the essentials of the historian’s craft, and develop a sense of historical connection with the wider world. By exploring narratives and analyzing patterns of change, students will develop the skills of critical thinkers and writers: the independent identification and interpretation of sources, the construction of meaningful arguments, and the clear explanation and compelling expression of evidence and ideas.

A degree in history provides students with the training and background needed to attain success in a variety of professions and pursuits, including teaching, working in public history (including museums), law school and government, business, library and information science, and community service.

Political Science
The mission of Otterbein’s political science program is to foster graduates who possess skills and commitment in scholarship, leadership, civic engagement, and responsible citizenship. The major demonstrates the connections between political and social institutions and fosters the analysis of the forces within political systems, including law, policy, race, class, and gender. It is committed to building a community of scholars through self-reflection and the critical assessment of the methods, approaches, and perspectives of political analysis and engagement. The program is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and mentoring to ensure that students develop the analytical and methodological skills for assessing contemporary political events and to promote ethical problem-solving strategies.

Honors Program

  • Honors (HNRS) Courses

The mission of the Honors Program is to provide intellectual stimulation and challenge to students of high academic ability and motivation, guide students toward academic and professional independence, and foster a community of shared scholarly and creative interests. Honors students demonstrate the achievement of independence in their Senior-year research and creative projects. Throughout the four-year program they explore, re-conceive, and expand their roles within their disciplines, the university, and the wider community.

Integrative Studies Program

  • Integrative Studies (INST) courses

The Integrative Studies Program aims to prepare Otterbein undergraduates for the challenges and complexity of a 21st century world. It foregrounds interdisciplinary and integrative skills, competencies, and ways of knowing and is committed to the premise that one’s learning should serve and shape one’s chosen responsibilities in and to the world.

Leadership Studies Program

  • Leadership Studies minor

The Leadership Studies Program develops students’ leadership skills which have a significant positive impact on their communities and workplaces. Students will gain leadership awareness aligned with contemporary leadership theory, perspectives, communication, skills, and practices. We believe students who learn leadership concepts and applications, receive training in leadership skills, and practice leadership through service-learning develop as leaders and find an important complement to their learning in Otterbein’s liberal arts core.

Mathematical Sciences Department

  • Actuarial Science major, BS
  • Computer Science major, BS
  • Computer Science minor
  • Mathematics major, BA & BS
  • Mathematics minor

The mission of the Department of Mathematical Sciences is to foster an environment of intellectual growth as a catalyst to develop certain habits of mind for students and faculty, including attention to rigorous thinking, analytic and synthesizing skills, problem solving processes and techniques, and creativity for adaptation to evolving disciplines. To this end, we strive to motivate and stimulate interest in the mathematical sciences for majors and non-majors, assist all students to understand the value in and the applications of the mathematical sciences, provide an adequate blend of theory and methodology, prepare students to deal with change by helping them to learn how to learn, and support continued professional growth of faculty.

Modern Languages and Cultures Department

  • French and Francophone Studies minor
  • Spanish and Latin American Studies major, BA
  • Spanish and Latin American Studies minor
  • Spanish Education major, BA

The mission of the department is to increase our students’ understanding and appreciation of others and the world through the study of modern languages and cultures. On the one hand, we aim to raise students’ awareness of the ways language and culture study can be used in their professions, study abroad experiences, co-curricular international travels, integrative studies, internships, and research projects. On the other, we seek to prepare students for the cultural diversity of the local and global constituencies they will encounter in life and work situations. This combination of language skills, cultural awareness, and the potential for professional application fulfills the liberal-arts mission of Otterbein University and the goals and outcomes of national foreign language teaching standards.

Music Department

  • Audio Production minor
  • Music major, BA
  • Music minor
  • Music and Business major, BA
  • Music Education major, BME
  • Music Performance major, BMUS
  • Musical Theatre major, BFA
  • Musical Theatre major w/Dance concentration, BFA

The mission of the Department of Music is to develop professional musical competencies, as well as a deep appreciation of music, that students can later utilize in music careers or a life-long enjoyment of the art. All students in the music program should gain a broad knowledge and appreciation of important music within historical, cultural, and global contexts; achieve proficiency in aural, reading, and keyboard skills; learn music theory and apply that learning to critical analysis and musical creation; and develop expertise as solo and ensemble performers. The Department strives to foster a community of musicians who care about music for the aesthetic and affective richness that it brings to the world, and conversely, who value their knowledge of the world and its relationship to music.

Nursing Department

  • Nursing major, BSN

The Department of Nursing is committed to quality nursing education that uses a holistic caring framework to promote quality and safe healthcare. Our mission encourages personal and professional development of faculty, staff and students. An appreciation for diverse perspectives and humane values is central to the mission. Building on a liberal arts education and a strong science foundation, the goal of the Department of Nursing is to prepare lifelong learners who are committed to the profession, the community, and to meeting changing health care needs of society.

Values
We believe in:

  • The value of lifelong learning that includes development of intellectual abilities and humane values.
  • The integration of liberal arts with a strong science base as the foundation of quality nursing care.
  • Holistic caring as the framework for nursing practice to promote health of clients of all ages and in all health conditions.
  • Purposeful and reflective clinical experience as the basis for developing expert nurse clinicians.
  • The value of diversity to the profession and learning community with multicultural sensitivity incorporated into delivery of health care.
  • Service as an inherent component of professional nursing that will promote access to quality nursing care.
  • Scholarship that includes inquiry and critical reasoning as necessary for development of nursing knowledge and evidence for delivery of nursing care.
  • The value of using developing technology to enhance nursing practice.

Purpose and Goals of BSN Program
The purpose of the Otterbein Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is to prepare competent professional nurses through the use of teaching, research, practice, and service. The nursing major is based on a liberal arts education that is progressively developed throughout the program. Students apply a framework of holistic caring and utilize nursing science to enhance the health status of individuals, families, groups, and communities in a variety of settings. Students will be able to apply critical analysis and clinical reasoning to effectively respond to changing health care needs of a diverse society. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program prepares nurses with a general knowledge base and abilities to function effectively in a variety of nursing roles while providing a firm foundation for graduate study.

Physics Department

  • Physics major, BA & BS
  • Physics 3+2 Cooperative Engineering major, BA
  • Physics Engineering major, BS
  • Physics minor

The Department of Physics seeks to provide quality instruction in each of its program areas, in a manner consistent with the mission of the University. In all its endeavors, the Department aims to provide an environment that fosters intellectual growth, and to promote an appreciation for all learning in the liberal arts context.

The physics major provides a rigorous grounding in fundamental physics, fosters critical thinking and creative problem solving, and provides broad practical training in science and technology. It is designed to prepare students for advanced study in physics, engineering or other technical disciplines, for employment in industry, or for teaching at the secondary level. Students in the cooperative engineering program pursue a physics major while at Otterbein.

In addition to the major programs, the Department provides courses that support majors in other science and pre-professional programs, as well as courses in physical science and astronomy for the Integrative Studies program.

Psychology Department

  • Psychology major, BA & BS
  • Psychology minor

It is the mission of the Department of Psychology to support the liberal arts mission of Otterbein University and prepare students for graduate education and careers in psychology and related fields. To these ends we will: 1) provide students with solid grounding in the methods, ethos, and ethics of science; 2) develop students’ proficiency in the theoretical models and real-world applications of psychology; 3) improve students’ knowledge management skills, including critical thinking, communication, technological literacy, and the ability to appreciate and navigate complexity; 4) cultivate an appreciation for diversity and individual differences; 5) promote a commitment to community involvement, social responsibility, and ethical behavior; 6) encourage a richer and more integrated understanding of self, culture, and the world; 7) foster students’ intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.

Religion and Philosophy Department

  • Philosophy major, BA
  • Philosophy minor
  • Religion major, BA
  • Religion minor

The mission of the Department of Religion and Philosophy is to contribute to the University’s historic and continuing commitment to liberal arts education by giving students a solid background in the academic study of religion and philosophy.

The religion curriculum cultivates an understanding of the fundamental texts, basic beliefs and practices, historical development, and cultural contexts of the world’s religions with the goal that students discover for themselves a genuine appreciation of, and respect for, the rich diversity of religious perspectives.

The philosophy curriculum provides students the opportunity to engage with contemporary philosophical issues, while gaining a thorough grounding in the history of philosophy. Students will develop an appreciation for the principles of reasoned argumentation, and an ability to pose and answer philosophical questions. Students will use their philosophical skills to analyze issues that are fundamental to other disciplines, and will come to see how considering the “big questions” is a crucial aspect of living a good life.

In addition to the disciplinary knowledge and expertise that we provide, both disciplines equip students with critical thinking, writing, and communication skills that will guide them toward lives and careers in which they are prepared to be lifelong learners and to make sound value judgments in personal, social, and global matters.

The Department of Sociology, Criminology and Justice Studies

  • Criminology and Justice Studies major, BA
  • Criminology and Justice Studies minor
  • Justice Studies minor
  • Sociology major, BA
  • Sociology minor

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is committed to offering a curriculum that provides opportunities to comprehensively understand both disciplines, meaningfully educate students about the world, promote critical understanding of global challenges facing the world, and inspire engaged global citizenship. Our faculty commitment to scholarship and research on local, national and global issues helps to ensure that students receive quality education and exciting opportunities. Departmental faculty members work with students to create significant learning opportunities in the classroom and community, foster discovery of passion and avocation in the social world, promote greater understanding and appreciation of human diversity and develop the skills necessary for future graduate study and meaningful careers in a wide variety of fields.

Theatre and Dance Department

  • Theatre major, BA
  • Theatre Acting major, BFA
  • Theatre Design/Technology major, BFA

In our desire to develop theatre artists and artisans of the highest ability, the Department of Theatre and Dance at Otterbein University provides a select number of undergraduate students with the training, education and experiences necessary for the successful pursuit of careers in the American professional theatre. In support of the liberal arts goals of the University, we also seek to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to live full, rewarding and productive lives. Since artists bring who they are to what they do, the deep understanding of oneself and others, as well as those who have lived in other times and other places, is essential in order to create works of theatre which are compelling and entertaining. Through the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree programs and the Integrative Studies program, Otterbein University undertakes to develop and graduate theatre artists who are sensitive and aware human beings. Through its public performances, one of the primary tools of training, the department also serves as an important cultural resource for the University, the local community, and the entire Columbus and central Ohio region. In order to carry out our mission, we employ a faculty and staff of experienced, professional artist‐teachers and guest professional artists who work intensively with students in production and in the classroom. In all that we do, we strive to create and maintain the supportive professional environment necessary for the continued growth and development of our students.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major, BA
  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor

The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program seeks to promote a critical and feminist understanding of gender and power across cultural contexts, social locations, and disciplinary boundaries. Toward this end, courses in the program underlines two important and interrelated learning goals: 1) a deepened understanding of the history, contributions, conditions, and issues affecting women in local, national, and transnational contexts and 2) a broad exploration of the multiple systems and social meanings that construct our understandings of gender and sexuality. In both curricular and co-curricular work, the WGSS program invites students to think comparatively and collaboratively about feminist politics, gender categories, and sexual identity and practice.