2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog

Nov 30, 2024

2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

The University and the Community

Institutional Mission
Our Philosophy
Educational Purpose
Our History
About Westerville and Central Ohio
Maps of Campus and Central Ohio
Frequently Requested Telephone Numbers

Institutional Mission

The mission of Otterbein University is to educate the whole person in a context that fosters the development of humane values. Otterbein is a private, church-related, coeducational college that sponsors traditional and continuing education programs of liberal arts and professional education at Baccalaureate and Master’s levels. Our commitment is to the liberal arts as the broad base of all learning.

Our Philosophy

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Otterbein University, 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. This tradition offers dialogue with other faiths and philosophies, intellectual stimulation, openness to the day’s issues, and incentive to new understanding. Thus, Otterbein seeks students, faculty and staff who represent societal diversity. The University 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.

Educational Purpose

A liberal arts education at Otterbein University emphasizes a process of liberation from those attitudes that may narrow one’s perspective on self, society, and the world. Through the study of the liberal arts, students develop a sense of relevance and immediacy to life situations. Otterbein provides focal points around which self-education may continue after graduation through quality academic programs in which students:

acquire knowledge
develop the ability to make critical judgments
form a commitment to intellectual inquiry
develop the ability to express themselves clearly
develop the ability to participate thoughtfully in discussion and decision making
develop the powers of synthesis

A liberal arts education involves creating an atmosphere which stimulates students to become aware of themselves and their responsibilities within a larger, multi-cultural society. Thus, the University emphasizes community service, co-curricular and social interaction in preparing the whole person to develop to responsible commitments to society.

To accomplish these educational purposes, Otterbein strives to provide a teaching faculty of superior quality that is committed to our educational goals. In addition to teaching, the faculty and staff at Otterbein engage in a variety of important tasks including research, advising, administration, and professional development. Through its sabbatical leave program, Otterbein encourages professional development of its faculty as well as program development, course development, and pedagogy.

Our History

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Otterbein University was founded (as the Otterbein University of Ohio) in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and named after a co-founder of the Church, Philip William Otterbein, who was a German Reformed pastor and itinerant evangelist. In later years, the Church went through a merger with the Evangelical Association and became the Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB) and then, through a second merger with the Methodist Church, became the current United Methodist Church. Otterbein was chartered by the State of Ohio in 1849, and granted its first degrees in 1857. It is currently approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. From eight students in 1847, we have grown to a current enrollment of over 3,000.

The University has historically seen its mission centered in a program of liberal arts education in the Christian tradition. While Otterbein has evolved into a comprehensive college, combining traditional liberal arts disciplines and professional programs, the liberal arts remain a foundation for our educational programs.

Similarly, while Otterbein has always emphasized undergraduate education, the decisions to offer graduate degrees are also consistent with our history and mission. Otterbein offered Ph.D. degrees from 1883 until 1895 and M.A. degrees until 1912, and when graduate programs in Education and Nursing were added in 1989 and 1993, one important rationale was that these programs would provide important benefits to the undergraduate curriculum. A Masters of Business Administration was added in 1997.

In addition to its Church-related heritage and its commitment to liberal arts and professional education, three other features of Otterbein’s history deserve special attention.

First, from its founding, and as a reflection of Church practices and policies, Otterbein was intentionally and uncommonly inclusive with respect to women and people of color. Otterbein was among the first coeducational colleges in America, and probably the first college in the United States to be founded as coeducational and to admit women to the same programs of study as male students. From its opening, Otterbein employed female faculty members, and it was probably the first college to do so. Otterbein was also one of the first three colleges in the United States to be open to students of color, and University historians have argued that it deserves to be considered the first to be founded with that philosophy.

Second, Otterbein has been unique in the development of a governance system that includes many campus constituencies in college decision-making. During the 1850s and 1860s, a number of faculty served as members of the Executive Committee. Since 1946, faculty and students have served in an advisory role on most trustee committees. In September, 1970, the College implemented a new governance system that is an extension of this inclusive heritage and that received much national attention. The new system provided for a single College Senate, composed of faculty, students, administrators, alumni, and trustees; it also added two elected student trustees and two elected faculty trustees as full voting members of the Board.

Third, in 1968, Otterbein created an innovative general education initiative, the Integrative Studies Program. Originally known as the “Common Courses” in the early history of the institution, the Integrative Studies Program was also established, in keeping with the Otterbein’s spirit of inclusiveness and community, to provide sufficiently broad study of world culture to enable students to understand the continuum of ideas, movements, and patterns which has produced the civilization of the 21st century. Like our governance system, this program has also received national recognition by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Recent revisions of the program underscore the themes of coherence, breadth of understanding, and intellectual community.

About Westerville and Central Ohio

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Otterbein University is located in Westerville, Ohio, and 15 miles northeast of Columbus, the state capital.

The town of Westerville was only seven years old when Otterbein College was founded in 1847. The fertile lands had been settled earlier by people from New England, New York, and Virginia, and the township surrounding Westerville was named in honor of Blendon, Connecticut. The settlers cleared the land, built their homes, churches, and schools, and then their college. As the township continued to grow, Westerville grew too, but for many decades it was known as the “quiet, peaceful village.”

Westerville still retains the advantages of a small town while offering the amenities that go with a modern community. At Otterbein you are only a short walk from uptown Westerville with its restored buildings, brick streets, charming gift and antique shops, boutiques and cafes. The town’s many parks provide opportunities for recreation or just relaxation. And nearby you will find lakes where you can sail and water ski.

Columbus, one of the 15 largest cities and metropolitan areas in the country, is centrally located in Ohio. As the state capitol, Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. An innovative city, it is known worldwide for the large presence in its economy of progressive businesses and for its quality work force.

Recent years have seen an upsurge in arts related events as world class entertainment has come to be the standard for Columbus. The arts and cultural amenities of The College and the Community Columbus rival those of any other major city in the United States.

The art crowd gathers at the Columbus Museum of Art which holds special events throughout the year. Once a month, art lovers flock to the Gallery Hop in the Short North, an eclectic neighborhood of cafes, art galleries, antique shops and boutiques, where local businesses open their doors for late evening visits.

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, Opera/Columbus and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) bring world-renowned performances to the area. Also the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing and Cultural Arts Complex showcases African-American exhibits and performances, while The Ohio State University’s Wexner Center for the Performing Arts has emerged as a showplace for avant garde performances. Close at hand lies the Germain Amphitheatre, among several other venues that bring concerts of all types to town.

Columbus also is home to a variety of theater companies and venues including the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), Reality Theatre, Shadowbox Theatre, the Riffe Theatre, the Great Southern Theatre, the Palace Theatre and the Ohio Theatre.

Other attractions in downtown Columbus include the Center for Science and Industry (COSI); Thurber House, which is known for its Evening with Authors series; and German Village, the largest restored historical district in the country with its brick streets, restaurants and gift shops.

The city is also a shopper’s mecca. Easton Town Center is a popular indoor/outdoor shopping and entertainment complex. The North Market is trendy and a historic farmer’s market in downtown Columbus. Additionally, there are many malls around Columbus and the outlying suburbs, including Polaris Fashion Place and Tuttle Mall. Columbus is also known for its many specialty coffee shops and book stores including many discount book stores.

Professional sports are taking hold in Columbus with the Major League Soccer (MLS) team, the Columbus Crew; the National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Columbus Blue Jackets (located in the Arena District of restaurants, theatre and other entertainment); and the Columbus Clippers, the minor league baseball franchise.

Dining out is also one of the attractions in Columbus. You can sample cuisine from all parts of the world. Restaurants of all ethnic types are scattered throughout the city and range from fast food to fine French dining and everything in between.

Maps of Campus and Central Ohio

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Campus Map

Map of Central Ohio

Frequently Requested Telephone Numbers

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Academic Offices

Academic Offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. during the regular academic year with the exception of December when many offices are closed. Summer hours are 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. although not all offices are open in summer.

Actuarial Science	614-823-1218
Art	614-823-1792
Athletic Training	614-823-3528
Black Studies	614-823-1837
Broadcasting	614-823-3380
Business/Accounting/Economics	614-823-1310
Chemistry/Biochemistry	614-823-1316
Computer Science	614-823-1218
Education	614-823-1214
English	614-823-1218
Environmental Science	614-823-1517
Equine Science	614-823-1843
Foreign Languages	614-823-1361
Health Education	614-823-3528
Health Promotion and Fitness	614-823-3528
History	614-823-1361
Honors Program	614-823-1211
Integrative Studies	614-823-1210
International Studies	614-823-1361
Journalism	614-823-3380
Language/Culture Deaf Community	614-823-1361
Legal Studies	614-823-1361
Liberal Studies	614-823-1356
Life and Earth Sciences	614-823-1517
Mass Communication	614-823-3380
Mathematics	614-823-1218
Molecular Biology	614-823-1517
Music	614-823-1508
Nursing	614-823-1614
Organizational Communication	614-823-3380
PACE	614-823-1356
Physical Education	614-823-3528
Physical Science	614-823-1316
Physics	614-823-1316
Political Science	614-823-1361
Psychology	614-823-1615
Public Relations	614-823-3380
Religion and Philosophy	614-823-1361
Sociology	614-823-1837
Speech Communication	614-823-3380
Sport Management	614-823-3528
Theatre/Dance	614-823-1657
Women’s Studies	614-823-1361

Administrative Offices

Administrative offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. during the regular academic year. Summer hours are 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Some offices have extended hours throughout the year.

Admission (traditional-age students)	614-823-1500
Admission (continuing education students)	614-823-1356
Academic Dean	614-823-1556
Academic Support Center	614-823-1610
Athletics	614-823-3529
Bookstore	614-823-1364
Business Office (billings and payments)	614-823-1150
Campus Center	614-823-3202
Career Center	614-823-1456
Chaplain	614-823-1409
Continuing Studies	614-823-1356
Financial Aid	614-823-1502
Graduate Programs	614-823-1310
Health Center	614-823-1345
International Programs	614-823-1312
Library	614-823-1215
Mail Center	614-823-1882
Registrar	614-823-1350
Security	614-823-1870
Student Affairs (residence life; meal plans)	614-823-1250
Veterans	614-823-1249

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About Otterbein

Apply to Otterbein

Campus Life

On Campus

Contact Otterbein

The University and the Community

Institutional Mission

Our Philosophy

Educational Purpose

Our History

About Westerville and Central Ohio

Maps of Campus and Central Ohio

Frequently Requested Telephone Numbers

Academic Offices

Administrative Offices