Integrative Studies Brochure

Michigan State
U n i v e r s i t y

Integrative Studies

Arts and Humanities

Biological and Physical
Sciences

Social Sciences

Undergraduate Education at MSU

At MSU each undergraduate student's program of study includes courses in general education and also in a major, or more specialized education.
General Education, or learning in breadth, is achieved through completion of MSU's Integrative Studies Program. It also includes Writing, Math, and in many cases, Language.

Specialized Education, or learning in depth, is accomplished through completion of an MSU major and also related minors or specializations.

Integrative Studies is MSU's unique approach to general education, offering courses that integrate multiple ways of knowing into an enhanced appreciation of our humanity, creativity, knowledge, and responsibilities for ourselves and our world. Integrative Studies courses introduce students to college level work and important new ways of thinking.

Academic Goals of Integrative Studies

Courses in the Integrative Studies Program help students to:
Become more familiar with the ways of knowing in the arts and humanities, the biological and physical sciences, and the social sciences.

Develop a range of intellectual abilities, including critical thinking, logical argument, appropriate uses of evidence and interpretation of varied kinds of information (quantitative, qualitative, text, image)

Become more knowledgeable about other times, places, and cultures as well as key ideas and issues in human experience

Learn more about the role of scientific method in developing a more objective understanding of the natural and social worlds

Appreciate the role of knowledge, and of values and ethics in understanding human behavior and solving social problems

Recognize the responsibilities and opportunities associated with citizenship in a democratic society and an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world.

The Integrative Studies Curriculum

Students must complete at least eight (8) credits in each of the three broad knowledge areas:

Arts and Humanities (IAH)

Biological and Physical Sciences (ISB/ISP)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISS)

IAH Requirement 8 credits

IAH "A" course (e.g., IAH 201, 202, 206) (4 credits)

IAH "B" course (e.g., IAH 211, 221, 231, 241) (4 credits)

ISB/ISP Requirement 8 credits

One ISB course (3 credits)

One ISP course (3 credits)

One ISB or ISP laboratory (2 credits)

ISS Requirement 8 credits

One 200 level ISS course (4 credits)

One 300 level ISS course (4 credits)

Would you like to look at specific courses? Click on a link below.

Integrative Studies Courses in Art and Humanities

Integrative Studies Courses in the Sciences

Integrative Studies Courses in the Social Sciences

A Closing Word:

We live in a changing, increasingly interconnected world that is linked with multiple pasts. Economic, social, cultural, political, technological, and scientific changes are having immense impacts everywhere. Such changes pose tremendous challenges, yet we need not be ill equipped to meet them.
We need to acquaint ourselves with how others in other times have coped with change and are coping today. We need to learn about human diversity. We need to build our intellectual and communicative capacities. Finally, we should become aware of our values as well as the values of others so we can meet our responsibilities effectively as citizens and human beings.

By learning powerful ideas, developing scientific reasoning and interpretative abilities, expanding historical and cultural perspectives, and strengthening our thinking and communications skills, we will equip ourselves to act more effectively and sensitively in the world. These are some of the tasks of Integrative Studies at Michigan State University.

Centers for Integrative Studies
Michigan State University

Arts and Humanities
305 Linton Hall
(517) 353-3560

General Sciences
100 North Kedzie Lab
(517) 355-4600

Social Sciences
302 Berkey Hall
(517) 355-9733

Michigan State
U n i v e r s i t y

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution.

Marsha F. Walsh
Webmaster

Centers for Integrative Studies Michigan State University
Arts and Humanities 305 Linton Hall (517) 353-3560
General Sciences 100 North Kedzie Lab (517) 355-4600
Social Sciences 302 Berkey Hall (517) 355-9733
Michigan State U n i v e r s i t y

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution.

Academic Goals of Integrative Studies
Courses in the Integrative Studies Program help students to: Become more familiar with the ways of knowing in the arts and humanities, the biological and physical sciences, and the social sciences. Develop a range of intellectual abilities, including critical thinking, logical argument, appropriate uses of evidence and interpretation of varied kinds of information (quantitative, qualitative, text, image) Become more knowledgeable about other times, places, and cultures as well as key ideas and issues in human experience Learn more about the role of scientific method in developing a more objective understanding of the natural and social worlds
		Appreciate the role of knowledge, and of values and ethics in understanding human behavior and solving social problems Recognize the responsibilities and opportunities associated with citizenship in a democratic society and an increasingly interconnected, interdependent world.

The Integrative Studies Curriculum
Students must complete at least eight (8) credits in each of the three broad knowledge areas:
Arts and Humanities (IAH)
Biological and Physical Sciences (ISB/ISP)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISS)

IAH Requirement		8 credits
IAH "A" course (e.g., IAH 201, 202, 206)		(4 credits)
IAH "B" course (e.g., IAH 211, 221, 231, 241)		(4 credits)

ISB/ISP Requirement		8 credits
One ISB course		(3 credits)
One ISP course		(3 credits)
One ISB or ISP laboratory		(2 credits)

ISS Requirement		8 credits
One 200 level ISS course		(4 credits)
One 300 level ISS course		(4 credits)


A Closing Word:
We live in a changing, increasingly interconnected world that is linked with multiple pasts. Economic, social, cultural, political, technological, and scientific changes are having immense impacts everywhere. Such changes pose tremendous challenges, yet we need not be ill equipped to meet them. We need to acquaint ourselves with how others in other times have coped with change and are coping today. We need to learn about human diversity. We need to build our intellectual and communicative capacities. Finally, we should become aware of our values as well as the values of others so we can meet our responsibilities effectively as citizens and human beings.
By learning powerful ideas, developing scientific reasoning and interpretative abilities, expanding historical and cultural perspectives, and strengthening our thinking and communications skills, we will equip ourselves to act more effectively and sensitively in the world. These are some of the tasks of Integrative Studies at Michigan State University.