FALL 2011 | SPRING 2011 | FALL 2010 | SPRING 2010 | FALL 2009 | Previous Semesters

Definition and Guidelines:

An Integrative Experience (IE) consists of one of the following:

1. Faculty-Initiated courses/experiences:

a. A course that includes consideration of one or more issues involving the relationship of science or technology with contemporary* society. The course will involve a substantial paper or project and oral presentation. The paper/project is to involve self-reflection and critical analysis. The oral presentation should provide for open discourse and may occur in class or in a community-wide forum such as Presentations Days.

b. A course offered in parallel with clinic or research involving groups of students in critical reflection on the ethical and social issues involved in their projects and/or prior projects. As in option a), the course will involve a substantial paper or project and oral presentation. The paper/project is to involve self-reflection and critical analysis.

c. Project-based courses that specifically address a societal need, in the performance of which students substantively consider the wider set of societal issues that create the context and need for their actions.

*The word "contemporary" was removed by the Curriculum Committee as its April 18, 2005 meeting.

2. Student-Initiated Experiences:

An independent project/experience designed by a student or a group of students that includes treatment of specific interactions between science/technology and contemporary society. As with the faculty-initiated, there should be demonstrable evidence of significant critical analysis, a final paper, and the oral presentation of the work in a forum that allows discussion of the work in a community setting.

The Curriculum Committee will be responsible for determining whether a course or experience meets the IE guidelines. While not required for an Integrative Experience, where appropriate, students should engage in meaningful group work and interdisciplinary thinking involving technical fields. Students may also engage in service-oriented outreach activities. It is also expected that a number of IE courses will serve to meet HSA requirements, either as distribution, concentration or seminar courses and that some IE courses might fulfill major requirements.