IAH as part of Integrative Studies

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.

Integrative Studies at Michigan State University currently includes the following departments:

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 Total)

  • One IAH 201-210 course (4 credits)
  • One IAH 211-241 course (4 credits)

ISB/ISP Requirement (8 Credits Total)

  • One ISB Course (3 credits)
  • One ISP Course (3 credits)
  • One ISB or ISP Laboratory (2 credits)

ISS Requirement (8 Credits Total)

  • 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. 

Centers for Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities
200 Linton Hall
(517) 355-0366 

General Sciences
N100 North Kedzie Lab      
(517) 353-4600   

Social Sciences
302 Berkey Hall
(517) 355-9733  

Quick Facts About CISAH

Total number of MSU students: 39,176
Number of IAH sections offered per semester:     186
Number of IAH sections offered per year 
(fall, spring, summer):
451
Number of IAH faculty per semester: 77
Number of IAH teaching assistants per
semester:
42
Number of IAH instructors per year
(fall, spring, summer):
181
Number of students enrolled in IAH
courses per year:
13,500
Number of student credit hours per year:               54,000       

Directors

Ellen Moll (Ph.D. University of Maryland): 2021 – Present
Cara Cilano (Ph.D. Duquesne University): 2019 – 2021
Kirk Kidwell (PhD Ohio State University):  2011 – 2019 
Rocio Quispe-Agnoli (PhD Brown University): 2007 – 2010
Kathleen Geissler (PhD U of Southern California):  2005 – 2007
Ken Waltzer (PhD Harvard University):  1997 – 2004
Alan Fisher (PhD Columbia University): 1989 – 1997

200 Linton Hall, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 355-0366
Fax: (517) 432-0129
Email: mollelle@msu.edu
Main Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

If you need help with directions, please contact us.