Established in 1999, the Center for Integrative Studies (CIS) continues St. Olaf’s long-standing commitment to providing opportunities for students to make meaningful connections among the many parts of their college careers, and to emphasizing the links between students’ academic studies and experiences on campus and in other communities.

In the CIS “integrative studies” refers to the intentional combination of diverse methodologies, experiences, subject matters, learning styles, and resources. Individual students may use integrative studies to develop an individual major that satisfies their educational goals.

The goals of the CIS are to:

• enhance the coherence of students’ academic careers by promoting opportunities for all students to make meaningful connections among their various educational experiences;
• help students build bridges, for themselves and others, between the college and other communities; and
• provide a locus for attention to issues of interdisciplinarity and integration across the college’s academic program and generally across students’ college experience.

St. Olaf’s commitment to integrative learning is evident in the college’s many successful interdisciplinary majors and concentrations, in the 30-year history of the Paracollege (1969-2000), and in our faculty’s ability to combine diverse approaches to their course topics. To this rich context, the CIS adds the option for students to design and carry out their own interdisciplinary, integrative majors.

News and Events

Student’s scenic design work earns ticket to national conference

From the St. Olaf News, 3/11/13: Ben Olsen ’13 (Architecture and Design) will head to this month’s United States Institute for Theater Technology (USITT) National Conference in Milwaukee thanks to a scholarship he won in honor of his scenic design work…

Proposals ready for review

Faculty Reviews of proposed majors must be scheduled by *Friday, March 22* in order for a proposal to be eligible for approval this semester. If you are considering proposing a major, or have a proposal in process, consult with the CIS Director or Program Coordinator to work out a timeline.