The mission of Integrated Liberal Studies (ILS) is to provide an integrated exploration of the great themes of human inquiry and expression in scientific, literary, political, economic, historical and artistic thought. The ILS curriculum offers a set of related courses specially tailored to meet the breadth requirements of the College of Letters & Science. ILS draws exemplary, dynamic faculty from departments across campus to create courses that challenge students with a rigorous program of interdisciplinary study emphasizing critical thinking and judgment rather than passive absorption of information. Although these courses may be taken as single electives, the purpose of the program is to counter the fragmentation of undergraduate education by providing a common ground of learning.
Because ILS courses are interdisciplinary, students are encouraged to make connections between the various subject areas that comprise the ILS curriculum. Students encounter the relations between literature and the arts; science, technology, and philosophy; and political, economic, and social thought. The content of the curriculum has been developed in the belief that historical perspective is required for a full understanding of contemporary issues. Courses numbered 201-206 progress from historical to contemporary topics in each of the three core areas. Those numbered 250 and above cover interdisciplinary special topics in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, including "Magical Realism," "Modern Jewish Thought," and "Machiavelli and His World." ILS also includes a course (ILS 200 Critical Thinking and Expression) to sharpen communication and research skills necessary for college work. This course satisfies the university's Communications B requirement. ILS/LACIS 367 The Literature of Migration and the Migrant Experience in the Americas fulfills the university's ethnic studies requirement. ILS 400 Capstone Integration Seminar, a senior capstone seminar addressing an interdisciplinary topic, serves as the culmination of the ILS curriculum and is required in order to complete the ILS certificate.
People
Affiliated Faculty
Richard Avramenko, Professor of Political Science; Director of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy
William Aylward, Professor of Classics; Herbert and Evelyn Howe Bascom Professor of Integrated Liberal Studies
Beatriz Botero, Lecturer of Integrated Liberal Studies
Karen Britland, Halls-Bascom Professor of English
Chad Goldberg, Professor of Sociology
Florence C. Hsia, Professor of History of Science; Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Arts and Humanities
Daniel Kapust, Professor of Political Science, Judith Hicks Stiehm Chair in Political Theory
Devin Kennedy, Assistant Professor of History
Timothy Lindstrom, Lecturer of Environmental Studies; Student Intern Program Manager for the Nelson Institute
Christopher Livanos, Professor, College of Letters and Sciences
Laura McClure, Halls-Bascom Professor of Classical Literature Studies
Grant A. Nelsestuen, Associate Dean for Arts and Humanities, College of Letters and Science; Professor of Classics
Adam Nelson, Professor of Educational Policy Studies and History; Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs, School of Education
Kristin Phillips-Court, Associate Professor of Italian and Art History
Lucas Richert, Professor in the History of Pharmacy
Ulrich Rosenhagen, Lecturer of History; Director of the Center for Religion and Global Citizenry
Michelle Schwarze, Associate Professor of Political Science
Basil Tikoff, Professor of Structural Geology and Tectonics
Mike Vanden Heuvel, Professor of Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies
John Zumbrunnen, Professor of Political Science; Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Administrative Staff
Staff
Daniel Kapust, Director of ILS
Laura Bradley, ILS Academic Advisor
Beth Shipman, Program Administrative Manager