Students’ thoughts about their experiences in the program
Katie Malnati spoke with freshmen and sophomores about their experiences with the new Integrative Core Curiculum, a news set of liberal arts requirements. According to Ithaca College’s website, “The program is designed to help students develop skills in integrative thinking, critical and analytical problem solving, and reflective learning.” The college implemented the ICC during the Fall 2014 semester. Incoming students pick from one of six themes (Identities; Inquiry, Imagination, and Innovation; Mind, Body, Spirit; The Quest for a Sustainable Future; A World of Systems; and Power and Justice), and will then take diversity, quantatitive literacy and writing courses that coincide with their respective themes.
1. Are you glad that Ithaca College has implemented the ICC program?
2. What has been your best and/or worst experience with the program?
3. How do you think Ithaca College could improve the ICC?
Michele Hau ‘17
Culture and Communication
3. “I guess the one drawback, especially right now, is that there is a very limited course selection in which people can take classes, and I’m not necessarily sure if that is a step in the right direction because it seems very inherently limiting.”
Kellie Hodso ‘18
Film Photography and Visual Arts
1. “I like the theme and the idea is good, but there are so many cool classes in different themes that I wish I could take.”
Sunita Williams ‘17
Documentary Studies and Production
1. “I have mixed feelings about it because it really conflicts with my major and minors I want to do.”
Nick Kelliher ‘17
Voice Performance
1. “As a music student it forces me to expand my horizons and I missed academia so it’s good to acclimate to different subject areas, especially ones that I’m not familiar with.”
Ilyssa Ernsteen ‘17
Theatre Studies
2. “ I had to take solar systems/astronomy and would have failed it if I didn’t declare it pass/fail and I only took that class because it fit my theme.”