I am a self-proclaimed horror nerd. So, when I heard that JWU Online offered a class about ghosts, vampires, and zombies, I was intrigued. Why? The answer is “integrated learning.”

At Johnson & Wales University, undergraduate students are required to take an Arts & Sciences (A&S) core—a group of foundations courses in subjects like English, ethics, math, and science—in addition to the coursework for their specific program. As part of this A&S requirement, all students must take two Integrative Learning (ILS) courses: one at the 2000 level and one at the 4000 level.

But what is integrated learning, and how do ILS courses add to a student’s overall academic experience?

JWU defines integrated learning as “the ability to develop skills, experiences and conceptual understanding in one discipline and connect, synthesize and relevantly apply the components in new situations.” In other words, ILS courses allow students to evaluate and interpret issues contextually to draw comparisons.

According to Anice O’Connor, Ph.D., academic director of online programs at JWU Online, ILS courses are designed to help students think critically. “ILS courses teach students how to think critically and deal with the complex challenges they face every day in their personal and professional lives,” explained O’Connor, a former JWU Providence A&S faculty member.

Choosing ILS Courses

JWU Online offers a variety of courses that fulfill this requirement, many of which are unique and out of the box. And, because these courses are not specific to a degree program, students can take the ones that sound most appealing to them.

If you are fascinated by the paranormal, consider taking ILS4180 Things That Go Bump In the Night: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Supernatural.

Have an interest in history and nuclear warfare? You might enjoy ILS2110 The Atomic Age.

Passionate about athletics, you can take ILS4176 Sports in Film and Literature.

And these are just a few examples. With more than a dozen courses to choose from, students can explore topics that truly interest them and learn the critical skills they need to be successful outside of the classroom.

Here are some of the online ILS courses currently available:

2000-Level ILS Courses*

• ILS2010 Modern Identities: 20th Century Literature and Beyond
• ILS2090 The Working Life
• ILS2110 The Atomic Age
• ILS2140 History of Science
• ILS2280 Science and Civilization
• ILS2305 Honors Seminar: Behavioral Economics
• ILS2325 Economics of Sin
• ILS2330 The Good Life
• ILS2370 Obesity
• ILS2385 Visual Literacy and the Sociology of Perception
• ILS2435 Leonardo da Vinci: Culture, Art and Math (not currently offered online)

4000-Level ILS Courses

• ILS4110 Capital Punishment in America (not currently offered online)
• ILS4115 Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Mythology
• ILS4120 Disease and Culture
• ILS4130 History of Digital Art
• ILS4176 Sports in Film and Literature
• ILS4180 Things That Go Bump In the Night: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Supernatural
• ILS4190 The Problem With Evil
• ILS4302 Abuse of Power: Corruption in Contemporary Society

Course offerings are subject to change.

To read descriptions of the online ILS courses, click here.

Want to learn more about earning your degree with Johnson & Wales University? For more information, complete the “Request Info” form on this page or call 855-JWU-1881.