Otterbein University


Otterbein University is a private university in Westerville, Ohio. It offers 74 majors and 44 minors as well as eight graduate programs. The university was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and named for United Brethren founder the Rev. Philip William Otterbein. As a result of a division and two mergers involving the church, it has been associated since 1968 with the United Methodist Church. In 2010, its name was changed back from Otterbein College to Otterbein University because of an increasing number of graduate and undergraduate programs.
It is primarily an undergraduate institution with approximately 2,300 undergraduate and 450 graduate students on the campus. Otterbein has over 100 student organizations and a popular Greek presence. The school's mascot is Cardy the Cardinal and the school is a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference in NCAA Division III athletics.

History

Otterbein University was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. As a result of a division and two mergers involving the church, the university has since 1968 been associated with the United Methodist Church. The university is named for United Brethren founder, Philip William Otterbein.

Campus

The Otterbein campus is located in Westerville, Ohio. It sits between Alum Creek on the west and State Street on the east. West Home Street, which runs through the center of campus, is the address of most of the college's homes and student residence halls, as well as the Campus Center. The north end of the campus is home to most underclassman housing, the health and physical education department, athletic facilities, as well as the Clements Recreation Center. Overall, the Campus occupies.

Academics

Otterbein is a liberal arts college and requires students to take a broad variety of courses. It offers B.A., B.S., B.F.A., B.Mus., B.M.E., B.S.E., B.S.N., MAE, MBA, MSN and DNP degrees in 56 majors and 41 minors. Since Fall 2011, the university has run on the semester calendar. Otterbein University's graduate school features programs in business administration, nursing, education, Educational mathematics, and science in allied health.

School of Art & Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences houses departments and programs in: art, biological science, biochemistry & molecular biology, chemistry, communications, earth science, English, English as a second language, history, mathematical sciences, modern languages & cultures, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology & anthropology, and theatre & dance.
Otterbein is strong in philosophy, physics, environmental studies, ecology, and evolution. Otterbein also has programs in theatre, dance, music, and film.
Twenty-eight percent of Otterbein students study abroad. The University sponsors semester-long programs in four locations—London, England; Barbados; Paris, France; and Madrid, Spain—and several short-term summer programs in locations such as Nicaragua, all of which are staffed by Otterbein professors. Students can also choose to study in a variety of other countries through alternative providers.
The student-faculty ratio is 11:1.

School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies houses departments and programs in business, accounting & economics, education, equine science, health & sports sciences, and nursing.

Volunteerism

Otterbein's Center for Community Engagement has been honored by the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor roll for five consecutive years. Every year, more than 50,000 hours are donated by Otterbein students through the Center for Community Engagement. Approximately 80% of the student body participated in community service in 2011–12. In addition, 60 service-learning courses enrolled over 1,000 students that same year.

Rankings and admission

In its 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges", Otterbein was ranked 14th in the "Regional Universities " category by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report classifies its selectivity as "more selective." In its 2018 edition of "America's Best Colleges", Otterbein was ranked #19 in "Regional Universities " category, #12 in "Best Colleges for Veterans" category, and #35 in "Best Value Schools" category by U.S. News & World Report. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Other awards include: President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 6 straight years.

Music program

The Department of Music at Otterbein offers the degrees of Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Arts in a number of majors including performance, music business, music history and literature, jazz studies, music education, and general music studies. The music program at Otterbein includes many diverse ensembles of different sizes, as well as an opera theatre program. The touring ensembles are Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, and String Orchestra, which tour nationally and internationally. Other ensembles include Marching Band, Opus One vocal jazz, Six in the City, Women's Chorale, Camerata, Otterbein Singers, The Anticipations rock cover band, Jazz Combo, and Early Music. The music department is housed in Battelle Fine Arts Center.

Theatre and art program

Professional training is offered in the areas of Acting, Design/Technology, and Musical Theatre with BFA degrees offered in all three programs and a dance concentration in the latter. A BA degree in Theatre is also available, which allows students to tailor the major to suit interests in directing, writing, and stage management among others. In addition, the department offers a rigorous dance minor. Otterbein University Theatre and Otterbein Summer Theatre stage nine shows a year. Plays range from classical Shakespearean dramas and British comedies to full-scale musicals and experimental works. The department also presents an annual dance concert designed by many of the university's choreographers. Three galleries feature art by students, faculty and guest artists, as well as pieces from Otterbein's permanent collection. The Otterbein Signature Series has hosted notable visiting artists including acclaimed independent filmmaker Gus Van Sant and Joel Meyerowitz, whose photography of Ground Zero after September 11, 2001 has traveled the world.

Athletics

The Otterbein Cardinals compete in NCAA Division III, as a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Otterbein's traditional opponents include: Baldwin Wallace University, Capital University, Heidelberg University, John Carroll University, Marietta College, University of Mount Union, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern University, and Wilmington College. They sponsor ten men's and nine women's varsity sports, including:
Otterbein's history of social Greek organizations dates back to 1908, when members of the debate society started Pi Beta Sigma Fraternity, with Sigma Alpha Tau Sorority being founded in 1910. 12 of the 14 Greek chapters on campus are local, meaning they were founded and exist only at Otterbein. There are six sororities and eight fraternities at Otterbein; all six sororities are local, while six fraternities are local and two are national. Within their Greek Life they have two of the oldest independent chapters in the United States, Pi Beta Sigma and Pi Kappa Phi.
Panhellenic Sororities at Otterbein:
IntraFraternity Council Fraternities at Otterbein:
Local:
National:
, whose frequency 97.5 FM, is Otterbein's student-run radio station, playing college rock for Otterbein and surrounding Westerville. WOBN is the flagship of Otterbein Sports, covering many of the games for basketball, football, and baseball.

Residence Halls

Traditional Residence Halls

Theme Houses are an on-campus living option for students with a common goal. Residents of each house are expected to create and take part in programming events to benefit the residents, the special interest group they represent, and the campus community. Any full-time sophomore, junior or senior Otterbein student in good standing with the University is eligible to live in a University-operated house.
Each house is advised by a University academic or administrative department which determines the selection process for students residing in the individual houses.
Houses are eligible for gender-inclusive housing, meaning students residing in the houses may determine if the house will be gender inclusive or single sex. All residents must agree to the status prior to signing an agreement to live in the house.

Current Theme Houses

Alumni