EXPERIMENTATION IS IN OUR DNA

from Undergraduate Admission Viewbook

by OlinCollege

EXPERIMENTATION IS IN OUR DNA - NOW AND AS WE MOVE AHEAD

We’re a start-up college. We try new things, iterate and make them better. How about you?

OWN YOUR EXPERIENCE

Be an Engineer Now

ILLUSTRATION BY Jeremy ’20

The Olin Effect NOUN.

The heightened state of engagement, creativity and productivity that comes from taking control of your own education.

WE EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE WORLD

We believe the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHS) provide the framework for students’ education, adding insight, purpose and direction to the larger Olin experience. Our whole curriculum is based on the idea that engineering starts with people and ends with people. AHS (pronounced “Oz”) provides our students with a vehicle for understanding people, both as users of, and as creators of engineering solutions.

We offer both standalone AHS courses and courses that integrate AHS with science or engineering. These courses are meant to foster students’ development as critical and contextual thinkers, broad-thinking creators, persuasive communicators, ethical practitioners and self-reflective individuals.

WE EXPERIMENT WITH CLASSES & ACROSS DISCIPLINES

SIX MICROBES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Six Microbes That Changed the World is a foundational biology experience that is paired with rigorous historical analysis. This new course was introduced into the curriculum to provide early learning experiences that integrate societal and scientific disciplines.

More specifically, the course examines the science and historical context and impact of five genres of microbes— Penicillium, E.coli, Cholera, Archaea and Cyanobacteria— with students choosing a sixth microbe to study. The course is modeled on the long-running, retired class Stuff of History, which blended materials science with the history of technology.

"We innovate at Olin not just for change’s sake but to continuously improve the foundational education of our students as they prepare to tackle the grand challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”

- Vin Manno Academic Partner, Provost Emeritus

We show others how to experiment

We share the experience and knowledge we gain from our national laboratory for STEM education redesign openly with other educators to spur transformation in education around the world. Students are an integral part of this process. From hosting a “Campus, Curriculum, Culture” walking tour for visitors to serving as a student liaison to embedding in a brand-new institution for a semester.