Integrative Seminar 1
Integrative Seminar
By: Nikki Kiehl
SBU 465 77 – Integrative Seminar
Dr. Paul Mahady
June 22, 2020
Integrative Seminar 2
Liberal Arts Decision
As a young adult, I started working at Philips Respironics and within the first year, I
decided that I wanted to further my education. I received an associate degree in Business
Administration, but never really tried to move forward utilizing my degree. The entry level
position was production, but in the back of my mind, that was not my goal for a career.
Fortunately, with ambition to learn and further my education, I was able to use the education
assistance program offered by Philips. There is always opportunity for growth within Philips, so
my decision to attend Seton Hill University has helped my own personal growth.
Additionally, when I decided to further my education at Seton Hill University, I did not
base my decisions on attending a liberal arts university. I was searching for a school that suited
my needs being a fulltime employee and caring for my family. While focusing on my main
concerns, I was able to gather enough information about Seton Hill University from many of my
close friends and coworkers. I did not do a lot of research on the school, but I was convinced by
all the positive feedback I had received. However, learning that Seton Hill University was a
liberal arts university and learning what liberal arts was, increased my desire to pursue the Adult
Degree Program.
Liberal arts universities, such as Seton Hill University, help guide students to use critical
thinking, learn how to effectively communicate, and learn to accept change. The workforce is
continuously changing, so once a student graduates, there is a possibility they will have to use
their degree differently. For example, if an individual enters a workforce that drastically
changes, they have been given the guidance on how to critically think and adapt to that new
change regardless of the major they received a degree in. Moreover, liberal arts courses help
individual’s personal growth within many situations.
Integrative Seminar 3
Influential Liberal Arts Course
My most influential experience within the liberal arts curriculum, has been through the
religion courses, most notably, Islam. I am not one who is a very religious person, but I
understand and respect religion. In our society, there is negativity about religions, most notably
Islam, that bring hatred and judgement, rather than understanding the religion, culture, and
traditions. The Islam course helped me understand that there is more to a religion than just do’s
and don’ts, but rather a diverse culture and traditions. Prior to this experience, I had little
thoughts or feelings about the religion, other than the curiosity of why it has been widely disliked
in our society.
While in the Islam class, I was able to experience visiting a mosque in Pittsburgh with
my professor and classmates. Being part of a family who mostly follow Christianity, visiting the
mosque was unlike any other religious experience. The visit allowed me to observe the men,
women, and children amongst the Muslim community and view with my own eyes what takes
place. During that visit, I learned about the Call of Prayer, witnessed it being performed, and
able to sit quietly throughout the rest of the ceremony. Throughout the entire visit, my class was
treated no differently than we would have been at a church, we were greeted by many of the
members, and we were able to partake in questions and answers. It was a very rememberable
and enjoyable experience.
As a result of being in the Islam course and being able to visit the mosque, I became
more opened minded towards Muslims, their culture, and their traditions. The diversity amongst
the Muslim members was eye opening and important to recognize. Without this recognition, I
could have allowed myself to stay uneducated about Islam and even be part of the cruel
judgement the Muslim community faces.
Integrative Seminar 4
The Liberal Arts Impact on My Career
Additionally, being part of a large corporation who focuses on diversity within the
business, attending liberal arts courses has helped me understand the overall focus of the
business. In order to move throughout the business, I need to prove to myself and management
that I am capable of thoroughly communicating, critically thinking, and adapting to change. For
example, if I were to become a manager, I need to learn how to handle all people from all aspects
of life. If there are people who come from different cultures that I may not understand, it is my
responsibility to learn and make changes accordingly. Within the business, there is no
acceptance for judging one based on their sex, race, religion, or nationality, therefore, as a
manager it would be my responsibility to treat all people equally.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it has been a great learning experience being able to partake in liberal arts
courses. The courses continue to allow me to be opened minded while understanding other
viewpoints on a topic. Without the discussions with other classmates, I would not continue to
learn other’s views as well as receiving constructive criticism. Overall, the courses have allowed
me to use what I have been taught and implement within my daily tasks at my work.
