Historic Towers Hall

Towers Hall connects Otterbein’s past with its future.

The oldest building on campus is also home to one of the most forward-thinking new initiatives at Otterbein — Otterbein Ready — the University’s expanded commitment to ensuring your career readiness.

From this University's distinguished history to your promising future, Towers Hall will be an important part of your Otterbein experience since it’s also the home to many of your classes, faculty offices, and academic departments, and important student support offices.

Media Gallery

Room with green walls and medium wood accents. There are green cushioned chairs with the same medium wood accents facing a podium area
A painted bookshelf with hand painted books. These books have the names of various donors on the spine.
A group of students in a brightly lit classroom
Two students walking in front of an orange brick building (Towers).
A man stands under an arched hallway in Towers
A room with beige walls, and a red accent wall. There are lockers in the right corner, and vending machines in the left. There are couches and tables with a TV on the red wall.
A large room with a mirror covering most of the wall.
A hall shot of class photos.
Historic Towers Hall is a tall and wide brick building with Victorian Gothic architecture and is characterized by two distinctive white towers above the main section of the facade.
A lobby area with a red accent wall and beige walls. There is a tan couch directly infront, with a desk in the back of the room. There is a large copier and printer to the right o the desk.
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📚 Academic Departments in Towers Hall

Department of English

The Department of English is the center of literary life at Otterbein. Small, seminar-style classes immerse you in rich conversation about life’s biggest questions. The diverse curriculum might lead you to study film noir or flash fiction; Afrofuturism or the art of travel; graphic narrative or American gothic; neo-Victorian novels or nature poetry; 1970s cinema or social justice; playwriting or podcasting. Whether you’re writing a poem, reading a novel, designing a lesson plan, or editing the latest issue of Otterbein’s 100-year-old literary journal Quiz & Quill, you will find voice and purpose in close collaboration with your classmates and professors.

Otterbein's Department of English offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:
- Creative Writing (BA concentration or BFA)
- Film Studies (BA concentration)
- Integrated Language Arts (BA in English + teaching license)
- Literary Studies (BA concentration)

The Department of English is also affiliated with the following interdisciplinary programs:
- Race & Ethnic Studies (minor)
- Sustainability Studies
- Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies (major and minor)

Department of History, Political Science, Languages, and Cultures

The Department of History, Political Science, Languages, and Cultures gives students a solid grounding in the academic study of history, politics, law, cultures, and global relations. The department is committed to promoting student understanding of the richness and diversity of human experience across time and across the globe. We emphasize the development of critical thinking, writing, and communication skills to prepare students for a wide variety of careers, graduate and law school, and lifelong learning.​

Otterbein's Department of History, Political Science, Languages & Cultures offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:
- Global Studies (major)
- History (major and minor)
- Legal Studies/Pre-Law (minor)
- Political Science (major and minor)
- Spanish & Latin American Studies (major and minor)

The Department of History & Political Science is also affiliated with the following interdisciplinary programs:
- Race & Ethnic Studies (minor)
- Sustainability Studies (major and minor)
- Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies (major and minor)

Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science

Mathematics is about finding patterns and generalizing to solve problems ranging from one-step computations to understanding deep, complex systems. At Otterbein, we have robust programs in pure and applied mathematics and actuarial science. Titles held by recent graduates include compliance analyst, high school teacher, actuary, mathematics graduate student, and biomedical engineering graduate student.

Otterbein's Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:
- Actuarial Science (Major)
- Mathematics (Major and Minor)
- Data Science (Minor)

Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Justice Studies

Sociology helps us see social forces that transcend the individual. With that critical perspective, sociology empowers those who work to make the world a better place. At Otterbein’s Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Justice Studies you will learn how to be a positive catalyst for effective social change. We prepare students to engage complex challenges that affect our communities and social institutions.

Otterbein's Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Justice Studies offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:
- Criminology & Justice Studies (major and minor)
- Justice Studies (minor)
- Sociology (major and minor)

The Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Justice Studies is also affiliated with the following interdisciplinary programs:
- Global Studies (major)
- Race & Ethnic Studies (minor)
- Sustainability Studies (major and minor)
- Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies (major and minor)

Department of Philosophy and Religion

The Department of Philosophy and Religion is home to an exciting and innovative major for free thinkers. Together, we seek to make sense of a complex landscape of competing worldviews as they are lived in practice. We tackle big questions about how we should live, pursue justice, and make sense of ourselves in an interdisciplinary community of activist scholars.

Otterbein's Department of Philosophy and Religion offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:
- Philosophy & Religion (major)
- Philosophy (minor)
- Religion (minor)

The Department of Philosophy and Religion is also affiliated with the following interdisciplinary programs:
- Global Studies (major)
- Race & Ethnic Studies (minor)
- Sustainability Studies (major and minor)

🌟 Towers Hall Building Highlights

Student Success & Career Development

Student Success & Career Development (SSCD) provides comprehensive services to assist students as they explore and discover plans for their Otterbein journey, inside and outside of the classroom, and goals for their career. SSCD empowers students to make informed and intentional choices to ensure academic and professional success while preparing them for life beyond Otterbein.

Philomathean Room

The Philomathean Room on the third floor of Otterbein Towers Hall dates back to the 1870s as a meeting place for the Philomathean Literary Society.

Commuter Lounge

The Otterbein Commuter Student Lounge is located in the basement of Towers Hall. In the lounge, there are lockers commuter students can enter into a drawing for at the beginning of each semester, a fridge, freezer, and various other kitchen/living supplies.

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