The document discusses integrative studies and the author's degree program. It defines integrative studies as applying different disciplines together to solve problems from multiple perspectives. The author's degree allows concentrations in addictive disorders recovery studies, psychology, and integrative studies. This will allow her to help others struggling with addiction using different approaches. She aims to work with veterans dealing with addiction and psychological issues after graduation.

1. Running head: WHAT IS INTEGRATIVE STUDIES 1
What Is Integrative Studies
Breanna Conner
Texas Tech University

2. DEFINITION 2
All integration is interdisciplinary, but not all interdisciplinarians are integrative. (Tanner,
2014). Since I am a University Studies student I will be graduating with a degree that allows me
to be interdisciplinary; I am able to have multiple areas of study, or concentrations. They allow
me to expand my knowledge base in my many interests. Not all of them come from the same
discipline, but they all work together to form one cohesive “team”. However, just because I can
interchange my disciplines, that does not make me integrative. To be integrative I have to apply
the dynamics of the different concentrations and how they work together, in the workforce and
my future. It enables me to attack problems and concepts from different angles. There is not just
one right way to get to an answer anymore. Being integrative means there are now multiple ways
to get to the right answer, and possibly there is more than one right answer. Learning how to use
my integrative studies degree is going to give me an upper-hand when it comes time to search for
a job in “the real world”. Employers are looking for someone who is multi-faceted, a jack of all
trades. To me the Integrative Studies degree is just that, a jack of all trades when it comes to
degrees. It allows me to have a vast knowledge base where I know a little about a lot instead of a
lot about a little.

3. EDUCATION 3
My three areas of concentration are Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies (ADRS),
Psychology, and Integrative Studies (INTS). When it came time to sit down and pick what I was
going to do for the rest of my life, I had no idea. There were so many things I wanted to do and
accomplish. One of the things that I was certain of, and was at the very top of my list was to
study Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies. Addiction is near and dear to my heart; it has
plagued my family for years. My father is an alcoholic, my step-father is a recovering alcoholic,
and I lost my boyfriend to addiction. The day I lost him, I knew I wanted to learn everything I
could about addiction. I want to do something in that field that would allow me to help others
who are going through the same pain and hurt I have experienced. Once I complete my
requirements for the ADRS minor, I will be able to become a licensed chemical dependency
counselor in the state of Texas. It allows me to fulfill my goal and wish to help others who are
struggling, because no one should have to endure what I went through alone.
When you lose someone you love and are planning a future with, your world comes to a
complete stand still. You start to ask yourself questions along the lines of why, what could I have
done different, why did I not see the signs, and why was he being so selfish; the list is endless
and could go on and on for days. With all those questions reeling in your thoughts, you start to
wonder how the mind works and processes things. Due to these circumstances and the questions
that were ever present in my mind it was only natural for me to take an interest in the human
mind, how it works, and our motives when making decisions, to try and answer these questions
for myself. The brain is a pure mystery, and I have always loved a good mystery. To explore it,
is an awfully big adventure.
Last, but certainly not least is my concentration in integrative studies. To me, it is one of
the most important of the three. It is going to teach me how to take the other two and mold them

4. EDUCATION 4
together to face the world. Yes, ADRS and psychology go hand in hand but they are not always
used together when discussing or addressing problems within the fields of ADRS or psychology.
When discussing ADRS, one tends to dabble in psychology since ADRS effects the brain and its’
choices, but with an integrative studies background I would not be dabbling in one while talking
about the other. I would be able to use both areas wholly which I think gives me more “fighting
power” when it comes to addressing problems or people that are struggling with addiction, or the
loss of a loved one to addiction.

5. COMPLEX PROBLEM 5
After my boyfriend, Michael, died tons of questions started running through my brain
along with different scenarios that I always tried to turn into alternate endings. Michael had been
in and out of rehab the better part of his early twenties. In a course of six years he had been in
eight different rehab programs all over the state of Texas. If you did not know him as a man, or
known the situation, it is very easy for one to say I’m wrong in saying that the last round of
rehab finally set in and he understood, especially since he did not win his battle with addiction.
However, his last stint in rehab had worked; he was excelling in the real world and was “working
his program”. His demise was his addiction problem, but the last relapse was spurred on by a
work-related accident which landed him in the hospital on pain killers. Nonetheless, his back
story leads me to ask a few questions. Along with my three concentrations I would also like to
use a methodical and quantifiable approach when trying to answer the following questions:
What is the percentage of rehab being successful when the addict has been to more than one in
his/her lifetime? Also, does that passing percentage begin to decline as the number of rehabs
attended begins to rise? Since there are different types of rehabs out there, another question
would be: what, if any, theory based rehab is better for an addict, who graduates the program, to
continue to be a successful recovering addict once they re-enter society? These problems are
complex in that you are dealing with an individual’s motives, wants, and desires along with the
drives of their particular addiction in addition to trying to put a quantifiable measure on their, the
addict’s) lives.

6. CONNECTION 6
When I compare my plans for a career after graduation to my degree that I will be
receiving, it is hard for me to make a connection. After graduating I want to become certified in
intermediate/high school math so that I can teach and coach softball. During the summers is
when I can see myself using my degree more, as I want to work at the local VA hospital, in Big
Spring, in their special rehab unit. Even though I will not be using my background in ADRS in a
school environment, the psychology and integrative studies backgrounds will definitely be
prevalent. When I encounter a “trouble” student I can use psychology to try and empathize or
understand what the deeper issue is to determine if that student needs extra or specialized help.
During the school year the background in integrative studies will be key. To be successful
teachers have to possess certain traits and characteristics in and out of the classroom. Patience,
resilience, thick skin, sensitivity, flexibility, reliability, you have to be competent and you
definitely have to be assertive. I feel like I quoted the book when they list their traits for
interdisciplinarians, but the truth is that the lists overlap. Having a background in INTS will be
beyond beneficial; it is going to teach me how to deal with the complex problem of running your
own classroom while having so many different views on learning mix to produce one cohesive
learning environment.
During the summer, if I am able to reach my goal of working for the VA, I will be able to
fully use my degree to help others who are not only dealing with addiction but possibly dealing
with psychological disorders as well. So many of our veterans come back from war fighting
battles most people know nothing about. They are often silent battles that cause irreparable
damage. With psychological problems come addictive tendencies to try and compensate for the
pain. They have done so much for me by defending my freedoms; if I could help them in any
way, it would make a tiny dent in what I owe them in thanks.

7. References
Tanner, M. 2014.Module 1-Introduction to Integrative Studies [Lesson 2]. Defining Integrative
Studies. Podcast retrieved from
http://mediacast.ttu.edu/Mediasite/Play/5560a045176f426f91781a184b3c80641d

8. What is Integrative Studies? Grading Rubric
Criteria
Points
Possible
Points
Earned
General
Paper adheres to APA formatting (title page, citations, references
page, etc.). This rubric pasted at the end of the assignment.
15
Writing is clear with appropriate grammar, spelling, and
punctuation. Headings are appropriately labeled
10
Definition (250 words)
Defines Integrative Studies in a personal way. Definition is clearly
derived from course definition.
10
Student discusses how Integrative Studies is beneficial. 10
Education (500 words)
Discusses 3 areas of concentration and connections. Also discusses
the specialized nature of degree program.
20
Complex Problem (250 words)
Identifies a complex problem and perspectives (outside 3 areas) that
might be used to research problem.
20
Connection (250 words)
Discusses future plans/next steps. 15
Total 100
Instructor Comments: