Experiential learning is a signature component of the Interdisciplinary Studies curriculum that encourages students to connect the classroom to the world. "Experiential learning" is an umbrella term that includes a wide range of hands-on learning such as internships, service learning, fieldwork, or consultancy, among others.
The purpose of experiential learning is to seek new challenges and experiences and to apply classroom learning to real-world problems and projects. Reasons to do experiential learning include:
Four concentrations require experiential learning, and it is an elective option (as MAIS 695/795) for the rest.
Each semester, students can earn between 1 and 3 experiential learning credits. According to the Carnegie Formula, students earn 1 course credit for a minimum of 37.5-59 hours of experiential learning work (assuming 60 minutes in an hour).
On-site Hours (60 minutes per hour) | Minimum of 37.5-50 | Minimum of 75-100 | Minimum of 112.5-150 |
Credits | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Since the idea behind experiential learning is to apply classroom knowledge to real-world experiences, it's best to get some of your courses under your belt to maximize what you have to offer in a professional setting. The EL course matters too. The prerequisite for MAIS 695/795 is 12 credits in the Interdisciplinary Studies program.
Ideally, your experiential learning work should fall within the bounds of the regular semester, ie, it should start when classes start, and it should end when classes end. Most importantly, the work must end before the end of the semester in which you are registered for EL credits.
If taking 3 experiential learning credits at once is onerous, students may split their credits up. However, they will have to repeat the application process each time they register.
Students should be aware of the following concerns:
The process is described under Registering for Experiential Learning, where you will also find the required forms. Students should also read the MAIS Guidelines for Learning Objectives before proceeding.