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Experiential Learning for Students

Experiential Learning is a critical component of your UNF education. The ability to apply what you learn in the classroom to "real-world" settings will give you the edge when you seek opportunities after graduation. In a recent study by the National Association for Colleges and Employers, 60% of employers say the first two things they look for on a resume are (1) ability to work in a team and (2) problem-solving; two skills often achieved through Experiential Learning activities.

Your Experiential Learning activities will be the bullet points on your resume and the answers to your interview questions.

UNF is flush with ways for you to complete Experiential Learning. The easiest is often through your major, where many programs offer internships, community-based learning, and undergraduate research courses. Other popular ways are leadership positions in registered student organizations, the leadership minor through Taylor Leadership Institute, and short-term study abroad using a SAILS scholarship.

Because UNF believes Experiential Learning is such an impactful activity, we expect all students to complete at least one Experiential Learning opportunity by the time they graduate.

The impact of experiential learning on UNF student, Addison Pressley.

Headshot of UNF student, Addison Pressley.

"I've gone to every career day offered by UNF. The one-on-one networking with representatives from local businesses and community partners is an excellent way to get your name out there. While the bulk of my work in my experiential learning activity as an intern is utilizing what I'm learning in the classroom, there are other skills I'm learning that are just as important. Adaptability, learning to be a good communicator, organization skills, time management, being a team player, and taking initiative are just as important as technical skills."

— Addison Pressley

UNF organizes Experiential Learning into seven categories. Expand each option to learn more about that type of EL. Clicking the icon for the category will take you to a new webpage for that EL category, plus campus resources, examples, and ways to accomplish.
  • Internship

    What is an Internship?

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    An internship is a paraprofessional work experience in the appropriate field for a student’s major, field of study, or occupational interest. Internships require a time commitment from host sites, student supervision by a qualified professional, and student learning outcomes. Internships can be for-credit or not-for-credit, paid or unpaid. Additional examples of activities in this category include field experiences, practica, clinical, student teaching, and apprenticeships.
  • Career & Professional Experiences

    What are Career and Professional Experiences?

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    Career and professional experiences allow students to develop competency attainment that occurs as an extension of the classroom. Examples of activities that qualify for this category are mentoring, credentials, micro-internships, and job shadowing and externships.
  • Creative, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial Activity

    What are Creative, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial Activities?

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    Creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial activities are substantive applications of academic preparation in real-world settings outside and inside the classroom through creative projects not captured through academic research. Experience must include disseminating or sharing the creative, innovative, or entrepreneurial project. Some examples include capstone projects, curating an art show, recital or exhibition of creative works, and entrepreneurship or innovation projects.
  • Undergraduate Research

    What is Undergraduate Research?

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    Undergraduate research is collaborative research opportunities between a student and faculty, staff, or professional. This collaboration involves a four-step learning process:

    1. identification of and acquisition of a disciplinary or interdisciplinary methodology,
    2. setting out of a concrete investigative problem,
    3. carrying out of the actual research, and
    4. dissemination of research findings.

    Activities that count toward this experiential learning activity include research assistantships, honors in the major theses, directed independent study/independent research, and community-based research.
  • Global or Sociocultural Learning

    What is Global or Sociocultural Learning?

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    Global or sociocultural learning is sustained engagement with and study of cultures other than one’s own. This experiential learning can take place inside as well as outside the traditional classroom. Activities included in this category are intensive study abroad experiences, gap year fellows, domestic study away programs, and global scholars.
  • Leadership

    What is Leadership?

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    Leadership is engaging in a substantial, immersive leadership experience or participating in leadership training activities outside the traditional classroom. These can be curricular, co-curricular, or extracurricular. The goal of these activities is to learn how to leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals or to use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. Examples of activities that meet this standard are peer leadership/mentoring experiences, resident/community assistants, student leadership roles in clubs, organizations, and student government, and leadership training, summits, and retreats.
  • Community-Based Learning

    What is Community-Based Learning?

    Outline of high rise buildings with a tree in the foreground and a shining sun.

    Community-based learning is intentionally designed, coordinated, and executed learning experiences in community-based settings that enhance participants’ academic learning, contribute to their personal growth, and increase their civic engagement while concurrently benefiting the community or communities in which these activities are embedded. Examples of this category include service-learning, volunteering, community service projects, living-learning communities, Days of Service, and civic engagement (course-based, for-credit).