Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience. Experiential learning activities can include, but are not limited to, internships, practicums, field placements, study abroad, service learning, undergraduate research, and artistic performances.
Some courses are embedded with experiential learning. In MyNKU you can find a column labeled HIP that will display if a course includes these aspects.
An internship (or co-op or practicum) is a temporary work experience offered by companies or organizations for students to get some entry level exposure to a particular industry or field.
Goal: Provide direct work experience in their chosen career and to interact with and learn from professionals in the field.
You can find internships directly through NKU's Handshake platform.
There are also great resources available on the NKU Internship page. Here there are resources for students and employers looking to recruit NKU students as interns.
Most academic departments also have internship coordinators. Here is a list of faculty and staff internship advisors in most departments/colleges. You can reach out to them directly.
Student research and creative activity is an inquiry or investigation conducted by a student that addresses a specific question, utilizes appropriate research methodologies, adheres to the standards of the discipline, and results in the dissemination of findings.
Student research and creative activity is guided by a mentor and student researchers develop critical thinking, inquiry, communication, and analytical skills through authentic contributions to real-world application.
Goal: to involve student with actively contested questions, through empirical observation and cutting-edge technologies, to create sense of excitement that comes from working to answer important questions
NKU's Institute for Student Research & Creative Activity (ISRCA) engages, supports, enhances and acknowledges the involvement of students and their faculty mentors in research, scholarship and creative activities throughout campus. ISRCA assists in growing the number and breadth of research, scholarship and creative activity opportunities for all NKU students. ISRCA also facilitates programming to support faculty-student collaborative scholarly work and to further integrate research into the curriculum.
Use Handshake for current NKU and national opportunities - search under experiential learning.
Global learning is the opportunity to explore different systems and cultures from multiple points of view.
Goal: become informed, open minded and responsible to the issues facing local and global communities.
Finding a study abroad program is easy - there are NKU led programs and NKU partners with several institutions and groups to provide opportunities for our students.
Connect to all of education abroad's resources: including passport help, finding programs, funding and more!
Service Learning is a course-based, credit-bearing educational experience in which students (a) participate in an NKU puts a high priority on learning that goes beyond textbooks and lecture to build connections between the classroom and community through service learning. The organized service activity that meets a community need and (b) reflect upon their service activity as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, an enhanced sense of civic responsibility, and/or a greater interest in and understanding of community life (NKU SHAPE).
Goal: to engage with the community on projects of community need.
Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement supports service learning at NKU.
The vast majority of service learning opportunities are embedded in courses - please consult MyNKU to see if your classes will include this experience.
