Experiential Learning
SASAH requires students to complete a 1.0 Experiential Learning (EL) credit by the end of their fourth or, in some cases, fifth year.
The EL requirement helps prepare students for post-university work by facilitating:
- the advanced development of:
- hard and soft/transferable skills,
- teamwork and leadership abilities,
- productive professional practices,
- the opportunity to engage with the community and to network,
- the connection between theory and practice,
- the exploration of possible career paths.
Students gain valuable “real-world” experience and improve their self-confidence.
There are three types of placements or projects students can undertake and count toward their EL credit.
- Internships, which offer mentored professional experience.
- Community Engaged Learning (CEL), which usually involves work with non-profit organizations but can occur in a for-profit organization providing the focus is on service to the community.
- Independent research or creative projects, which focus on self-directed inquiry but must be related to the student's career goals or involve the community in some way.
EL opportunities may be situated in the private, public, for-profit, and non-profit sectors and be paid or unpaid.