Experiential Learning:  linking curriculum to real world inquiry, practice, creativity, and social responsibility

As the founder of cooperative education in 1906, the University of Cincinnati continues to innovate and expand its realm of experiential education.  As part of Integrated Core Learning, this innovative approach seeks theory-practice integration, contextual complexity, and community engagement to develop and nuture learning that is self-directed, integrative, and transformational.

The Many Faces of UC Experiential Learning

• Clinicals:  professional experience that's part of most health-care degree or licensing programs (click here to learn about a student's international clinical experience in Honduras) 

• Co-op:  Students alternate quarters of classroom study with paid professional work, usually beginning the sophomore year.  Most co-op students work six co-op quarters and complete their degrees in five years. Co-op is required in most DAAP, Engineering and College of Applied Science programs and is optional in others, such as the College of Business programs.  (Read about what our students say about Co-op)
  
  
  

• Fieldwork:  professional work under the supervision of a licensed professional in your field, or research conducted outside the classroom (Check out a C-Ring Winner's fieldwork experience in Kenya and the Dominican Republic)
  
  
  

• Global studies:  education abroad and international co-op opportunities (C-Ring Winner traveled to 29 countries to serve others)
  
  
  

  Internships:  paid or unpaid program-related professional work that earns credit toward your degree
  
  
  

• Practicum:  a project where you apply theoretical knowledge in a practical situation
  
  
  

• Performance:  musical and theatrical experience in student productions and professional shows (Click here to see various UC performance ensembles)
  
  
  

• Service Learning and Community Engagement:  community service related to your course of study that earns college credit
  
  
  

• Student teaching:  professional classroom experience for education majors
  
  
  

• Undergraduate research:  work one-on-one with faculty and other student-researchers in more than 150 degree programs.   Our faculty research continues to earn international headlines from news media ranging from the ABC News to the Washington Post and in countries ranging from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
  
  

(Click here to read "The University of Cincinnati's Approach to Experiential Education" )