Experiential Learning Opportunities

Internships

Internship experiences provide valuable opportunities to integrate classroom learning with on-site application. Since the nature of these experiences is best defined in light of individual student interests, needs, and professional goals, the departments have established specific guidelines for such experiences. Credit may not be applied to past experiences or for anticipated future experiences. All internships must be approved by the Department Chair in order to count toward a major and/or minor. Students must also seek a faculty member with qualifications appropriate to overseeing the intern’s major area of study to supervise their internship, before the internship begins and registration will be accepted. Students intending to register for an internship must complete the form found on the Portal (Departments > Center for Calling and Career). The process for academic internships is outlined on the Portal. The form must be completed and submitted no later than the final date for drop/add (except under extenuating circumstances). Registration for the internship course will be finalized when the supervising faculty member confirms with the Registrar. Students may earn one to nine credit hours of internship toward graduation. If registering for summer sessions, there is a fee per credit hour.

Cooperative Experiences

On occasion, opportunities to engage in significant practical experiences become available which necessitate a planned break in enrollment. Along with one’s advisor and department chair, each student should plan these in the semester prior to the actual cooperative experience in order to ensure timely attention to matters related to campus housing, financial aid, etc.

Student Teaching

For a number of years, Georgetown College has been recognized for its programs in teacher education. Each student, upon completion of a teacher education program, participates in a semester of supervised teaching, applying knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom. Placement in an area school system under the direction of a cooperating teacher, while supervised by a College faculty member, provides a culminating pre-service experience.

Center for Civic Engagement

Georgetown College’s Center for Civic Engagement partners with faculty and community partners to inspire our students to become effective agents of change in their chosen professions and communities. Through strong ties between academic learning goals and service, structured critical reflection, and engagement with the community through collaborative partnerships, the center heightens the College’s environment for spiritual, intellectual, and social growth.

Georgetown College’s Center for Civic Engagement represents the College’s commitment to enhancing student identity (spirit), learning (mind) and engagement (action). The center supports and provides resources to the College and surrounding community to foster the connection between service and academic learning goals. The key to these experiences is the partnership between the College and our community partners. Civic engagement enhances students’ understanding of social issues and concerns, and fosters leadership, citizenship, organizing, and critical thinking, thereby serving the College’s mission of preparing students to engage in their life’s pursuits with thoughtfulness and skill.

Civic engagement experiences offered through the center include service- learning classes and community-based experiential learning. Service-learning classes are credit-bearing educational experiences where service is an integral part of a course and involves an intentional connection between service and academic learning goals. Community-based experiential learning is a faculty- led or staff-led learning opportunity to actively engage with the surrounding community but is not connected to a course.