Hands-on Learning

The College of Arts and Sciences provides numerous opportunities for hands-on or experiential learning. Experiential learning often involves opportunities to get involved in community action. In addition to these courses, our Integrated Learning offer opportunities to learn and earn credit while addressing real-world problems.

Independent work: Undergraduate thesis, research, or project courses
Independent work is an important element in developing an autonomous, self-assured student who knows how to master research or other scholarly effort. 'Special topics' or 'Readings' courses at different levels may be tailored to individual students or groups of students and may be initiated by students or instructor as circumstances warrant. 'Thesis' courses allow students--typically seniors--to produce scholarly work under faculty supervision appropriate to the discipline; in some cases, the thesis is part of a departmental honors program. Students in the Eckardt Scholars Program do a significant amount of independent work as part of the program.
 
Independent-work courses generally require specific arrangements with the instructor or faculty supervisor prior to registration and may also require a certain level of class standing or other prerequisites. In all cases, the student should consult with the department before attempting to register. In addition to these independent-work courses, many departments offer courses in discipline-specific research methods and other courses with substantial independent projects.
 
Other experiential learning courses
Experiential learning includes activities like writing for the campus newspaper, participating in theatre productions or musical performances, and other specially designed courses, some of which include a community action component. Apprentice teaching (assisting a faculty member with a regularly rostered course) is available to qualified students by arrangement in most subjects.