Experiential Learning

Last updated: June 13, 2018 at 4:23 p.m.

Brandeis offers a variety of Experiential Learning (EL) practicum courses in all disciplines that focus on both the theoretical and experiential realms of academic topics. Practicums enable students to develop skills, knowledge, and values from practical experiences and ongoing reflection. Practicum courses include projects that can involve research, lab work, community-based learning activities, theater, or art.

The EL practicum may include hands-on experiences relevant to the base course content that engage students intellectually, creatively, socially, physically, and/or emotionally. Practicum activities present opportunities to observe, experience, or engage with the theories learned in class. Structured reflection assignments and processes will enable students to think critically about their experiences and make nuanced connections between theory and practice.

Students may not enroll in an EL practicum course as a standalone course. Practicum courses can be taken either concurrently with the base course or within one year after completing the base course. Should a student drop the base class, enrollment in the associated practicum course may be automatically dropped.

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

EL 10a Experiential Learning Practicum
Yields half-course credit.
Offered as part of the Leader-Scholar Community Program.
Staff

EL 12b Multimedia Journalism Lab
Corequisites: JOUR 15a, JOUR 138b, or AMST 132b. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Students learn the digital recording and editing skills required for the accomplished practice of broadcast and internet-based journalism. Usually offered every semester.
Mark Dellelo

EL 13a Multimedia Storytelling
Corequisite: JOUR 120a, JOUR 138b or AMST 132b. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Students at both beginning and intermediate levels of skill and experience produce journalism in multimedia formats. The intermediate students serve as models for the beginning students. Usually offered every year.
Mark Dellelo

EL 16a The Immigrant Experience in Waltham: A Service-based Practicum
Corequisite: AAAS 177a, AMST 55a, ANTH 1a, IGS 10a, POL 184a, or SOC 122a. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Offers hands-on experience through community work with immigrants, applying frameworks and analysis methods of the base course. Students contribute to an organization that addresses the needs of immigrants and reflect on and explore other social justice/social policy issues of interest. Usually offered every semester.
Marcia McPhee

EL 24b QBReC Lab
Corequisite: FYS 11a. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Students explore the living world through experimental and computational projects conducted in research labs. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary science where techniques from physics, chemistry and biology are used to develop a quantitative understanding of life at the molecular and cellular level. Usually offered every year.
Jané Kondev

EL 30b Housing for Good: Environmentally Healthy, Socially Just
Corequisite: ENVS 43b, ENVS 102aj or AMST 102aj. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Working one-on-one with clients at the Brandeis/WATCH Housing Clinic, students help ensure healthy living conditions, reduce waste and conserve energy for the low income, richly diverse, immigrant community. Students play a critical role in the local community while they learn. Usually offered every year.
Laura Goldin

EL 42a Sages and Seekers: A Fieldwork Practicum in Gender across Generations
Corequisite: ANTH 1a, ANTH 111a, ANTH 144a, or PSYC 37a. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Students participate in a 9-week Sages and Seekers program designed to bridge the generational gap between seniors and youth in order to foster the exchange of wisdom and dissolve age-related segregation. Each student also designs and carries out an individual fieldwork and/or community service project. Hands-on experiences complement concepts and questions explored through the base classes, regarding aging, gender, and generational change in socio-cultural context. Usually offered every year.
Sarah Lamb

EL 50a Dream, Persevere, Succeed:Skills for College and Career Success
Offered exclusively on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment limited to first-year students who are members of the Student Support Services Program (SSSP). Yields half-course credit.
Examines the fundamentals of performing academic research. Topics include evaluating and analyzing information while thinking critically about current societal matters. The Learning Community culminates in a student research symposium. Offered every fall semester.
Staff

EL 60a Experiential Learning Practicum
Corequisite: ED 175a. Yields half-course credit.
Usually offered every year.
Staff

EL 66a Community Engagement Practicum
Yields half-course credit. Enrollment limited to Waltham Group coordinators.
Focuses on the topics of community engagement and partnerships, responsible leadership, policy, and non-profit development. This stand-alone practicum allows Waltham Group coordinators to reflect on and connect theoretical concepts to their volunteer programs. Usually offered every semester.
Lucas Malo

EL 80a Tuvalu to the World: An Eco Art Project
Corequisite: FA 169a, FA 172b, COSI 154aj, COSI 105b. Course may be taken as a prerequisite within the past year with permission of the instructor. Yields half-course credit.
Students contribute to aspects related to this year's "Tuvalu Pavilion as a Global Pavilion" at the Venice Biennale. The class project entails researching international eco art, Pacific Island cultures, and food security for an official website, to be designed collaboratively. Usually offered every second year.
Aida Wong

EL 94a Experiential Learning Practicum
Prerequisites and corequisites vary by section. Yields half-course credit.
Staff