Kathy Guthrie, William Jordan, Elaine Rundle-Schwark
Associated Faculty Leonard Branson, Dyanne Ferk, Karen Kirkendall, Paul McDevitt
Adjunct Faculty Janette Kirkham, Holly McCracken, Thomas ShaughnessyContact: 217/206-6640, ast@uis.edu, or www.uis.edu/appliedstudy
The applied study and experiential learning term (AST) is central to UIS' public affairs emphasis within the framework of a liberal arts curriculum and stresses practical experience, professional development, and experiential learning. The AST fulfills this role by providing an academically sponsored learning experience that gives all UIS degree-seeking undergraduate students an opportunity to learn from the community -- about its everyday tasks, its professional life, its problems, and its unmet needs.
The AST process emphasizes self-directed learning that provides opportunities for career exploration, integration of academic studies with practical experience, determination of additional learning needs, cultivation of independent learning skills, and development of increased awareness of community, diversity, and public affairs.
The campus and AST faculty recognize the diversity of backgrounds and academic and career needs of students. A variety of curricular options are described more fully in the AST course descriptions. The AST experience can be in the form of an internship, a special project, student/faculty research, study abroad, or travel abroad. Some programs (i.e., social work and clinical laboratory science) have an experiential component integrated into the academic curriculum of their own program.
Requirements
UIS provides an opportunity for all degree seeking undergraduates at UIS to take 2 to 12 semester hours of applied study as part of the University Requirement. The semester hours beyond 8 may be taken for elective credit with the adviser's permission. Or six semester hours of applied study may be used to satisfy Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (Engagement Experience and/or Elective) requirements. The AST may be taken after admission to an academic major at UIS, selection of a major adviser in the academic discipline, and completion of 12 semester hours of credit in the academic major at UIS. Some programs have additional regulations and prerequisites for applied study terms. Scheduling is flexible and a variety of options are available to meet individual student needs.
Early in the semester preceding enrollment in the AST (third year), students should make an appointment with their program advisers and an AST faculty member to discuss plans for the integration of academic studies and experiential learning. Early in the semester preceding enrollment in the AST, students should arrange all details of placement with the AST faculty in Brookens 482. Registration can be completed only with the permission of the program adviser and an AST faculty member.
Contact: 217/206-6640, cpl@uis.edu, or www.uis.edu/cpl
Credit for Prior Learning enables qualified students to receive academic credit for college-level learning acquired outside the classroom and is particularly valuable to those with an extensive background in a profession, in workshops or seminars, in the military, in community service and volunteer work, in relevant travel or hobbies, and/or in independent research. Credit for Prior Learning may fulfill ECCE Engagement and/or ECCE Elective. (See above under General Education Requirements.) Interested students should contact the CPL office as early as possible or visit www.uis.edu/cpl.
Contact: 217/206-6640, servicelearning@uis.edu, or www.uis.edu/servicelearning/
Service-learning courses combine learning with providing service to communities in need. The service that students perform is combined with self-reflection, self-discovery, and learning new skills and knowledge. Not only do service-learning courses enrich students' learning experience, but they can also fulfill one of two Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) requirements, which are part of the general curriculum. Service-learning courses can be taken to complete the ECCE Engagement Experience or the ECCE Elective requirements. Students enrolled in service-learning courses will complete 60 hours (about four hours/week) of direct service to approved sites and attend seminars throughout the semester.
Service-learning courses are designed to promote experiential learning for UIS students while advancing the institution's mission of providing a sound basis of information and concerned citizens. Students in these courses will conduct a community needs assessment, plan and implement a service project to meet a community need while critically reflecting on the experience through discussion and journaling. All students should contact the Service-Learning office in Brookens 489 for more information.