The University of Illinois at Springfield is dedicated to the idea that higher education is professional and practical. The Applied Study Term program (AST) honors this dedication by stressing the following values:
AST provides an academically sponsored learning experience that gives all degree-seeking undergraduate students an opportunity to learn from the community about everyday tasks, professional life, problems, and unmet needs. The process emphasizes self-directed learning, providing extremely useful opportunities for students:
In the Applied Study Term program, we draw a distinction between end products (such as term papers and final exams) and process. Though students will generate a number of significant end products during the semester, what they learn and the process they go through to learn it are more significant.
AST is designed to help students reflect on what they are doing and learning. This is a different approach to learning than some students may have experienced in the past, which may cause discomfort or confusion at first.
Students wishing to go through the AST experience should keep in mind, however, that it is the process of learning that is most important – what one learns, how one goes about learning, and what that learning means to the individual.
To learn more about our program and how to complete an AST of your own, please explore our website. Much information about going through the AST process can be found on the Curriculum pages.
The Students pages contain information both for current students, including Newest Internship Opportunities, and examples of UIS students who have had phenomenal experiences in a variety of fields thanks to the AST program.
