What is "service learning," and what does it look like at Behrend?
Our program defines "service learning" as: a form of experiential education that combines intentional learning goals with meaningful service and reflection to enrich the learning experience, promote student growth, and positively impact the community.
There are two established ways that Behrend engages with service learning:
- Through student and faculty directed research and projects.
- Through service learning courses, offered through our Minor in Civic and Community Engagement.
Service in the Classroom
Service learning is an excellent way to enrich classroom experiences by combining learning goals with service. There’s unlimited potential to serve, both locally and globally.
We encourage students to take initiative and gear their research or projects in the classroom to the world outside of the classroom by addressing a real-world issue or providing a service for a community.
There are so many great examples of faculty members using service learning to enrich their classroom experiences by combining learning goals with service. Students are encouraged, and sometimes required, to volunteer through a service learning project or community outreach program as part of their class participation.
Service through the Minor in Civic and Community Engagement
For more information on Penn State Behrend’s innovative service learning courses, visit our page on the Minor in Civic and Community Engagement (CIVCM). The CIVCM minor is available to students in almost any major and offers opportunities to extend education beyond the classroom by contributing to socially meaningful public scholarship.