Experiential Learning

Beloit is committed to experiential learning-scholarship in and out of the classroom that engages with real problems. Many of life's most important lessons are learned in a non-academic setting or in the professional work environment where students apply concepts, principles, skills, and techniques to the "real world."

College-sponsored experiential learning opportunities can occur on or off campus, with a faculty mentor, during the academic year or over the summer, and in conjunction with Field and Career Services or independently.

Specific examples of experiential learning are found in many areas. Professor Emily Chamlee-Wright coordinates community development and leadership opportunities through Beloit's Leadership Institute. Economics Professor Jerry Gustafson developed and leads the Center for Entrepreneurship in Liberal Education at Beloit (CELEB), an incubator for student ventures in business, the arts, and service. Larry White's Cross-cultural Psychology Program offers eight-week trips to Estonia and Morocco; students immerse themselves in each culture, conduct independent research, and examine universal and culture-specific psychological phenomena. English majors and journalism work with writers and professors like Lee Fishman, Shawn Gillen, and Heather Skyler to gain editing and proofreading experience at the Beloit Fiction Journal, Highbeams, the Salzburg Review, and other campus publications. Student artists work with Professor George Williams to learn how to exhibit their work and prepare themselves for life after college.

In the Associated College of the Midwest's arts program in Chicago, Beloit students complete internships at Chicago arts organizations for credit. Other domestic programs sponsored by Beloit also offer opportunities for experiential learning.