Background Image Alternative Text: A graduate student conducts research inside William C. Mitchell Family's Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory.

Experiences

Bulldog Experience will expand opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning activities. These activities may be curricular as part of a for-credit course, or they may be co-curricular experiences which occur outside of the classroom. Students will begin with participatory experiences and end with at least one culminating experience.

High-Impact Practices

  1. First-Year Seminars and Experiences
  2. Diversity/Global Learning (Study Away/Abroad)
  3. Service Learning, Community-Based Learning
  4. Internships (and Co-Ops)
  5. Undergraduate Research
  6. Capstone Courses and Projects (could include Simulations)

Co-Curricular Activities

  1. Student Organizations, Greek Life, & Residential Life Leadership Opportunities
  2. Athletic Teams & Affiliated Groups (Spirit, Band)
  3. Service through the Maroon Volunteer Center (same as #3 above, but not course affiliated)
  4. Student Competitions
  5. Student Employment
  6. Other Experiences

Characteristics of MSU Experiences that Facilitate Experiential Learning

Participatory Engagements

Participatory engagements are activities which occur outside of lecture that allow students to gain new skills or knowledge.  Participatory Engagements have the following characteristics:

  • "Learn by doing"

  • Authentic engagement

  • No formal deliverable produced

e.g. Attending International Fair or Fine Arts Performances

Initial Engagements

Initial Engagements are activities that occur outside of lecture which allow students to apply previously acquired skills and knowledge while engaging in the activity.  Initial Engagements have the following characteristics:

  • "Learn by Doing"

  • Authentic engagement

  • Some interaction with peers and others different than themselves

  • Given the opportunity to reflect and integrate existing knowledge

  • Formal deliverable called a "Initial Reflection" required using official Bulldog Experience reflection prompts

e.g. Volunteer at T. K. Martin Center, Community-Engage Learning Assignment for a Specific Course

Culminating Engagements

Culminating engagements are activities that occur outside of lecture which allow students to analyze their experiences using previously acquired skills and knowledge and construct informed conclusions which will help them in their future professional or personal lives.  Culminating Engagements have the following characteristics:

  • "Learn by DOING"

  • Authentic engagement

  • Significant amount of time devoted to the engagement (a minimum of approximately 30 hours)

  • Interaction and collaboration with peers and others different than themselves

  • Given the opportunity to synthesize and analyze previous experiences to deepen their understanding of academic content

  • Provides the opportunity for connections between in-class and out-of-class experiences that are meaningful and beneficial to them

  • Allows students to apply previously learned knowledge and skills to new situations or scenarios

  • Formal deliverable called a "Culminating Reflection" required using official Bulldog Experience reflection prompts which conveys how the experiences were transformed into new knowledge

Examples of Culminating Experiences
  • Internship/Co-Ops

  • Capstone courses

  • Simulations

  • Senior design courses or projects

  • Study Abroad/ Study Away

  • Portfolios

  • Undergraduate Research

  • Other experiences that meet the characteristics listed above as determined by the Office of Bulldog Experience