Learning Outside the Classroom

Albertus Magnus College integrates experiential learning opportunities across the curriculum to extend student learning beyond traditional classroom settings. These experiences are intentionally designed, faculty-supervised when appropriate, and aligned with program learning outcomes to support the development and assessment of disciplinary knowledge, professional competencies, and applied skills.

Student learning in experiential contexts is assessed through methods appropriate to the discipline and learning outcomes, which may include reflective writing, portfolios, research presentations, creative or scholarly products, supervisor evaluations, and faculty assessment of academic performance.

Practica and Internships

Practica and internships are credit-bearing experiential learning opportunities that integrate academic study with supervised, discipline-related experience in professional or community-based settings. These experiences are structured to align with defined learning outcomes and include formal assessment of student learning through faculty evaluation, site supervisor feedback, and/or reflective academic work.

Academic oversight and supervision are required to ensure that experiential learning activities are educationally meaningful and consistent with program standards.

Independent Study

Independent study provides students the opportunity to engage in faculty-guided research or a focused academic project in an area not otherwise available in the standard curriculum. Independent study is intended to deepen disciplinary knowledge and is not a substitute for required coursework or a means of repeating or completing missing degree requirements.

Student learning is assessed through faculty evaluation of research or project outcomes, which may include written work, presentations, portfolios, or other discipline-specific deliverables. Independent study requires faculty sponsorship and academic approval to ensure appropriate rigor and alignment with program learning outcomes.

Scholarly and Professional Conferences

Students may participate in academic conferences, symposia, and professional meetings as part of their educational experience. Conference participation may include attending sessions, presenting original research or creative work, or engaging in discipline-specific professional development activities.

When students present scholarly or creative work, learning may be assessed through faculty-mentored projects, presentation evaluations, reflective assignments, or related academic documentation that demonstrates engagement with disciplinary knowledge and professional practice.

Digital Badges

Students may have opportunities to earn digital badges that recognize demonstrated achievement of specific skills, competencies, or applied learning outcomes. Digital badges are awarded based on documented and assessed learning and provide evidence of competency attainment aligned with institutional and program expectations.

Study Away and Study Abroad

Study away and study abroad programs provide students with academically relevant learning experiences in domestic or international settings. These programs are integrated into degree requirements when appropriate and are subject to institutional approval to ensure academic quality, transferability, and alignment with program outcomes.

Student learning is assessed through coursework completed at the host institution and may also include reflective assignments, portfolios, or faculty-evaluated academic work as part of the student’s program of study.

Students participating in approved study away or study abroad programs are expected to maintain academic progress toward degree completion. Credit is awarded upon receipt and evaluation of official transcripts from the host institution, in accordance with institutional transfer credit policies.

Planning for study away or study abroad is recommended in consultation with academic advisors and the Office of the Registrar and should begin at least one semester in advance.

Learning outside the classroom is an integral part of the academic experience and is designed to extend, apply, and demonstrate student learning in meaningful, structured contexts.