All University of New Haven undergraduates complete a minimum of two courses or experiences that are recognized as designated high impact practice that offer experiential learning opportunities. Colleges or programs may designate specific courses that fulfill all or part of this requirement. A designated high impact practice can be in one of the following five categories: (1) study abroad courses; (2) courses with a community-based project such as a service learning course or a shared live client experience (SLiCE); (3) courses or fellowships with a faculty-mentored research project; (4) internships, practicums, or clinical field placements; (5) courses/experiences designated by departments as meeting the High Impact Practice Requirement that do not clearly fit with the previous four categories.

Critical to the concept of Experiential Education is the integration of theoretical knowledge with applied skills. Students should consult with their academic advisors on the integration of their academic and career goals with Experiential Education, identifying the best opportunity to meet their individual goals.

Flexibility of the Baccalaureate Degree Experiential Education Requirement

As the intent of the Experiential Education degree requirement at the university is to encourage students to learn through experience, collaboration, and discovery, the university extends the concept of flexibility to the Experiential Education degree requirement.

Students may, with the permission of the appropriate Dean’s representative:

1.     Substitute an Independent Study experience course that contributes to the student’s academic goals in an applied way as deemed appropriate to the learning objectives of the program by the faculty advisor.

2.     Meet the requirement through transferring in comparable, experience-based courses from an accredited institution. However, as there are various modes of offering Experiential Education throughout the University, students transferring to a new program within the University may find that a required course that is also an Experiential Education course must still be taken.