THE FUTURE OF WORK

Experiential Learning Requirements

An exciting experiential learning requirement

Every business and design student powers their degree with hands‑on, real‑world experience — an essential part of College of Business curricula that goes beyond the classroom. The benefit of the experiential learning requirement is twofold: you graduate with career skills, guaranteed; you earn academic credits for the time and effort you put into leadership activities, extra experiences and other initiatives that reflect an educational objective. 

You can fulfill this requirement through a variety of means, through whatever excites you: a scheduled course, an internship, a study abroad or perhaps by completing a professional certificate. Even your on-campus job can apply, if it is related to your major program of study. It depends on your major and what you plan for with your advisor.  

Flexible & functional

Ways to earn your experiential learning requirement

Your experiential learning "experience" may be taken for credit (and you’ll pay tuition for these credits) or with zero credit (you’ll not pay, if you do not need the additional credits to graduate). The College of Business calls for the equivalent of two credit hours — or about 60 hours of work to complete your experiential learning requirement. But your internship, leadership activity, research project, etc. could be scored with higher credits, depending on the nature of the project and the time needed for completion.
Here are a few ways to approach the requirement:

COB 004 - Internship

A non-credit course (you will not pay for this course) for a hands-on learning experience that complements your academic coursework.

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COB 410 - Internship

This course accrues credits toward your degree, and you will pay for registering these credits. Depending on the work, you can plan for up to 12 credits.

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Study abroad

Coursework completed related to study abroad experiences — BA 348 International Exchange Orientation & BA 349 Impact of Culture on Business — will fill the requirement.

MECOP

MECOP is a prestigious, competitive paid internship program sponsored by Oregon industries, and College of Business students often land these opportunities.

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Pro certifications

A number of programs —Supply Chain & Logistics Management, Business Information Systems, and Finance — will credit your completion of a professional certification.

On-campus job

Your student on-campus job may qualify as an internship and fill the requirement, if it relates to your area of study! Speak with your supervisor and your advisor.

COB 403 - Thesis

Working with a faculty member on a research project or producing a thesis is eligible for up 16 credits and fulfills your requirement, too.

Other study & projects

COB 405 Reading & Conference and COB 409 Practicum is for approved independent research; COB 406 Projects and BA 407 are for a specific, defined project.

Important planning information

A female advisor smiling while offering support to a student

Academic planning for experiential learning

To make your plan seamless, connect with your academic advisor at least one term in advance, and create your learning agreement. They’ll help you understand your options and get you ready to register for your experiential learning requirement, and assist with details.

Schedule with advising

Registering your internship

A critical process to earning academic credits for your internship is registering the internship experience. This is a multi-step process that includes securing an internship, finding an academic advisor, logging information in Handshake and securing a CRN for course registration. Don't skip this page! Learn more

program requirements

Curriculum tables by major

Review your major program's curriculum table for suggestions on which course to register your experiential learning requirement, and to prepare for your discussion with your academic advisor.

Accounting | Apparel Design | Business Administration | Business Analytics | Business Information Systems | Design & Innovation Management | Finance | Hospitality Management | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Interior Design | Marketing | Organizational Leadership | Product & Merchandising Management | Sports Business | Supply Chain & Logistics Management

abacus

Experiential learning credits

Learning opportunities by major

Here is a closer look at additional learning opportunities that can fulfill your experiential learning requirement, depending on your major program of study.

special topics

Accounting majors

Students majoring in accounting can take program-approved special topics such as ACTG 499: Navigating Professions. Connect with Sid Elliott with questions.

PRIME

Organizational leadership majors

Students majoring in organizational leadership complete a 4-credit PRIME experience related to their particular area of study.

Professional certifications

Supply Chain, Finance & BIS majors

Students majoring in supply chain & logistics management, finance or business information systems (BIS students, see table below) can complete a professional certification with a recognized professional association to fulfill the requirement.

+ More Courses

Organizational leadership majors

Students majoring in organizational leadership can take MGMT 450 Introduction to Mentoring & Coaching or MGMT 464 Project Management Practicum to fulfill the requirement.

Business Information Systems Majors

As a business information systems major, you can earn fulfill your experiential learning requirements and/or take a practicum by completing certifications with recognized professional organizations.. Below are the pre-approved certifications that you can pursue (with your learning agreement). If there is a professional certification you want to pursue that is NOT listed, please connect with Professor Nicholas Roberts to discuss the approval process and earn credits.

CertificateProviderBIS Practicum
CompTIA Network+CompTIABIS 421
ISACA Cybersecurity FundamentalsISACABIS 422
CompTIA Security+CompTIABIS 422
Google CybersecurityGoogleBIS 422
ISACA IT Audit FundamentalsISACABIS 423
ISACA IT Risk FundamentalsISACABIS 423
HPE Aruba Networking Certified Campus Access AssociateHPEBIS 421