THE FUTURE OF WORK
Experiential Learning Credits
An exciting 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 experiential learning credits 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 credits
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 requires that your earn two credits — or about 60 hours of work — to complete your ELC. 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:
Important planning information
Academic planning for experiential learning credits
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 experiential learning credits, and assist with details such as how many ELC credits you can pursue.
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 and 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 credits, 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
Experiential learning credits
Learning opportunities by major
Here is a closer look at additional learning opportunities that can earn your experiential learning credits, 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 earn credits.
+ 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 earn their ELC credits.
Business Information Systems Majors
As a business information systems major, you can earn credits for experiential learning and practicum by completing certifications with 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.
Certificate Provider Experiential learning Practicum BIS Practicum ISACA Networks and Infrastructure Fundamentals ISACA Yes Yes BIS 421 CompTIA Network+ CompTIA Yes Yes BIS 421 ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals ISACA Yes Yes BIS 422 CompTIA Security+ CompTIA Yes Yes BIS 422 ISC2 CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) ISC2 Yes Yes BIS 422 Google Cybersecurity Google Yes Yes BIS 422 ISACA IT Audit Fundamentals ISACA Yes Yes BIS 423 ISACA IT Risk Fundamentals ISACA Yes Yes BIS 423 HPE Aruba Networking Certified Campus Access Associate HPE Yes Yes BIS 421