Types of Experiential Learning Courses

There are lots of opportunities to get experience and learn in new environments. Below are the types of experiential learning that are available through courses at the University of Windsor.

We've also provided some examples of each but check with your department or academic advisor for others not listed here.

Students and industry (or community) working together to investigate a specific, real-world issue.

Example:

  • (Engineering) Manufacturing Process Design, INDE-3210

A final-year course that consolidates everything a student has learned and is usually project-based.

Examples:

  • (Environmental Engineering) Capstone Design Project, ENVE-4000 (similar to capstones in all Engineering programs)
  • (Business Administration) Strategy & Entrepreneurship, STEN-4980

Practice-based work experience under the supervision of an experienced licensed professional but is not required for professional licensure or certification.

Example:

  • (Law) Clinic Practice Program, LAWG-5926

Co-op (co-operative education) alternates terms of paid, full-time work with terms of study in a specific program.

UWindsor offers co-op programs in:

  • Engineering
    • Civil
    • Electrical
    • Environmental
    • Mechanical
    • Industrial
  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Kinesiology

Students work in partnership with a community partner or community-based organization to apply disciplinary knowledge to address identified needs or issue.

Examples:

  • (Faculty of Science) Service Learning, SCIE-3800
  • (Faculty of Education) Service Learning Specialization, EDUC-5207
  • (Disability Studies) Community Orientation to Disability Issues, DISB-4650
  • (History) Public History Practicum, HIST-4810
  • (Psychology) Community Psychology, PSYC-4320
  • (Sociology, Social Work, & Women’s and Gender Studies) Practicum in Social Change, SACR-4500 SWRK-4500, and WGST-4500
  • (Visual Arts) Green Corridor, VSAR-3850

Students in the performing or visual arts create a public presentation.

Many of these types of courses will be found in:

  • Acting
  • Dramatic Art
  • Music
  • Visual Arts & The Built Environment
  • Visual Arts

Students cultivate and/or manage a business, social enterprise or creative idea.

Exposure to the work setting through participation in activities such as site visits, study tours, and field trips.

Examples:

  • (Kinesiology) Sport Marketing, KINE-3450
  • (Integrative Biology) Plant Ecology BIOL-3281

Active participation in a field experience that is systemically integrated throughout the course.

Some of the programs with field work courses are:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Education
  • Environmental Science
  • Greek and Roman Studies
  • History
  • Human Kinetics
  • Juris Doctor

Work with a community, organization, business, or industry partner on specific project(s) to identify opportunities and develop solutions or strategies to address a challenge, issue or idea.

Many departments offer courses with industry/community consulting projects at various times and these consistently offer at least one:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Business
  • Law
  • Sociology

Engage in experiences that mimic the "real world" in cognitive demands, surroundings, and environmental circumstances.

Interactive simulation courses vary widely across departments and programs of study.  Examples of departments consistently offering interactive simulations courses:

  • Nursing
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Business
  • Kinesiology
  • Law
  • Dramatic Art
  • Integrative Biology
  • Forensics
  • Computer Science

Full-time program-related experience in a professional work environment.

UWindsor offers full-time internships in:

  • Master of Applied Computing
  • Chemistry/Biochemistry
  • Law

Part-time program-related experience in a professional work environment.

UWindsor offers part-time internships in:

  • Arts Management Certificate Program
  • Business
  • Communications, Media & Film
  • Dramatic Art
  • Education
  • Economics
  • English
  • Forensics
  • Kinesiology
  • Law
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Science (all programs)
  • Visual Arts

Professional capabilities are developed in a work setting, which is required by both an academic program and a regulatory college/professional association and is under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional.

Examples:

  • (Nursing) Clinical Practicum I, NURS-1512
  • (Social Work) Field Education I, SWRK-4750
  • (Education) Practicum, EDUC-5499
  • (Aeronautics Leadership) Practicum in Professional Development, AERO-1970

Investigation by students to produce an original contribution.

Examples:

  • (Business) Business Research Seminar and Thesis, BUSR-4990
  • (Kinesiology) Individual Studies, KINE-4750
  • (Psychology) Thesis: Research, PSYC-4970
  • (Women’s and Gender Studies) Independent Study in Women’s and Gender Studies, WGST-4500
  • (Environmental Science) Thesis Research in Environmental Science, ESCI-4900
  • (Integrative Biology) Undergraduate Research in Biology, BIOL-4904
  • (Forensics) Research Thesis in Forensic Sciences, FRSC-4900

International study or work ­­opportunities.

These are usually found in:

  • International Exchange programs
  • Field Work, co-op, or internship abroad courses