Santa Clara University

Definitions

Definitions of Categories

Campus Leadership Opportunities are theory-based developmental programs or practice-based involvement experiences. You gain an understanding of leadership as a process and will integrate various forms of knowledge. You will also develop an ability to think ethically and critically to make individual decisions and participate effectively in groups.

Community-Based Learning links academic opportunities to the work of agencies, schools, and other community groups that serve poor and marginalized populations. Partnerships involve your active engagement, service, and/or research so as to learn to about and address systemic social issues locally and beyond.

Community Service involves volunteering for activities that directly or indirectly benefit communities and individuals served by non-profit and public agencies.

Cooperative Education is an academic program integrating coursework with practical experience providing training in industry or government. The program provides you an opportunity to apply academic theory to real work situations, acquire career experience, and enhance personal growth.

Immersion enables you to learn directly by living and interacting with people who are culturally different.

Internships are meaningful learning experiences that engage you in the process of thinking and performing as a professional.  Internships are opportunities for professional development, achieving technical skills, and mastering a professional knowledge base. They are planned, structured, supervised experiences that enable you to develop skills for organizing information and solving routine problems as is expected of practicing professionals in your discipline.

Research enables you to work with a professor on a research project offering training in research techniques, analysis, and reporting within your chosen discipline. Research projects may include: a thorough review of the literature in a particular focus area, learning and following scientific protocols, designing and conducting experiments and analyzing their results, assisting with subject recruitment, interviewing participants, and interpreting outcome data.

Experiential Learning, through practice, transforms experiences and concepts into knowledge. This knowledge enables you to develop skills related to your academic, career, or personal interest. Community-based learning, community service, cooperative education, immersion, internships, campus leadership, and studies abroad are all opportunities for experiential learning. Reflection may play a significant role throughout your experience.

Studies Abroad are formal opportunities for study throughout the world that allow you to experience new cultures, enroll in classes, and earn academic credit.

General Definitions

Praxis is a complex activity by which individuals create culture and society, and become critically conscious human beings. Praxis comprises a cycle of action-reflection-action which is central to liberatory education. Education which is liberatory encourages learners to challenge and change the world, not merely uncritically adapt themselves to it.

Reflection allows you to find deeper meaning from your experience by exploring previously held ideas and values, ethics, spirituality, and social constructs. It may lead to personal change and action, commitment and service to the larger community.