Experiential learning is a dynamic educational approach where students learn by doing and engage in reflections on their experiences. These experiences encourage students to take ownership of their learning, embrace diverse perspectives and build the confidence needed to navigate complex, real-world challenges.

Well-planned, supervised and assessed experiential learning programs can stimulate academic inquiry by promoting interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, career development, cultural awareness, leadership and other professional and intellectual skills.

Unlike traditional lecture-based methods, experiential learning immerses students in practical, hands-on activities that take place in real-world simulated settings.

Two people stand in a green field examining a laptop, focused and collaborative. In the background, an older person inspects plants. Clear sky overhead.

Types of Experiential Learning

Internships

College students using laptop and talking, learning exchanging ideas.

Field Experiences & Practica

A group of young scientists in lab coats and safety goggles listen attentively to a mentor in a modern laboratory, fostering a collaborative environment.

Community-Engaged Projects

Four young people clean up a sandy beach, picking up plastic garbage. They wear casual clothes and gloves. The mood is positive and collaborative, with a river and greenery in the background.

Experiential Learning Includes

-Opportunities to enhance learning through exposure to integrated work and community-based experiences that give students hands on practice in evaluating problems and developing the skills needed to tackle real-world challenges.

-Interdisciplinary approaches that reach across disciplines, generations and geographies to promote collaborative learning in a global world.

-The freedom to augment students' course of study outside of the classroom and to engage in critical reflection, career preparation, communication, leadership and decision-making skills.

Medical students learning how to conduct CPR as students in white coats surround a classmate practice proper technique on a CPR mannequin

Experiential Learning Examples

Interdisciplinary Summer School on Forced Displacement

The Center on Forced Displacement offers a two-week intensive course where students explore questions of displacement via experiential learning  through hands-on workshops and site visits and discussions with nonprofit organizations, service providers, policymakers, and government officials.

Two people walking down a path side by side.

Undergraduate Field-Based Experiences

Field-based experiences such as practicums and internships are one of the key components of the undergraduate experience at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences that enhance their studies.

A teacher smiling down at a happy young student and giving a high five to the girl in the classroom.

MetroBridge

MetroBridge provides tailored research support to under-resourced communities, while simultaneously providing real-world learning experiences to students from various disciplines to prepare them for their future careers.

Overhead view of the BU Bridge