Experiential Learning

Purpose 

Finding a good job is a key reason that students, parents, and the public value higher education. Gallup research shows that graduates who had a relevant job or internship experience while in school were more than twice as likely to acquire a good job immediately after graduation than their peers who did not complete an internship or have relevant job experience (see Busteed and Auter, “Why Colleges Should Make Internships a Requirement,” 2017). Experiential learning, which includes internships, gives Ensign College students opportunities to apply lessons learned in the classroom, develop professional skills in a real-world, and interact with a faculty member through associated academic coursework. In addition, experiential learning opportunities expand a student’s professional network.  

Definition 

Experiential learning occurs when a student participates in a structured experience in a real-world work environment, or a simulated environment that approximates a real-world work environment. Students participating in an experiential learning experience are immersed in the everyday work of their chosen profession or discipline. The experience includes both real-world application of skills but also academic coursework and reflection. The experiential learning opportunities at Ensign College include supervision and mentoring of a professional or practitioner in the field of study.

Experiential Learning Requirement 

To graduate from Ensign College, degree-seeking students are required to complete at least one experiential learning course or medical practicum related to a certificate or degree studied at Ensign College.  

A student earning an associate degree is required to complete one experiential learning course internship or medical practicum. A student earning a bachelor’s degree is required to complete at least one Experiential Learning course. A student earning only a certificate is not required to complete an internship unless specified as a certificate requirement.

Ensign College Experiential Learning experiences must meet these standards:

1. Relates directly to a student’s certificate or degree program. 
2. Provides the student with supervised practical application of previously studied theory. 
3. Focuses on real-world projects and problems
4. Is administered through enrollment in an academic experiential learning course. 

Ideally, experiential learning experiences will expand a student’s professional network and business relationships.  

College-Wide Capabilities (CWC) 

An Experiential Learning experience at Ensign College should include further development of the College-Wide Capabilities that are related to skills that employers are seeking in good candidates, namely:  
1. Teamwork and Leadership  
2. Communication  
3. Technical Skills  
4. Problem Solving  
5. Professionalism 

Time Commitment - Minimum Hours and Weeks 

A minimum of 70 hours of total work in the internship experience is required, with a minimum of 10 hours of work per week for 7 weeks in a row. Other scheduling arrangements are acceptable if the minimum requirement is met (for example, a student may complete 40 hours of work per week for 14 weeks).  

Most internship providers expect interns to work 20-40 hours per week for at least one semester.

Students must enroll for a minimum of 1 credit hour and may elect to enroll in up to 3 credits. Only 1 credit hour is required, even if total work hours for the internship exceed 70 hours. Work hour requirements by credit hour are as follows:  
1 credit = a minimum of 70 work hours during the semester  
2 credits = a minimum of 140 work hours during the semester  
3 credits = a minimum of 210 hours during the semester  

Students wishing to enroll for 2 or 3 credit hours must submit their request in the Internship Class Application Form. If the student is applying for more than 1 credit, their application must specify the number of hours they will complete during their internships according to the formula above. 

Experiential Learning Preparation and Resources 

Students are encouraged to work with Career and Internship Services at least one or two semesters before they need an Experiential Learning course. Career and Internship Service staff are actively looking for and posting Experiential Learning opportunities on our social media platform, Ensign Connect; and are happy to assist students in their search for an internship opportunity. However, the student is ultimately responsible for finding and securing an Experiential Learning opportunity internship that matches their interest and skills and the college-wide outcomes.

Experiential Learning for International Students 

International students are limited to 20 hours per week unless they are on an official break/vacation semester. Please consult the International Student Office for details.  

All international students pursuing an internship must coordinate with the International Student Office and the Career and Internship Services before accepting job offers or starting to work off-campus.  

To learn more and receive help with your internship, please visit the Career & Internship Services website: https://www.ensign.edu/internships