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“Go Forth and Set the World on Fire” 

– St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Engaged Learning University Requirement brings Loyola’s mission to life through the curriculum, offering students an opportunity to find their passions, joys, interests, and educational pursuits through hands-on learning in and out of the classroom. Students engage in a variety of experience-based learning courses, including service-learning, academic internships, undergraduate research, fieldwork, and public performance. In turn, students get to find their fire and explore their interests through engagement.

 

Overview of Engaged Learning

The Engaged Learning requirement supports the mission of Loyola University Chicago by embedding opportunities for students to explore the many different forms of experiential learning as part of their academic coursework.  As of Fall 2012, all undergraduate students are required to complete at least one Engaged Learning course/s totaling at least three (3) credit hours prior to graduation.

Engaged Learning courses are those that provide all of the following:

  • A structured learning experience integrated into a course that engages students in learning outside the classroom, such as in a community agency, professional organization, or in a research setting
  • Critical reflection on that experience through various assignments in class
  • Synthesis of the experience through a final project or learning portfolio.

Engaged Learning courses may be offered by either individual departments, academic programs, and the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship. This requirement may be satisfied by a course within the Core Curriculum, or in a student’s major or minor, or through an elective course. Students may engage in these courses during the regular academic year, summer semester, J-Term, a capstone course or a study abroad experience.

Since a requirement of all Engaged Learning courses is for students to complete a final project or a learning portfolio, click here to learn more about learning portfolios. Learning portfolios, often referred to as a ePortfolios, are high-impact tools for learning. They are a digital collection of students' demonstrated knowledge, competencies and skills represented through learning artifacts. Learning portfolios assist students to deepen critical reflections and integrate learning across course concepts, academic disciplines, and co-curricular experiences. 

Upon designating a course as Engaged Learning, the course remains designated as Engaged Learning until notice is given otherwise. Academic departments and/or faculty instructors must communicate if a course changes (new course number, for example) or if a course retires the Engaged Learning designation; please communicate with the Director of Engaged Learning, Dr. Patrick Green (Executive Director, Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, & Scholarship) at engagedlearning@luc.edu. 

 

This brief video provides an overview of Loyola University Chicago's Engaged Learning University Requirement for Loyola Students. This overview explains the University requirement & shares resources.

Categories of Engaged Learning Courses

There are five different categories of classes that satisfy the Engaged Learning Requirement. Click on any category to learn more about that pedagogy and the criteria that define it.

A. Service-Learning

B. Academic Internship

C. Field Work

D. Undergraduate Research

E. Public Performance