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Service-Learning Courses

Service Learning Courses

The Center for Community Engagement offers service-learning courses that vary by semester. These unique course offerings are designed to provide students the opportunity to utilize their academic background, prior course-work, and individual skills in a way that allows them to experience community need and make a real difference.

Definition of service-learning:  “Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities for reflection designed to achieve desired learning outcomes.” (B. Jacoby, Service-learning in Higher Education, 1996).

Students learn about, reflect on, and connect the relationship between hands-on activities and independent academic reading. Community and campus partners provide on-site supervision to students in an internship-style setting. Partner sites vary as do the service-learning projects available.


  • ARSC 120 - Inquiry Approaches to Teaching
  • BCOR 199, Honors – Introduction to Business (L. Wang)
  • BIO L101 – General Biology (D. Huebert Lima)
  • BIO L191 – Biology First Year Seminar (J. Ripley Stueckle)
  • CE 493A – Sustainable Development Engineering (K. Orner)
  • CE 593C – Sustainable Development Engineering (K. Orner)
  • COMM 112 – Fundamentals of Group Communication (R. Chiasson)
  • COUN 440 – Addiction Studies (F. Tack)
  • DISB 482 – Disability in the Community
  • DISB 682 – Disability and the Community
  • HIED 658 – Colleges and Communities (E. McHenry-Sorber)
  • HN&F 472 – Nutrition and Food Studies* (C. Fitch)
  • HONR 245 – Service in Tutoring
  • LDR 301 – Problems in Leadership
  • LDR 401 – Leadership in Action (C. Luzynski)
  • MDS 489 – Capstone (A. Soccorsi)
  • MUSC 185 – Introduction to Music Therapy
  • PUBH 352 - Introduction to Social and Behavioral Science and Practice (E. Claydon)
  • SPED 491 – Special Education Professional Field Experience (M. Kelly)
  • SRVL 179 – Introduction to Service Learning for Student Support Services/TRIO
  • SRVL 490 – Teaching Practicum (M. Calabrese)
  • SRVL 495 – Independent Study
  • WVUe 280 - Presidential Student Ambassadors (C. Atkins)
  • WVUe 281 – Presidential Student Ambassadors (C. Atkins)

Interested in a Service-Learning course?
Please consider the following Steps for Success:

Students who enjoy learning through service activities are encouraged to register for S Designated courses. Steps on how to register:

1.  Contact your advisor about the course that interests you to ensure that it is appropriate for your major at this time. Discuss the amount of credit hours you’d like to take also with your advisor, as some courses have variable credit options between 1-6 credit hours. You may be asked to provide written verification that you have advisor approval before registration.

2. Review some of the sample syllabi and course forms provided at the bottom of this page for more detailed information.

3. Visit the CCE's list of  Community Partners and  Campus Partners to research our partner organizations (if you don’t have a relationship with a partner organization already). You may want to go ahead and select your top 3-5 choices for partner.

  • Be sure to consider the site location (do you have transportation to get there)?
  • Read about the site’s mission and programs (does this fit your skills, talents, and interests)?
  • Consider the population served there (is this experience a good fit for your learning goals)?

4. If you’d like to register for an SRVL course that requires a departmental hold, please complete steps 1, 2, and 3, then email the CCE with the following information:

  • Course and number of credits you’d like to take
  • MIX Email Address
  • Phone number
  • Full name

5. CCE staff will contact you and will need your student ID number—please do not email your confidential student ID. Confirmation will be sent to you after departmental holds are lifted.

Important Note about variable-credit courses: When registering for a variable credit course, initially you will select 1 credit hour. After registering, visit the “Change Class Options” link in STAR, and change the course credits to the appropriate number.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the CCE at 304-293-8761 or by emailing  CCE@mail.wvu.edu.