EXL Program Requirements

Experiential Learning provides students with opportunities for hands-on experience in their fields of study, valuable networking with business/organization professionals, and an opportunity to explore career paths through real-world experience.

Ways Students Can Participate in the Program

1. Students may work toward the EXL Scholar graduation distinction (on MTSU transcript) by completing program requirements; or
2. Students may choose take some EXL courses, but not be formally enrolled in the EXL Scholars Program. 

Students wishing to earn the EXL Scholar Graduation Distinction should meet the following:

• Minimum of 16 hours of EXL designated classes. EXL classes include co-operative education/internships, study abroad, applied learning, service-learning, creative activity, teacher education, and laboratory experiences.  These courses may be part of required general education, major, and/or minor requirements.
• At least one external activity (volunteer project with community organization/business or scholarly research project). Most students will complete their external activity through a class as an applied learning project or a service learning assignment. Students who do not have an external activity in their EXL coursework must either complete an external activity or must complete a formal research project.
  An external activity is defined as a project that requires the student to interact with people external to the university or a research project where students must interact with people outside their department or outside the campus community. Students may complete the external activity or research requirement in one of the following ways: complete an external service-learning project or internship, actively participate in a regional or national competition as part of a student team, or complete a research project. The formal research project option may be completed through the Honors College, Undergraduate Research Initiative, as a formal thesis requirement within a major, or as an independent study class.
• MTSU internal service component. Students may complete this requirement in one of three ways:  participate in a MTSU sponsored charitable activity or service learning project, volunteer with a campus office to assist other students, or be a campus leader. Any verified philanthropic activity completed through a student organization or campus department in which the individual coordinated the event/activity may also be counted for EXL credit.
• Documentation of EXL activities by completing the required 1-credit EXL 4000 e-Portfolio course (counts toward the mandatory 16 credit hours).
  Students should complete a Student Request for EXL Certification Form (Word or PDF) during pre-registration or regular registration for the semester the student plans to graduate. The form should be filed with the EXL Director no later than the last day to add classes each semester. This form lists the EXL Scholar requirements and provides space for students to document their completion of requirements. Students must complete this form to register for the required EXL 4000 class.
• Participation in program assessment activities