Integrative and Experiential Learning

The certificate in Integrative and Experiential Learning certificate (IEL) is an initiative of The Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning. The program is designed to bring together faculty, instructors, and graduate students interested in exploring ways to help students reflect on and connect what they do within and beyond their curriculum, embrace multiple perspectives, and synthesize and transfer their knowledge to new, complex situations.

Key outcomes for participants include obtaining a deeper understanding of the ideals of integrative and experiential learning as well as developing a toolbox of simple techniques to engage students in reflection on their within and beyond the classroom experiences.

Program Requirements

Faculty, instructors and graduate assistants are required to attend six or more Integrative and Experiential Learning workshops. Participants will be required to attend the Introduction to Integrative and Experiential Learning and Small Changes, High Impact: Practices to Support Integrative Learning workshops and four (4) electives.

Participants will have 2 academic semesters (and the summer) to complete the certificate.

Participants who complete the requirements will receive a digital certificate of completion and a letter of commendation.

Required Workshops Offered Fall 2026

Tuesday, September 1, 11:40am - 12:55pm - In-Person

During their time at USC, our undergraduate students enroll in courses, participate in cocurricular engagements, hold down jobs while preparing themselves for their future careers, engage with the community, and manage their own personal challenges (AAC&U/Carnegie Foundation, 2004), but how do they make sense of these varied experiences and realize how they all interconnect? Integrative learning provides students with strategies to make connections between these within and beyond the classroom activities to help them apply their skills to new and complex problems and challenges.

This presentation explores teaching strategies and philosophies that encourage students to engage in activities beyond the classroom and then have students relate those experiences to their courses and curriculum. We will review current research and practices on integrative and experiential learning and how the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning supports IL and EL, including the impactful role of our Quality Enhancement Plan, Experience by Design. Participants will discuss strategies for encouraging students to reflect and make interdisciplinary connections between their experiences within and beyond the classroom to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Register

Thursday, October 8, 11:40am - 12:55pm - In-Person

Utilizing integrative learning principles, the presenters will share examples of how high-impact practice (HIP) characteristics are incorporated across different disciplines and identify classroom assessment techniques (CATs) that can be applied across a variety of academic settings. Participants will have opportunities to share examples of reflection and integrative learning principles in the design of assignments and appropriate assessment methods for their classroom. Register

Elective Workshops Offered Fall 2026

Wednesday, September 23, 10:30am - 12:00pm - In-Person

This session will primarily focus on transfer and sophomore college year experiences, with some additional emphasis on junior year students. With the recent launch of Carolina Experience in 2024, a heightened emphasis is placed on continuity across the entirety of USC student experiences through increased sense of belonging and career readiness. To help in these endeavors, longitudinal qualitative and quantitative data collected from the Student Success Center has been instrumental in better understanding these target populations.

What are the experiences of transfer and sophomore college students? What are the biggest challenges they face and what do they most look forward to? How does this align with the national research on these populations? And most importantly- how can this scholarly literature, theoretical context, and localized data be used to support the overall USC student experience at USC and in support of engagement, including experiential learning, and career readiness?

We will go over the assessment findings and what specialized resources are already in place at USC to support these populations, as well as provide recommendations for instructors and course-based activities utilizing evidence-based approaches. Finally, we will wrap up this session with group discussion on suggestions to further support the target populations through the Carolina Experience, including additional ways for campus stakeholders to get involved. Register

Tuesday, September 29, 11:40am - 12:55pm - In-Person

Wednesday, September 30, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - In-Person & Webinar

Career Champions Lunch ‘N Learns are professional development sessions designed specifically for faculty and staff. These interactive gatherings provide updates on Career Center Technology, career readiness trends, employer expectations, and internship and workforce opportunities. Through this partnership with faculty and staff, these sessions help expand the Career Ecosystem and equip students for career success. Register

Friday, October 2, 12:00pm - 12:50pm - In-Person

Think back to the most influential teacher or professor you have ever had. Chances are, what you remember most is not their PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, or exam questions. You remember how they made you feel, the experiences they created, the questions they challenged you to answer, and the moments that transformed information into understanding. Why do some of these learning experiences stay with us for years while others are forgotten by the end of the semester? The answer may lie not in what students hear, but in what they do. Experiential Learning Theory suggests that meaningful learning occurs when students actively engage with ideas through experience, reflection, and application. Yet many instructors struggle with how to move beyond traditional lectures without sacrificing course content or rigor. The good news is that experiential learning does not require a complete course redesign. Small, intentional changes can create opportunities for deeper engagement, critical thinking, and lasting learning.

In this interactive workshop, participants will use an experiential learning framework, the Design Challenge, to redesign a component of their course to include an experiential learning element. Through reflection, hands-on activities, and peer discussion of practical implementation for their discipline and instructional modality, attendees will leave with evidence-based approaches for creating learning experiences that students remember long after the course has ended. Register

Wednesday, October 7, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - In-Person & Webinar

Wednesday, October 14, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - In-Person & Webinar

Wednesday, October 28, 10:30am - 12:00pm - In-Person

In Level 1, participants build a strong foundation in career development by exploring the career development process, understanding the evolving needs of today's students, and examining the critical role faculty and staff play within the university's career ecosystem. Through interactive discussions and practical activities, participants gain familiarity with Career Center services, campus resources, and referral strategies that enable them to connect students with appropriate support at every stage of their career journey.

Participants also learn how to initiate meaningful career conversations, recognize common student career concerns, and identify opportunities to encourage career exploration, experiential learning, and professional development. By the end of Level 1, participants will have established a strong foundation in career development principles, gained confidence in engaging students in career conversations, and developed the knowledge and tools needed to begin serving as Career Champions. This foundational experience prepares participants to build upon their learning in subsequent levels, where they will deepen their expertise in career readiness, experiential learning, and the intentional integration of career development into their professional practice. Register

Wednesday, November 4, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - In-Person & Webinar

Wednesday, November 11, 10:00am - 11:30am - In-Person

Level 2 (Part I & II)

Experiential Learning Foundations (Part I)
• Build a strong understanding of experiential education, including types of experiences and their benefits.
• Become familiar with the Career Center and external experiential learning opportunities (internships, co-ops, research, service learning).
• Help students identify their interests, skills, and goals to find and access the right opportunities.
• Support students during their experiences through check-ins, guidance, and engagement.
• Learn how to encourage reflection before, during, and after experiences to connect learning to career goals.
• Recognize and respond to challenges, providing support or connecting students to appropriate resources.

Career Competencies & Student Growth Featuring Suitable (Part II)
In Part 2 of Level 2 of Career Champions, participants will develop a deeper understanding of the career competencies that employers seek in students and learn strategies to intentionally integrate these competencies into their professional practice, including classroom instruction, student employment, internships, and other experiential learning environments. The module also examines methods to support students in identifying these competencies within themselves and in articulating their strengths, experiences, and development with greater confidence.

Additionally, this module introduces the Suitable Career Readiness Assessment as a resource to enhance learning. Participants will learn to use Suitable to help students understand their competency development, identify areas for improvement, and take concrete steps to strengthen their skills across various experiences. Register

Wednesday, November 18, 10:30am - 12:00pm - In-Person

In Level 3 of Career Champions, faculty and staff expand their foundational understanding of career development, their strategic role within the campus career ecosystem, and best practices for aligning students with high-impact experiential learning opportunities and preparing students for career success through intentional career integration. Participants will deepen their knowledge of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies—including communication, teamwork, critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, technology, global awareness, and career and self-development while exploring practical strategies for embedding these competencies into academic curricula, advising, student employment, internships, research, service-learning, and other high-impact experiential learning opportunities.

This module emphasizes helping students recognize, develop, and articulate the competencies they gain through both curricular and co-curricular experiences. Participants will learn techniques for facilitating career conversations, incorporating reflection into learning experiences, and guiding students in connecting their academic experiences with career goals.

By the conclusion of Level 3, participants will be equipped to intentionally integrate career development into their daily practice, foster career, and self-development among students, and empower learners to confidently communicate their skills, experiences, and professional value while successfully navigating the transition from college to career in an increasingly competitive global workforce. Register

Wednesday, December 9, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - In-Person & Webinar

Grant Opportunities

Faculty and staff who are pursuing the Integrative and Experiential Learning Certificate are encouraged to apply for two grants offered by the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning. In order to promote student engagement beyond the classroom, CIEL offers the Community of Practice grant and the Impact Grants to enable the development of new and revised programs, as well as collaboration between departments, offices, academic units, and student affairs. Full-time faculty and staff at USC Columbia, and full-time faculty involved in 4-year programs at Palmetto College Campuses are eligible to apply.

How to Earn a Certificate of Completion

Select a certificate you want to earn.
Review the required workshops.
Register for and attend all required workshops within the time frame specified.
Look for an email from cte@sc.edu with your digital certificate.

How to Check Your Progress

Participants can check their progress online by following the steps below.

Log into Registration and Tracking System for Workshops and Events using your CTE Training Account credentials.
Click on the specific learning plan for the certificate of completion program you would like to view. The learning plan button is located on the left-hand side in the menu screen.
Click “View” to generate a personalized learning plan status report. The report will show the workshops you have taken, and remaining workshop requirements.

The learning plans also provide a status progress update.

Partial means you have met some of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
Complete means you have met all the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
Not Started means you have not completed any of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.

Completed your certificate?

At the conclusion of each semester, reports are run to determine who has completed each certificate. Digital Certificates will be emailed. If you do not receive your certificate by the middle of the following semester, kindly contact cte@sc.edu for assistance.

Center for Teaching Excellence