Service Learning Courses

Professor speaks to his class in language lab, CAS
Professor Scott Hartley, wearing protective glasses, talks with students in the lab, CAS

Miami University defines Service-Learning as "an experiential pedagogical practice that uses action and reflection to meet needs and enhance learning through mutually beneficial, reciprocal partnerships."

Faculty may apply for the Service-Learning (SL) Designation by submitting their syllabus to the Center for Social Impact. 

The course must meet the following broad criteria:

  • The course has a formal, academic curriculum that is rooted in the discipline in which the course is offered.
  • The course provides structured opportunities, in and out of class, for students to connect their service activities to the course curriculum.
  • The course contains academically relevant and well organized community based learning projects, developed in authentic partnership with community leadership, through which students directly serve a constituency.
  • Assessment is defined in course grading and learning objectives.
  • Community based learning is incorporated into the course's learning objectives.
  • Faculty seeking the "SL" Designation for a course will submit the syllabus and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Service Plan to the Center for Social Impact.

Contact the Center for Social Impact to begin the process.