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 Spring 2026
Thursday, February 12, 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, March 5, 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
Thursday, March 19, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - 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
Elective Workshops Offered Spring 2026
Thursday, January 15, 10:05am - 11:20am - In-Person
This session will have participants consider how to align course goals to building civic and community skills, incorporate a variety of perspectives in the assessment process, create rubrics that serve as a feedback tool for both students and community partners, provide strategies for grading, and best practices for leading students to reflect upon and make meaning of their community-engaged learning experiences. Hear from faculty peers, dialogue with colleagues, and leave with new ideas to enhance student learning and complement your teaching practices. Register
Tuesday, January 17, 10:05am - 11:20am - 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
Thursday, February 19, 11:40am - 12:55pm - In-Person
Join us for a panel discussion on expanding experiential learning opportunities and access across the university. Learn how faculty and staff have successfully implemented these opportunities, from documentary filming making in Chamonix, France to earth worm research in introductory biology labs. Explore how these experiences combined with guided reflection can not only serve your students academically but personally and professionally.
Whether you are brand new to experiential learning or are practiced in leading students beyond the classroom, this session will offer valuable insights into how you can leverage experiential learning principles to foster student engagement, success, and fun.
Panel members include:
- Hannah Shikle (Journalism and Mass Communications)
- Erik Flatmo (Theatre & Dance)
- Tyler Cox (Biological Sciences), and
- Nina Brook (Journalism and Mass Communications) Register
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.