Students & Service-Learning
Find out what courses offer Service-Learning this quarter!
The list of Service-Learning courses for the current quarter is linked on the top of our home page.
Please stop in Mary Gates Hall 171 or email with any questions or to make an appointment.
Overview
Service-learning is a learning experience
that combines service with the community with
structured preparation and reflection opportunities. Service
opportunities are tied to academic coursework and address
concerns that are identified and articulated by the
community. As students engage in service-learning,
they learn about the context in which service is
provided, the connection between their service and
their academic coursework, and their roles as community members.
The Carlson Center and service-learning
The Carlson Center's intention is that each
service-learning experience will challenge student's
assumptions, enlarge their view of the world, and
invite them to further engage their intelligence and imagination
while learning from and in partnership with the larger
community. The Carlson Center develops and sustains
opportunities and projects in community-based
organizations that fulfill a community articulated
need and learning opportunity while advancing student understanding
of course goals and learning objectives. The Carlson
Center works with faculty and instructors to develop
methods for assisting students in thoughtfully
integrating their community experiences into course
assigments and discussions.
What are the benefits of service-learning?
- First-hand experience with economic, social, cultural, and political contexts and factors that shape concepts addressed in course work.
- Greater depth of understanding by connecting course work to the issues and concerns in the community.
- Opportunities to learn from community leaders and practitioners.
- Opportunities to contribute to the mission and/or purpose of an organization through service.
- Understanding how the non-profit, government or educational sector functions.
Student Forms and Information
Service-Learning Courses
Browse through previous Service-Learning courses that have been arranged with support from the Carlson Center since 2003.
Service-Learning Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Service-Learning Acknowledgment of Risk Form
This form must be signed and returned to the Carlson Center before any student can begin volunteering at a site for a service-learning course.
Service-Learning Self-Placement
For students seeking to arrange their own service-learning site "self-placement" (outside of those listed for your course)... 1) Read the guidelines below; 2) Complete theService-Learning Self Placement form and ask the course instructor to email it to serve@uw.edu with their approval.
*If you are in the CSL Program through the School of Social Work, you should complete the customized CSL Self-Placement form.
Consider the following SELF-PLACEMENT GUIDELINES prior to seeking instructor approval:
- The student must already have a relationship with the organization as a volunteer.
- The volunteer work must meet the learning goals and objectives of the course.
- The student must fill out the Self-Placement form completely and email it to their instructor.
- The Carlson Center will ONLY accept forms from instructors after their approval.
- No forms will be accepted directly from students-- they MUST go through the course instructor.
