Experiential Learning at Wellesley

Experiential Learning at Wellesley

At Wellesley College, students develop the skills and aptitudes to thrive and translate the liberal arts to the professional world, no matter what occupation or career they choose. The faculty work in partnership with Career Education to offer hundreds of unique experiential opportunities that connect classroom learning and professional aspirations to ensure all students engage in the transformative integrative learning that leads to meaningful post-graduate lives and careers. 

Experiential Learning Browser
Link for Students to Submit for Experiential Learning Units

The Experiential Learning Requirement

Effective for students entering in fall of 2024 and beyond, each candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts shall complete two units of experiential learning prior to the start of the seventh semester (or the equivalent semester for a transfer student). Two units will typically be completed in one summer-long or two semester-long experiences. These units can be fulfilled through internships, research, study abroad, civic engagement, select courses and student employment positions, and more. Although only two units are required, students should complete and record as many units of experiential learning as desired to achieve their career and educational goals. Students can meet with their Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE) for support with the ELR by making an appointment in Handshake.

*The two experiential learning units are in addition to the 32 academic units required for the Wellesley degree. Please note that academic priorities should always take precedence over experiential learning opportunities.

 

Opportunities

Hundreds of experiential learning opportunities are available to you as a Wellesley College student. Beyond our campus, self-identified opportunities (such as internships and research roles) may also fulfill the requirement.

Two units will typically be completed in one summer-long or two semester-long experiences and are defined by the hour expectations below:

  • 1 experiential learning unit: 50–150 hours (in one semester or summer)
  • 2 experiential learning units: 151+ hours (in one semester or summer)

Students can search the College’s experiential learning browser for opportunities to fulfill this requirement. The main categories to fufill the requirement are listed below.

Certain programs will be automatically added to student transcripts. Students participating in programs on this list do not need to fill out the application form. Career Education will connect with your program administrator following the experience to accurately record your engagement. 

 

Internships & Research
Internships & research opportunities can confirm a professional interest, open a new door, or lead you in an unexpected direction. They can help you build confidence and understand yourself and your role in the world — academically, professionally, and personally. The College offers over 300 funded opportunities for internship & research each year, and self-identified positions may also be eligible.

Eligible Experiences
  • Wellesley-Funded Summer Internships (2 units), includes:
    • Career Education & Departmental Placements
    • Internships funded by Career Education Grants
    • Luce Asia Internship Program
    • Davis Museum Internship Program
    • Botanic Gardens Internship Program
    • Lumpkin Nonprofit Internship Program
    • Wellesley in Washington Summer Internship Program
  • Albright Fellow Program (2 units)
  • Short Internship Project (SHIPS program) (1 unit)
  • Science Center Summer Research Program (2 units)
  • Science Center Sophomore Early Research Program (2 units)
  • Science Center First-Year Apprentice Program (1 unit)
  • Wintersession Biochemistry Research Week (1 unit) 
  • Social Science Summer Research Program (2 units)
  • Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (2 units)
  • Self-Identified Internship or Research Position (1–2 units)
  • Career Education Upskill Program (1 unit)

Fellowships 
There are select undergraduate fellowship opportunities that provide experiential learning in the form of research or internships.

Eligible Experiences
  • Pamela Daniels Fellowship (1–2 units)
  • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (1–2 units)
  • Projects for Peace Fellowship (1–2 units) 
  • Knapp Fellows Program in Social Sciences (1–2 units)
  • Self-Identified Fellowship supporting an internship or research opportunity (1–2 units)

Student Employment
On-campus student employment, managed by Wellesley Human Resources, is an opportunity to develop career readiness and grow professionally. Student jobs are eligible to receive Experiential Learning Unit only in cases where students can articulate how the experience (1) informed their career goals, (2) helped them to build new skills, and (3) supported them in developing an understanding of their strengths/values.

More

Students can search for student employment opportunities in Workday. Approved employment opportunities are eligible for 1 or 2 units, depending on the hours worked.

Community Service and Civic Engagement
Civic engagement supports students in exploring the role of social justice, community engagement, and leadership across all majors and career fields. During the fall and spring semesters, there are a wide range of opportunities for sustained, collaborative, reflective, and meaningful ways to engage that enrich and support a liberal arts education while partnering with fellow students, communities, and organizations.

Eligible Experiences
  • Community Service (1–2 units)
  • Service Journey Spring Break Trips (1 unit, participant or peer leader)
  • Ministrare Peer Leader (1–2 units)
  • Clinton Fellow Program (1–2 units)
  • Civic Action Lab Team Leader (1 unit)

Study Abroad

Study abroad opportunities allow students to gain cultural exposure and immersion, perfect a foreign language, conduct field research, or to gain a new perspective on their major. These opportunities are experiential in nature and support students working toward their EL requirement.

More
  • Study Away Short-Term (1 unit)
  • Study Away, Semester (2 units)
  • Mayling Soong Scholarship (2 units)
  • Wellesley Middle Eastern Studies Summer Language Study (2 units)

Select Courses

More

The Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy is currently working to define criteria that would enable individual coures to count towards the ELR. More information to come in Spring 2025.

Experiential Learning Advising

If you are seeking support in identifying opportunities, or want to discuss experiential learning possibilities, we encourage you to make an appointment in Handshake to meet with your Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE). Marisa Crowley ‘05 is the ACE for the class years of 2026 and 2028. Ariane Baker is the ACE for the class years of 2025 and 2027.

Marisa Crowley
Marisa Crowley ’05
Susan L. Wagner ’82 Associate Director/Advisor for Career Exploration (Classes of 2026 & 2028)
ariane
Ariane Baker
Susan L. Wagner ’82 Associate Director/Advisor for Career Exploration (Classes of 2025 & 2027)

Process for Experience Submission and Unit Recording on Transcript

Experiential learning units are recorded by semester on a section of the transcript separate from academic course units titled “Experiential Learning”. Students do not pre-register for their units. Submission for recording only happens once the unit(s) have been completed. 

Students must complete and submit the Experiential Learning Submission Form. Deadlines to submit for experiential learning units are as follows:

  • For Spring semester experiences: July 1
  • For Summer term experiences: October 1
  • For Fall semester experiences: February 1
  • For Wintersession experiences: March 1

For year-long, part-time experiences (such as student employment or research assistant roles), each part-time semester of work is eligible for one experiential learning unit. The form should be submitted following each semester of work.

Form link and specific details/instructions for form processing will be made available to students starting in December 2024. Any questions should be emailed to ELR@wellesley.edu. 

FAQs

What programs are exempt from the application process (automatically added to student transcripts)?

Certain programs will be automatically added to student transcripts. Students participating in programs on this list do not need to fill out the application form. Career Education will connect with your program administrator following the experience to accurately record your engagement. 

Who is required to complete the ELR?

Students entering in Fall 2024 and beyond are required to complete two experiential learning units prior to the start of the seventh semester in order to graduate. Students entering prior to Fall 2024 may submit the form to have their experiential learning reflected on their transcript, but are not required to do so.

How many units are required prior to graduation?

Two experiential learning units need to be completed prior to the seventh semester. All students entering the College in fall 2024 or later fall within this new degree requirement. Students beginning their studies prior to fall 2024, are not required to complete 2 units but are able to record these experiences on their transcript if they desire to do so. 

Experiential Learning Units are defined as below: 

  • 2 units: 151+ hours of experiential learning
  • 1 unit: 50 - 150 hours of experiential learning

The two-unit ELR requirement will typically be completed in one summer-long or two fall- or spring-long experiences. 

When do I need to complete this requirement by?

Students entering in fall 2024 and beyond must complete the requirement prior to the start of the seventh semester (or the equivalent semester for a transfer student). 

What counts toward this requirement?

This requirement may be fulfilled through experiences such as: internships, research, civic engagement, study abroad, and select student employment roles and courses with experiential learning components. Please note that only experiences beginning in September 2024 or later are eligible; students cannot record experiences completed prior to this date. 

  • 2 experiential learning units: 151+ hours of experiential learning
  • 1 experiential learning unit: 50 - 150 hours of experiential learning
How can I find opportunities?

A great place to start looking for experiential opportunities most relevant to your studies and career aspirations is the Wellesley College Experiential Learning Browser. This includes a variety of Wellesley-specific opportunities such as funded internships, research programs, civic engagement opportunities, and fellowships. 

For study abroad opportunities, please visit the Study abroad semester browser.

For student employment opportunities, please visit the job board in Workday. This will display only positions available to immediately apply for. Please check frequently throughout the year for additional opportunities. 

  • Please note that not all student employment opportunities are eligible for experiential learning units. Opportunities must include at least 50 hours of relevant experiences where students focus on an active learning process and build skills relevant to their future aspirations. Check with your ACE if you have questions about whether an opportunity would apply.

There are summer internships and research opportunities offered by organizations around the world for college students. Thousands of opportunities are available to apply to through Handshake.Not all opportunities in Handshake will complete the ELR. Check with your ACE if you have questions about whether an opportunity would apply. Advisors in Career Education are available to support students year round in preparing applications and interviewing to opportunities. 

What if I am unsure whether my experience fulfills the ELR requirement?

Please reach out to ELR@wellesley.edu with information about the experience or schedule an appointment to meet with your Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE) through Handshake. 

Can I record more than 2 units of experiential learning on my transcript?

Yes! Students can record as many units of experiential learning as they complete during their time at Wellesley and would like visible on their transcript.

What is the process for getting my experience approved?

Students must complete and submit the Experiential Learning Submission Form. Deadlines to submit for experiential learning units are as follows:

  • For Spring semester experiences: July 1
  • For Summer term experiences: October 1
  • For Fall semester experiences: February 1
  • For Wintersession experiences: March 1

For year-long, part-time experiences (such as student employment or research assistant roles), each part-time semester of work is eligible for one experiential learning unit. The form should be submitted following each semester of work.

Form link and specific details/instructions for form processing will be made available to students starting in December 2024. Any questions should be emailed to ELR@wellesley.edu. 

Do the 2 experiential learning units count toward my 32 academic units?

No. The 2 experiential learning units are in addition to the 32 academic units. 

Can I earn experiential learning units for opportunities taken while on a leave of absence?

No. Students must be actively working towards their degree requirement for an experience to be eligible for an EL unit. Students cannot submit for experiential learning units for opportunities they had during a leave of absence.

I have questions about the Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR). Who do I ask?

Please reach out to ELR@wellesley.edu with any general questions about this requirement. 

If you are seeking support in identifying opportunities, or want to discuss experiential learning possibilities, we encourage you to make an appointment in Handshake to meet with your Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE). Marisa Crowley ‘05 is the ACE for the class years of 2026 and 2028. Ariane Baker is the ACE for the class years of 2025 and 2027.