Augsburg Experience - What You Need To Know
The Augsburg Experience enables students to link the liberal arts, classroom knowledge and skills with the larger world and gain first hand, community-based experience beyond the campus. This signature element is part of Augsburg's general education requirements and underscores the college's commitment to support student engagement in the community and the world as part of their overall Augsburg education, as expressed in the Augsburg 2004 Vision document.
The Augsburg Experience can be completed through at least one of five learning options typically done in the Junior and Senior years. Ideally students will have multiple experiences across the variety of opportunities throughout their years at Augsburg. Each will strengthen their skills and reinforce their knowledge and understanding, equipping them for professional lives and service following graduation.
- The Augsburg Experience may be done as part of the major or outside the major.
- The opportunities may be scheduled during the academic year or summers.
- Augsburg Experiences may be for credit or not for credit.
Augsburg Experience options:
- Internships, Cooperative Education (work-based experience related to your major), practicum, field work, clinical, student teaching, including domestic semester programs such as HECUA's MUST, City Arts, et al
- Extensive Service-Learning or Community-Based Learning Projects that may or may not be course related or embedded (Note: service-learning in a LAF course is not considered an Augsburg Experience)
- Study Abroad programs at worldwide program and partner university locations, ranging in length from one week to an academic year.
- Faculty-student research with a community/professional application component
- Approved special/individualized off-campus immersion experiences (domestic or international)
Ideas and suggestions from the Math department...
Faculty-student research projects
Qualifying research projects would include either Department Honors projects, or projects done as part of an independent study. Students must present the results of their research off-campus at least once in order for this to qualify as an Augsburg Experience. The annual regional Pi Mu Epsilon meeting, held every year in the spring, is an appropriate venue for an off-campus presentation; the Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates is another. See the Student Research page for examples of previous research projects.
Off-campus research projects and internships
REU (Research Experience for Undegraduates) programs or research assistant positions would qualify. For these, the student needs a sponsor at Augsburg (which should be the academic advisor from department). Students must submit a written report including a general summary of the methods and findings and present it to the faculty sponsor for evaluation. See the Summer Research page for more information on specific opportunities.
Credit internships
The Mathematics Department has not historically offered internships for credit, though opportunities may arise on occassion. The Center for Service, Work, and Learning maintains a database of internship opportunities; or, see your faculty advisor for more information.
Non-credit internships
Internships may also be taken on a non-credit basis. Again, inquire with the Center for Service, Work, and Learning maintains a database of internship opportunities; or, see your faculty advisor for more information.
Student teaching
Students who are seeking teaching licensure will receive Augsburg Experience credit for student teaching. See our teacher preparation and licensure page if you are interested in becoming a teacher.
Study abroad
In addition to study abroad opportunities offered through Augsburg, students may apply to the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program, administered by the St. Olaf College Department of Mathematics. Participants in this program spend a semester in Budapest, Hungary, taking mathematics courses in English from leading Hungarian scholars.
Contact the following people or offices to help you plan your Augsburg Experiences:
Department Faculty liaison: Rebekah Dupont, Science 137C, PO 33, dupont@augsburg.edu, x1065
Your Academic Advisor
The Center for Service, Work and Learning - x1148
Augsburg Abroad - x1159