New two-credit experiential learning practicum courses that can be taken in conjunction with four-credit experiential learning base courses are being offered this fall. Academic Administrator for Experiential Learning Audra Grady explained that "[an experiential learning base course] is just like any other course, but it uses an experiential learning model incorporating practice and reflection that is integrated with the course content. A two-credit practicum is an additional option that you can add on top of a four-credit course that requires an additional amount of work."

Students can choose to take an overall six-credit option, which incorporates a mandatory two-credit practicum as chosen by the professor or a two-credit addition of their own choice with a learning base course.

The proposal to create a new two-credit experiential learning practicum course was presented by former Academic Administrator for Experiential Learning Adi Grabiner-Keinan, Profs. Laura Goldin (AMST) and Tim Hickey (COSI) and passed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee last semester.

The University currently offers 50 or more experiential learning courses, some of which require an additional three to five weekly hours of hands-on experiential components, according to the UCC Web site. Prior to the creation of the two-credit practicum, students did not receive credit for undertaking additional work.

"[The two-credit practicum] was created to ... provide an outlet for students ... to have deeper learning or develop more skills in a particular area or focus," Grady said.

"As we've been doing more and more experiential learning, students have been looking for a way to get official acknowledgment for the time thatthey spend on experential aspects of these courses. ... [This] will allow us to recognize officially when these activities are occuring," Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe said.

Grady explained that students will receive one letter-graded credit for the six-credit option and two letter-graded credits for the two-credit addition option. She added that the six-credit option and the two-credit addition option count toward the required 128 credits for graduation.

However, Grady clarified that it is up to the discretion of the individual departments whether a six-credit option or a two-credit addition option can count toward a particular major or minor.

Goldin, who is teaching a six-credit option called "Greening the Ivory Tower: Improving Environmental Sustainability of Brandeis and Community" and a two-credit addition course called "Environmental Law and Policy" this semester, said that she had added a fourth period to "Greening the Ivory Tower" last year.

Goldin said that, in the past, students completed the additional hour-despite not receiving credit for it-because they were passionate about the subject.

"Before, I was very reluctant to give too much more work, but now I can really make some things that have been optional mandatory, and I feel like I can let the course blossom to what it should be rather than limiting the assignments or limiting the hours," Goldin said.

The two-credit addition option, "Environmental Law and Policy," which is not fully developed yet, will allow students "to do additional legal research and be involved in the city council process that has to do with the redevelopment of a big site in Waltham with all kinds of land-use law issues," according to Goldin. The option will have separate seminars and requirements for papers and presentations if taken with its associated learning base course.

Grady said that the six-credit Experiental Learning practicum and 12-credit experiential learning Justice Brandeis Semester are similar options. "I think the JBS is going to offer ... a more intensive experience. ... I think the JBS is still developing, so we're going to see what comes out of that and what the faculty are going to offer."

Ellen Abramowitz '11 enrolled in "Greening the Ivory Tower" before it was designated a six-credit class because of its community-engaged learning component. She was notified by e-mail of the change over the summer while abroad on vacation. Abramowitz said that she appreciated the fact that Brandeis will recognize the extra work that is required by experiential courses.

Abramowitz added, "I think it's also helpful for applying in the future, like when I have to mail off my transcript for scholarships or internships or even grad schools eventually. They'll see that this class is six credits, and that will obviously show that you put in a lot of time and effort into it."



-Miranda Neubauer contributed reporting.