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Biology comes to life when you move beyond the classroom and apply your knowledge in real-world settings. Whether you're conducting research, interning with a community partner, serving as a teaching practicum student, or studying abroad, experiential learning helps you build skills, explore careers, and gain experiences that will set you apart after graduation. Biology majors are encouraged to use these opportunities to discover what excites them, develop professional connections, and prepare for their future careers.

Planning your experiential learning credits:

How Many Credits Do I Need?

Biology students are required to complete 3 experiential learning credits as part of their degree program.

Experiential learning credits can be earned through:

Research (BI 401)
Internships (BI 410)
Teaching Practicum (BI 309)
Approved Study Abroad experiences

These opportunities allow you to tailor your experience to your interests, career goals, and academic plan.

How Are Credits Calculated?

Experiential learning credits are based on the time you spend engaged in the experience.

1 credit = 30 hours of academic work or participation
Approximately 3 hours per week over a 10-week term
3 credits = 90 hours over a 10-week term
Additional credits require proportionally more hours

You may complete your credits in a single term or spread them across multiple terms depending on your schedule and goals. Research, internship, and teaching practicum credits all follow this general credit-hour structure.

When Should I Complete My Credits?

Most students complete experiential learning credits during their third or fourth year, after building foundational knowledge in biology courses. However, planning early is important.

As you develop your academic plan, consider:

Which type of experience interests you most
How much time you can realistically commit
Whether you want to pursue paid opportunities, academic credit, or both
How experiential learning fits alongside your coursework and other commitments

Meeting with your academic advisor early can help ensure you complete your credits at the right time and in the format that best supports your goals.

Student support

Finding and securing a research position, internship, teaching practicum, or study abroad experience is an important step in your academic and professional journey. While students are responsible for identifying and pursuing opportunities, you don't have to navigate the process alone. Research positions, internships, and teaching practicums all require students to take an active role in finding mentors and opportunities that fit their interests, skills, and schedules.

Start with Faculty

Your professors and instructors are some of your best resources. They can:

Help you identify opportunities aligned with your interests
Connect you with research, internship, or teaching experiences
Provide advice on professional development and career exploration
Serve as mentors throughout your experiential learning journey

Meet with a Career Advisor

A Career Advisor can help you:

Explore career options
Search for internships and professional experiences
Build application materials such as résumés and cover letters
Prepare for interviews and networking opportunities

Connect with Your Academic Advisor

Your Academic Advisor can help you:

Understand degree requirements
Determine how many credits you need
Plan when to complete experiential learning experiences
Balance experiential learning with your other academic commitments

Plan for Success

Experiential learning is an exciting opportunity, but it requires initiative, professionalism, and time management. Before committing to an experience, consider your course load, work schedule, and personal commitments. Students who communicate regularly with mentors, stay organized, and ask questions tend to get the most out of their experiences.

Experiential Learning in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology