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Experiential Learning

What is an Experiential Learning Activity (ELA)?

An Experiential Learning Activity (ELA) is a way for students to learn practical skills and gain valuable work experience that will help them to be competitive in the job market after completing their degree with OSU. All Botany students are required to complete at least one ELA for their undergraduate degree as part of OSU’s Core Education Beyond OSU career preparation initiative. There are two main ways that students can fulfill their ELA: undergraduate research or an internship.

 

Why are ELA’s helpful?

ELA’s can be nearly any job, internship, or research experience related to a student’s career goals in the plant sciences. ELA’s are great for testing whether, or not, an area of interest is actually a good work fit for students. The more ELA’s done in different areas, the better for both resume building and for trying out various career pathways.

 
Career Information

For more information about botanical careers, resume building, cover letter writing, professional botanical societies, and other career development opportunities and resources, please visit our Botany Careers webpage.

 
Experiential Learning Requirement

Learning through direct experience is a requirement for Botany Major undergraduate students, as nothing matches actively engaging with the things that have been learned. There are several ways to earn this requirement:

  1. Internships​

  2. Research​

  3. Student Teaching​

  4. International Experiences

  5. Service Learning/ Community Engagement​

Experiential learning is equivalent to 2 credits​, there are credit or non-credit options​, prior advisor approval is required​, and is a minimum of 60 hours of work/observation​.

Multiple ELA’s

Students need to only have one ELA formally approved and recognized on their transcript with a class. However, students are encouraged to complete multiple ELA’s for their benefit and they may optionally seek transcript recognition for them. For students who do not need additional credits, they may use the non-credit course options to achieve transcript visibility. All transcript recognized ELA’s must go through the approval process.

 
ELA Process and Approval

Once a student has identified an ELA opportunity, they need to complete the following steps:

  1. Student contacts their academic advisor about an ELA opportunity for approval.
  2. With their advisor, student identifies which ELA class to register for.
  3. Student completes the necessary approval paperwork with their ELA supervisor.
  4. Student emails completed approval paperwork to advisor.
  5. Advisor inputs course override.
  6. Student registers for the ELA class in the proper term.
  7. Student does the ELA work and the ELA assignment.
  8. Student submits ELA assignment to advisor by end of Week 10.
  9. ELA supervisor submits completed evaluation form by end of Week 10.

 

Curricula

Botany students have the option of taking for-credit classes or non-credit classes for their ELA. Students who need the additional credits to reach the 180-credit requirement for their degree should choose the for-credit course option for their first ELA. Students who do not need the additional credits or who have already completed one ELA with a for-credit course may choose a non-credit course option. Approximately 30 hours of work is equivalent to 1 credit for the Botany ELA experiences and assignment.

 
Completion

ELA’s must be complete before a student's last Winter term, when they must take the course BOT 411: Leveraging Your Experiential Learning. In this 1 credit course, students use their ELA experience to complete their assignments to guide job searches, resume writing and develop presentation skills.

Forms

Research

OSU is the leading research institute in the state of Oregon and prides itself on helping undergraduate students start their careers in research. Undergraduate Botany students have the opportunity to participate in research through the department, college, and university.

OSU URSA Engage

OSU College of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Opportunities

 

Department of Botany and Plant Pathology (BPP)

Students can do paid or unpaid research work in laboratories for BPP faculty. Students can look for formal work positions through the BPP Open Positions website. Students can also directly contact BPP faculty about potential opportunities. Student looking to do research specific areas are encouraged to review faculty profiles on the Faculty Research webpage to find the best fit and then contact that faculty about potential opportunities.

Research with other OSU Faculty

Students are welcome to contact faculty in other colleges and departments across the university about various research interests and opportunities. Here are some additional research areas of interest:

 
Research Outside OSU

There are many reasons for students to consider doing research at facilities outside of OSU. Students are encouraged to look for other research opportunities that fit their interests, time availability, and location. Just like with any other ELA experience, students need to work with their advisor to get the experience approved before beginning it.

Research on the farm
 
Research in the field
 
Research ELA class options:
  • BOT 003 Research: non-credit class, research conducted with a BPP or a non-BPP faculty member
  • BOT 401 Research: for-credit class, research conducted with a BPP faculty member
  • BOT 410 Internship: for-credit class, research conducted with a non-BPP faculty member

BOT 401 and BOT 410 are available for variable credit. How to adjust the credit amount when registering (link)

Forms

Internships

Internships can be paid or volunteer work experiences that may, or may, not have a research component to them. They can be regular jobs, formal internship programs, formal volunteer work, or an informal student created opportunity. Students are encouraged to look for other internship opportunities that fit their interests, time availability, and location. All approved internships must have a designated supervisor and set learning goals and outcomes.

OSU Formal Internship Programs:
 
Jobs for Internships:
 
Botany and Plant Pathology Department – Extension:
Internship ELA class options:
  • BOT 004 Internship: non-credit class, any approved internship
  • BOT 406 Projects Curatorial Assistant: for-credit class, formal work in the OSU Herbarium
  • BOT 410 Internship: for-credit class, any approved internship

BOT 406 and BOT 410 are available for variable credit. How to adjust the credit amount when registering (link)

 
Funding

For low or unpaid internships, students can apply for financial assistance through the ER Jackman Internship Support Program. This application is also used for the CAS Global Experiences Fund for students doing international opportunities.

 

International

The Garden Club of America and the Royal Horticultural Society Interchange Fellowships

Job Boards

Mycological Society of America Job Board

Other job boards and job listing websites

Forms and Resources

Forms

 

Certifications

OSU Oregon Seed Certification Service

Scientific, Technical, & Professional Communication Certificate

NW Lichenologists Certifcation