Information for First Year Students
What is Community-Based Learning?
"Community-Based Learning (CBL) combines civic engagement with academic instruction, critical thinking, and reflection in a reciprocal relationship that benefits students, community partners, and faculty (definition adapted from the Faculty Service-Learning Handbook, College of Southern Maryland)".
Benefits of CBL Courses
- Hands-on, experiential learning opportunity
- Weekly engagement with a community agency
- Reflection on CBL experience through course discussions and assignments, which serves to enhance the understanding of course content
- Understanding and appreciation for people and experiences that are different from their own
Quick Facts about CBL
- CBL office secures all placement sites and uses a preference sheet to assess student interest
- CBL students are assigned a Community Mentor to help guide the overall CBL experience
- CBL students consistently attend each week
- Transportation, in most cases, is provided
FYP/FYS with CBL Components
***FYS courses with this designation include an experiential learning component known as Community-Based Learning (CBL). The CBL component will require students to participate in a community placement, outside of class time, on a weekly basis throughout the semester. Click on the link to learn more about Community-Based Learning.
For course descriptions, please visit the FYP page.