In recent years, “experiential learning,” or learning by doing, has become a powerful idea in education. At DelVal, we’ve been perfecting that approach since 1896, when our founder launched his school on the idea of “science with practice.” Today, DelVal is a noted leader in blending classroom education with hands-on practice from Day One. Because we’ve always understood the way it creates an indelible learning experience that prepares you for the real world.
The Experience360 Program prepares students to solve problems, integrating classroom knowledge with real-world experience. In fact, 100% of our students will gain real-world experience before graduation.
Delaware Valley University is one of the few schools to require experiential learning as a part of the curriculum. Our innovative Experience360 program integrates classroom knowledge with real-world experience, individualized to your major. You’ll build your career from day one. It’s an approach that delivers the results, and we have the data and the outcomes to prove it.
Our students begin building their careers from day one, beginning with a course incorporating professional development and problem-based learning and ending with the creation of a co-curricular transcript that incorporates experiences such as internships, study abroad, research and civic engagement.
These experiences make you more qualified for the challenges of the 21st century.
Throughout their E360 experiences, students will:
- be actively involved
- reflect on the knowledge gained
- use analytical skills to conceptualize their experiences
- demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving skills
- gain real-world competencies within their chosen disciplines
From Our Roots
In 1896, Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf founded DelVal with the conception of “science with practice.” For more than 100 years, DelVal has stayed true to his educational beliefs, all the while staying at the forefront of experiential learning. In fact, we’ve evolved his wisdom so that every student is required to take part in this program to better prepare them to tackle the most important issues of our time.
What’s In A Name?
Experience is the knowledge or skill gained through involvement in or exposure to an event or activity. Internships, student teaching, career exploration, research and study abroad are just a few of the activities that give our students knowledge and skills.
We’re doing more than focusing on post-graduation accomplishments; we are focused on the outcomes that occur all four years within our students – confidence, life skills, study abroad, internships, leadership development and civic engagement. We are helping our students to become well-rounded, global citizens – literally the experiences that produce 360 degrees of an individual.
- Agribusiness (B.S.) E360
- Animal Science (B.S) E360
- Biology (B.S) E360
- Business Administration (B.S) E360
- Chemistry (B.S) E360
- Conservation and Wildlife Management (B.S.) E360
- Counseling Psychology (B.A.) E360
- Criminal Justice (B.S.) E360
- Crop Science (B.S.) E360
- Dairy Science (B.S.) E360
- Equine Science & Management (B.S.) E360
- Equine Studies - Associates Degree E360
- Equine Studies (B.S.) E360
- Floriculture, Nursery Production and Marketing (B.S.) E360
- Food Science - Nutrition and Management (B.S.) E360
- History Policy Society (B.S.) E360
- Horticulture (B.S.) E360
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A. / B.S.) E360
- Landscape Architecture (B.S.) E360
- Landscape Design/Build (B.S.) E360
- Media and Communication (B.A.) E360
- Small Animal Science (B.S.) E360
- Sustainable Agriculture Systems (B.S.) E360
- Turf Management (B.S.) E360
- Zoo Science (B.S.) E360
- Education (Secondary Education, B.S.)
- English (Writing and Literary Studies, B.A.)
- Environmental Science (B.S.)
Experience360 Activities
Experience360 activities provide active, hands-on applied experiences tied to specific academic objectives and outcomes. The program provides students with the opportunity to participate in real-world activities as a basis for learning and developing specific career goals and aspirations. By taking part in E360, you will:
- Be actively involved in the experience;
- Reflect on the knowledge gained from the experience;
- Use analytic skills to conceptualize the experience; and
- Demonstrate decision making and problem solving skills gained from the experience.
During your first year at DelVal, you will take a first-year experience course that will prepare you for the program and assist in your professional development. After that, a variety of opportunities are available to you.
- Each academic department has outlined requirements by major. Check out your academic department’s E360 Requirements (these are listed by major at the bottom of this page).
- Unsure of what activities you should complete? Look at your department's requirements, talk to your academic advisor or Chair and come see us in the CSPD.
- For overall policies and information about the program - read the E360 Resource Book.
- Looking for a position? Be sure to review our Job Posting/Company Verification Disclaimer as part of your E360 activity search process. Then view ExperienceLink and other websites for open positions, attend our job and internship fairs and networking events and make an appointment with an experiential learning advisor in the CSPD.
- Register your experiential learning activity at ExperienceLink - check your student email for detailed information such as step-by-step directions and deadlines.
Experience360 Program Prerequisites
- Must have successfully completed the Introduction to Experiential Learning or DelVal Experience I & II course
- 27 completed credits for all activities unless otherwise noted. Minimum of 15 credits completed at Delaware Valley University.
- Willing to participate in a work/learning experience
- Be a responsible ambassador for DelVal to the community
This course is designed to facilitate and support a student’s discipline-related experience. The Career Exploration Experience (CEE) is intended to provide the student with a meaningful experiential opportunity related to the individual's major and career goals. The CEE serves as an introduction to or exploration in the student’s discipline-related field. Each student will establish measurable learning objectives for the CEE at the outset, as well as complete reflective assignments. The hours spent at the organization determine the number of credits received. The CEE can be taken for either 1, 2 or 3 credits. The student must indicate the number of credits that they are pursuing on Activity Application Form. As the Academic CEE is a course, students receive credits for what they learn through their field-related experience, not only for the experience itself. Instructors will evaluate your learning experience based on the reflection of the student’s achievement of objectives and goals.
This upper-level course is designed to facilitate and support a student’s academic internship experience. The internship experience is intended to provide the student with a meaningful experiential opportunity related to the student's major and career goals. The internship serves as an opportunity for the student to develop industry knowledge and gain additional skills in preparation for post-graduation opportunities. The hours spent at the organization compose the majority of time required for this course. Each student will establish measurable learning objectives for the internship at the outset, as well as complete reflective assignments. As the Academic Internship is a course, students receive credits for what they learn through their field-related experience, not only for the experience itself. Instructors will evaluate your learning experience based on the reflection of the student’s achievement of objectives and goals.
Additional Prerequisites
• Minimum of 45 credits (15 completed at Delaware Valley University)
• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
The Leadership Development Program provides students with leadership knowledge and behaviors developed through a cycle of practice, reflection and integration of an expert body of knowledge. Students will complete the activity within the context of a leadership position within a DelVal student organization or athletic team of choice. The program includes completing a workbook in which the student identifies learning objectives, completes reflection activities and receives evaluation and guidance from direct supervisors and Office of Student Involvement staff.
The position:
- Must direct the efforts of a group of people working toward a common goal
- Must be responsible for group outcomes
- Must be engaged in relations with group members
- Must spend a minimum of 40 hours dedicated to the leadership role over the semester
- Must be supported by an advisor, coach or supervisor who can provide the leader with ongoing feedback and mentoring
View Leadership Development Policies and Guidelines.
The program includes completing a workbook in which the student identifies learning objectives, completes reflection activities and receives evaluation and guidance from direct supervisors and Office of Student Involvement staff.
Community Service allows a student to enact change with a community partner of their choice and engage in a formal or informal consultation with local nonprofit and community-based organizations. The activity is designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or to solve particular problems related to community needs. The activity includes a textbook and workbook that will be completed during the course of the student’s Community Service activity.
The position:
- Must offer reciprocal benefit for the student and the community for whom the student serves
- Must meet an individual need in the community
- Must spend a minimum of 40 hours dedicated in the volunteer position over the semester
- May be of a direct or indirect nature (consulting, project development, research)
Learn more about student teaching!
Complete a research project that is supervised by an individual faculty mentor! This course culminates with a 10-minute presentation of your research project accompanied by a poster.
Want to earn E360 recognition for your study abroad experience? Learn about the options!
Are you interested in having a DelVal student join your team? Learn more about becoming an E360 employer!
Delaware Valley University recognizes the importance of integrating hands-on practical experience with classroom instruction. The Experience360 Program (E360) provides active, hands-on applied experiences tied to specific academic objectives and outcomes as a requirement for graduation. It provides students with the opportunity to participate in real-world activities as a basis for learning and to develop specific career goals and aspirations. In the E360, students will:
- Be actively involved in the experience;
- Reflect on the knowledge gained from the experience;
- Use analytic skills to conceptualize the experience;
- Demonstrate decision making and problem solving skills gained from the experience
Each academic department has their own outlined requirements by major. Be sure you are aware of the program requirements of your specific major, available on your program evaluation or each department’s website.
The online course associated with each E360 activity for credit and recognition is designed to enhance your experience and learning through a course or program which includes reflective assignments, workbooks, instructor guidance and learning outcomes.
It depends on your Academic Department’s E360 Requirements and how many credits you transferred to DelVal. See the E360 Policies for the Transfer Policy, and your Academic Department’s E360 Requirements. Please contact the Center for Student Professional Development to discuss your unique case.
Academic Career Exploration Experience (CEE)
- Provides participant with an introduction to or exploration in a discipline-related field
- Allows exploration of different areas of your field and helps you to determine an area to pursue as a full-time position
- Eligible after completing 27 credits
- 1, 2 or 3 credits
Determining post-graduation career plans by working or shadowing in a job related to your major.
Academic Internship
- Helps participant develop industry knowledge and gain additional skills in preparation for post-graduation opportunities
- Apprenticeship-type position in which the student works under a professional in a career track that they wish to pursue
- Eligible after completing 45 credits
- 3 credits
- Site Supervisor acts as a mentor
Training for the job you want after graduation.
Credit overload is when your credit-load exceeds the maximum for full-time tuition. You are able to take a maximum of 19 credits before you are billed for credit overload. It’s important that you plan your credits accordingly. If you are going to exceed the maximum credit load, we recommend that you edit your schedule to allow for the Academic Internship or take the Academic Internship the following semester. Because of the time commitment of an Internship and a full-time academic load, we do not recommend exceeding full-time course load.
Yes. While we encourage you to gain a variety of experiences, you may participate in two different experiential learning activities at the same site, with your Department Chair’s approval. You must identify new and different learning objectives for each. The job function for each experiential learning activity must display variety from the other experiential learning activity. We encourage you to have a discussion with your Site Supervisor and Department Chair, and take on new and varied responsibilities in each experiential learning activity at the site.
Yes, you can participate in two experiential learning activities within the same semester, but each must be registered in its own course section by completing separate Activity Application Forms for each. You must register for and complete the required assignments for both activities. Please contact the Center for Student Professional Development to discuss this possibility and your unique case.
This means that their insurance coverage may not cover student interns or unpaid interns. The University extends liability coverage to students that are in an unpaid, supervised internship for academic credit. Contact the CSPD for proof of your coverage.
Each academic department has designated requirements that are appropriate and specific to their field and industry. Check your academic department’s E360 Requirements for more information.
Each Academic Department has their own hours per credit requirement. Some departments have found that more experience is necessary to be successful in their field. Check your Academic Department’s E360 Requirements.
We encourage you to participate in as many activities as you are able, as they will help build your resume, your network and your professional experience. If you choose to register activities in addition to your departmental requirements, the credits associated with these courses will be considered elective credits.
Each E360 Activity has its own Activity Application Form. The registration process is through our online system, ExperienceLink. You can access ExperienceLink by clicking this link and log in with your DelVal username and password. You will be added to the course associated with your activity after you receive all necessary approvals (Site Supervisor and Department Chair) via the online system’s automated approval process. At that time, you will receive an email verifying that you have been registered in the course. Directions are emailed to students in the weeks prior to registration beginning for each term. If you have difficulty registering, please contact the Center for Student Professional Development for assistance.
While not every experience and opportunity that you participate in needs to be registered as part of E360, you need to make sure you meet your academic department’s E360 requirements by registering the activity. While positions in your field / community service projects / internships / leadership roles are very valuable, registering the activity for E360 credit and recognition is designed to enhance your experience and learning through a course or program which includes reflective assignments, workbooks, instructor guidance and learning outcomes. We encourage you to participate in many opportunities during your time at DelVal, regardless of whether you choose to register every one for E360 recognition.
You can register for the activity until a week before the start of the term. All required approvals must be received prior to the end of the add period. See the Registrar’s Office or Academic Calendar for deadlines. We recommend that you search for opportunities the semester prior to registration in order to plan out your credits.
As both are activities and courses for credit and are monitored by faculty, you are required to pay a fee for the summer course. In order to provide flexibility for students, the University offers a discounted fee for students who choose to participate in the activity during the Summer or Winter semester. Information on the summer course fees for Experience360 is available from the Bursar's Office. Students who participate during Fall and Spring semesters are not charged additionally for their activity unless the activity flows into overload credits (more than 19 credits/semester). Please remember that all activities are offered during Fall and Spring semesters. Participating in the activity during the Academic Year is the recommended option for those who are not able to pay the summer fee. Students who participate in outside internships or work experiences during the summer or winter are encouraged to participate regardless if they register for E360 credit and recognition. Non-credited activities do not require a fee.
If your Site Supervisor does not have an email address or cannot access ExperienceLink to verify your position, you must list either a fax number or mailing address AND a phone number in order for the form to be faxed or sent to them by post. When applying for your activity, please indicate e360@delval.edu as Site Supervisor e-mail so that you are able to complete the form. If the application is being approved by postal mail, you must leave enough time for verification before the deadline. In certain cases, the CSPD will call your Site Supervisor to verify your position so that you can meet the deadline. In the field at the bottom of the Activity Application Form, please make sure you indicate how your Site Supervisor should be contacted- fax or postal mail- in the section marked “Do you have any questions for the Center for Student Professional Development staff?”
DelVal’s Experience Transcript is recognition of your co-curricular campus involvement at DelVal. The transcript captures the E360 Activities that you have registered at DelVal, as well as your student involvement, including community service, awards, clubs and organizations and athletics.
It is each student organization’s responsibility to track their members and executive boards for submission to the Office of Student Involvement. Student organizations are also able to submit awards and community service projects to the Office of Student Involvement for consideration for recognition on the DelVal Experience Transcript.
At DelVal, we offer a powerful combination of knowledge and real-world experience that sets our graduates up for success. When you graduate, you will have a DelVal Experience Transcript that captures your experiences during your time at DelVal.
Hours
Hours are by appointment only
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location
Segal Hall, First Floor