Service-Learning for Students
What Is a Service-Learning Course?
Service-learning courses give students the opportunity to double the impact of course learning by engaging in doing a project or service related to the course content. Service experience prepares students for active civic participation, helps develop leadership ability, fosters personal and interpersonal development and an appreciation for diversity, and develops an increased understanding of complex material and problem-solving ability.
When you are enrolled in a service-learning course your professor provides specific directions on your service requirements and is your first, best source to answer questions or solve any issues that arise.
How to Find a Service-Learning Course
- Find course descriptions faculty provide that give detailed descriptions of course, expectations, readings, etc. These can usually be found in the course department.
- See the list of Service-Learning Courses Offered at Ohio State on this website.
- A growing number of service-learning courses have an “S” as part of their course number to help you identify them. You can use the Registrar’s Master Schedule search options to find these courses.
- If you want to know whether a course you are interested in is offered in a service-learning format, use the alphabetical listing feature at http://www.ureg.ohio-state.edu/course/. Go to the course department and scroll to the course number. If the course is offered in a service-learning format, that version will appear at the end of that course’s list of sections.
- Or you can search by “Extra Limits > Other Characteristics > Service-Learning Course” at the Master Schedule website. That search will give you a complete list of service-learning courses for that quarter.
Course Survey
Take the precourse survey before your service-learning course and the postcourse survey when the course is completed. Your responses provide useful information for measuring the effectiveness of service-learning courses and enhancing the quality of the service-learning experience.
Training Materials
- Youth Connection (preparing to work with children and teens)
- A Guide to Tutoring: Literacy (intended for new and veteran literacy tutors)
Volunteer Opportunities
- The SERVICE Squad is a student organization that encourages students to be active volunteers in local schools and nonprofit organizations, provides training in community leadership, and offers opportunities for students to reflect on the work they have been doing in the community and how their previous personal experiences affect what they bring to the organization. See their website for more information: http://servicesquad.org.ohio-state.edu.
- Center for Student Service and Leadership/Ohio Union provides direct service opportunities for students, connects student organizations with service opportunities, coordinates large-scale service programs such as Make a Difference Day, and provides information about alternative breaks involving service. 614/292-SERV
- The Buckeye Mentoring Hub provides the opportunity to establish long-term relationships with a child in mentoring/tutoring opportunities near the Columbus campus. For more information, contact the office in the Ohio Union at 614/247-8637 or osumentor@osu.edu.
- Community Connection website:
- Identify service sites and projects
- Sign up for service projects assigned in class
- Volunteer for service as an individual
- Create a “service resume” listing all your service at Ohio State
Read about past activities: 2006 (PDF, 331KB), 2007 (PDF, 715KB), 2008 (PDF, 844KB)
