Experiential Learning
We have a bold commitment at Alvernia: No student leaves without a transformational experiential learning opportunity. Employers today are looking for graduates who can hit the ground running. Experiential learning ensures our students have the confidence and experience to step into their roles in a rapidly evolving job market on day one.
Getting Started
Experiential learning isn’t just for our students. With the expansion of Total Experience Learning with Alvernia, we are bringing experiential learning to K-12 schools across our community. And we’re not stopping there. Our partnership with Berks Community Health Center to open a new facility in the American House in downtown Reading will expand healthcare access for the people of Reading and offer our students unparalleled hands-on experience.
To make sure financial issues aren't a burden, Alvernia offers Real-World Learning Awards to assist students with a variety of experiential opportunities, without reducing the amount of financial aid a student already has been awarded.
In The Classroom
Total Experience Learning
Total Experience Learning is designed to reignite and reenergize curriculum while supporting effective instruction through advanced project management training.
Bloomberg Terminal
Alvernia's Header School of Business brings the real world into the classroom with the Bloomberg Terminal, a resource used by leading business and financial professionals worldwide, the essential computer software used in the financial sector.
In The Community
Apprenticeship to Degree
Alvernia's Apprenticeship to Degree Program gives students the opportunity to earn, learn and intern, forging careers while contributing to the development of the local workforce.
Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement
The Holleran Center embraces and reflects the university’s mission and values in students’ coursework and co-curriculum.
O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
The O'Pake Institute is a catalyst for regional economic development and a driving force enhancing student experiential learning.
In Clinics/Research Labs
BCHC
Alvernia and Berks County Health Center's state-of-the-art community-based health center in downtown Reading will offer students unparalleled hands-on experience.
Student Undergraduate Research Fellows (S.U.R.F.)
The Student Undergraduate Research Fellows (S.U.R.F.) program is an opportunity for student fellows to experience scholarship, research or creative process in collaboration and as modeled by faculty scholars.
Learning Outside of the Classroom
Learn more about Alvernia's robust experiential learning offerings in this video playlist.
In The Environment
Bog Turtle Creek Farm
Bog Turtle Creek Farm is a student-led regenerative agriculture project that was created in response to a need to increase access to healthy, affordable food in the City of Reading.
EcoHouse
This 1-acre plot includes a residential home in which Alvernia’s Office of Institutional Sustainability is located, Bog Turtle Creek Farm, Outdoor Leadership and Rental Gear Program, and the hemp-based structure called The Traveler.
Across the Globe
Washington Center
The Washington Center offers residential academic programs and internship experiences for Alvernia students. It also presents seminars focused on political party conventions and the Presidential Inauguration during Presidential election years.
Study Abroad
The Office of Global Engagement offers a variety of short-term faculty-led programs, as well as semester and year-long programs.
Alternative Breaks
These weekend and week-long service and immersion breaks inspire and empower students to lead lives dedicated to serving the underserved, promoting peace and justice, and working towards the common good.