Experiential Learning

"Practice makes perfect," some say. " At Widener, we know what employers say: "Experience counts."

With internships, co-ops, practicums, service learning courses, travel abroad, undergraduate research options, and volunteer service opportunities, our undergraduate students have a number of interesting and innovative ways to study and "experience it" here at Widener. Review some of the ways experience counts at Widener below:

Lights, Camera, Experience.

Students in our Communication Studies department often team up for real-life agency work, creating documentaries, PSAs, and PR campaigns for local businesses and non-profit clients.

Danny Corey ('07) captured second place in the comedy division of the Greater Philadelphia Student Film Festival with his short film, The Rocket Avenger Club's First Launch. To date, he has written and produced four films. He works as a freelance production assistant in Philadelphia on feature films and commercials.

Winter Break with Butterflies in Costa Rica

Stephen Madigosky chair of the environmental science department and professor of science education, taught a 10-day service learning course in Costa Rica, where students worked at El Bosque Nuevo (EBN). Through this project, EBN provides training for local villagers to create an environment conducive to the production of butterflies in large quantities.

Shedding Light on the Global Energy Market

Katie Mitchell (’09) saw the light in the "City of Lights" when Sartomer, the Exton, PA-based specialty chemicals unit of Total, nominated Mitchell for the second annual Total Summer School in Paris, France. As a guest of Total, a French multinational energy company, Mitchell, a civil engineering major, and her classmates focused on the energy and its impact on continents and countries.

A Tasteful Tour of Tuscan Hospitality

Students in our School of Hospitality Management went on a tour of the legendary Italian hills during a two week summer wine and food seminar in Tuscany. Sponsored every year by Banfi Vintners, the seminar provides students from around the world to experience international hospitality at its finest. 

Getting Creative with Chester's Youth

During July 2008, Professor Michael Cocchiarale, Professor Kenneth Pobo, and Professor Jayne Thompson and Widener students, Heather Astorga and Jennifer Pinel, taught poetry and short story writing to eighteen Chester High School juniors who participated in Widener's first Creative Writing Summer Camp. The Chester High students are enrolled in The Achievement Project (TAP).

Fulfill Your Field and Course Requirements

Undergraduate students in our Center for Social Work can take advantage of internships through the Social Work Consultation Services (SWCS) where students have volunteered to work on various SWCS programs and initiatives as part of the undergraduate social work course requirements. SWCS was founded in 2000 in collaboration with the Chester Education Foundation. 

Present Your Research to Pennsylvania's Lawmakers

Elisa Berman, Jonathon Diulio, Heather Drebitko, Marc A. Brodkin, Sonia Solomon, and Mohit Sirohi  were among the students presenting the results of their undergraduate research to other college students and Pennsylvania legislators gathered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, for Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol - Pennsylvania (URC-PA).  View photos of URC-PA 2007.

Students Practice Governing in the European Union

In January 2008, six Widener students traveled to Otzenhausen, Germany to participate in Eurosim, a four-day simulation of the governing process of the European Union (EU). Widener students represented Germany,   Widener’s Vitaliy Kin ('08), an international relations and Spanish major, received recognition for his portrayal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.