Developing an Educational Plan
Liberal arts majors make up the
majority of the student population at Mānoa. While liberal arts program are often described – and quite
accurately – as providing a well-rounded education, students
often come up short on understanding and being able to
articulate to others the range of transferable
skills they have acquired through taking general education
and major courses. One
reason for this problem is that they often don’t seek out
the “extra” opportunities students in career-focused
majors do. If
you’re a liberal arts major, plan to participate in one
or more of the academic enrichment opportunities listed
below.
Take advantage of the
following:
Directed Reading and Research
Courses -
gives you the opportunity to work on a specific area of
interest. You
consult with a professor who helps you develop a plan to
research a topic of interest or gain “hands-on” work
experience in a laboratory or field work setting. For example, a
microbiology student may design and conduct laboratory or
field experiments under the guidance of a faculty member.
UH is a research university.
As such,
it is committed to the discovery and creation of new
knowledge. Look for ways to become engaged in the chief
enterprise of the campus. Practicum,
Internship, Teaching and Field Work
Courses – allows you to
gain structured, career-related work experiences.
These experiences are offered through academic departments for
their majors, or through the Student Employment and Cooperative Education
Office. These experiences may permit you to earn college credit
or money.Summer
Research or Internship Opportunities- early
planning allows you to incorporate these opportunities into
your undergraduate experience.
Opportunities are available for students in most
A&S majors.
Service
Learning- allows you to incorporate community
service into your educational plan. For a complete
listing of available opportunities visit the Service Learning
Program in Queen Liliuokalani Center For Student Services room
209.
The above opportunities provide an
excellent way to learn research methods and develop analytical
skills. They allow you to see the relationship between
academic theories and hands-on work experiences, and provide a
chance to practice and refine your transferable skills in real
life situations. In addition, you can begin networking
with individuals who may be able to serve as references for
jobs or graduate school, or provide excellent career advice.
Your educational plan may also include some of the
following opportunities that allow you to study for a
semester/year at another institution, both nationally and
abroad:
National Student Exchange
Program- provides full-time undergraduates with the
opportunity to study for a semester or a year at one of 177
colleges and universities located throughout the Continental
U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
NSE provides an excellent way to explore different
academic, social, and cultural settings. Contact Sandy Davis in the Queen
Lili‘uokalani Center for Student Services 206 for more
information. Study
Abroad- allows you to earn UH Mānoa
credits for coursework taken abroad, while experiencing a
different culture. Courses are offered in a wide
range of studies in countries throughout the world.
Co-curricular activities are another important component of
your educational plan that you should consider:
Co-curricular
Activities, Programs and Services (CAPS) provides
opportunities for students to gain valuable leadership
experience and be active contributors to the university campus
through participation in student clubs or organizations.
Created by Lynne Higa, Christine Kirk-Kuwaye, Michael Kirk-Kuwaye
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