Learning While Serving
Volunteering and service learning provides students with opportunities to apply their skills and gain practical experience – all while supporting local partners or agencies. Volunteering and service learning both involve service but the distinction is that service learning typically includes a more intentional reflection process through a formal or informal course linkage. However, both contribute to community-engaged learning.
GivePulse Volunteer Portal
The best way to get involved in community engaged work is to create an account through the Iowa State GivePulse Page to receive updates on opportunities and to establish a personalized record of volunteer/service “impacts” over time.
Courses with Service Learning Components
Service learning is embedded in a variety of kinesiology courses to provide you with opportunities to gain real-world experience while also providing valuable service to the campus and community.
Examples of courses with formalized service learning components include KIN 294A/B: Practicum in Adult Fitness Assessment, HS 380: Worksite Health Promotion, HS 430: Community Health Program Development, KIN 494A/B: Practicum in Motivational Interviewing. A number of other courses include applied learning or experiential learning opportunities but may not be defined as or set up as a service learning course.
Supplemental service learning opportunities are also available through a more open-ended service learning course (KIN 391, Service Learning Leadership Experience). These opportunities must be set up and approved by individual faculty members. A number of service learning opportunities have been set up through associated departmental outreach programming to enable students to contribute to ongoing programming on campus and in the community.