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Experiential Learning Resources for Students

Why Participate in Experiential Learning? 

Students from all Faculties and programs at McMaster can benefit from experiential learning (EL). EL can include courses with hands-on learning elements, placements, campus jobs, internships, co-op, co-curricular activities, and more. EL provides opportunities to develop skills and knowledge while solving practical problems. In many cases, it also allows students to apply knowledge from their lived experiences to projects, while learning from the lived experiences of others as well.

Prospective employers highly value practical, hands-on experience gained through EL. It can also help identify new personal and professional interests. Finally, EL involves working with stakeholders both within and outside of campus, helping you expand your personal and professional network, and circles of support.

“As a Media Arts student, this position was designed to develop marketing, creative, and critical thinking skills. Creative marketing was a major part of this opportunity and closely connected to what I learned in class, allowing me to apply poster design, videography, and photography skills on a real-life platform. This experience pushed me to think more intentionally and critically about my design decisions, especially when translating ideas into effective visual communication. “

– Anonymous, Experience Ventures Project 

Finding Experiential Learning Opportunities at McMaster

There are several ways to find EL opportunities at McMaster. Faculties and programs as well as central units, such as the Student Success Centre and the Office of Community Engagement, design and deliver a range of curricular and co-curricular EL opportunities. Below are resources and sites that can help you identify experiential opportunities that meet your goals and needs. 

Experiential Learning Opportunities Resource (EXPLORE) Find Opportunities

EXPLORE is a resource built in collaboration with the Student Success Centre designed to help undergraduate students from all Faculties and programs find experiential opportunities that meet their needs and interests.

Campus Jobs and Experience Work on Campus

The Student Success Centre has compiled a list of resources to find jobs on campus, including the McMaster Work Study Program, Mosaic, OSCARPlus, Athletics and Recreation and more.

SSC Experience-Building Opportunities View Programs

The Student Success Centre (SSC) runs paid and volunteer experience-building programs such as CareerTreks and Experience Ventures. They also offer mentorship, career counselling, experiential learning advising appointments, job/volunteer fairs, and more.

McMaster Students Union (MSU)

The McMaster Students Union (MSU) offers experience-building opportunities to undergraduate students through student clubs and employment.

Explore Student Clubs

Explore Employment Opportunities

INSPIRE Office of Flexible Learning Discover INSPIRE

INSPIRE offers experiential courses, including those that run during Intersession (a condensed one-month term in May), and the Spring/Summer terms. They also host interdisciplinary minors, such as in sustainability, Latin American and LatinX studies, and Africa and Black Diaspora Studies.

Office of Community Engagement (OCE) Visit the OCE

The OCE facilitates a number of experiential opportunities such as CityLab Semester in Residence and the Research Shop. They also work to connect students to community organizations through their CONNECTION program

Discover Experiential Learning By Faculty

Faculties provide specific resources for experiential learning (EL) to their students. Specific programs and departments may have their own resources and programming. Contact your program, department, or Faculty office if you are a student and are unsure where to start.

Faculty of Engineering

Explore experiential learning through industry-backed capstone projects, paid co-op placements, and access to advanced robotics and manufacturing facilities.

Faculty of Science

Enhance your degree with hands-on research opportunities, professional internships, and collaborative projects that apply scientific theory to real-world challenges.

Faculty of Humanities

Bridge theory and practice through community-engaged learning, creative industry partnerships, and internships that translate critical thinking and communications skills into professional impact.

Faculty of Social Sciences

Connect with community partners to tackle real-world social issues through field placements, policy research, and collaborative projects focused on social justice and civic engagement.

DeGroote School of Business

Build your professional network and leadership skills through corporate case competitions, internship programs, and direct collaboration with industry leaders.

Faculty of Health Sciences

EL in the Faculty of Health Sciences varies by program. Please talk to an academic advisor or program lead to learn about the experiential learning opportunities that are available to you. 

Academic Advising vs Career Counselling in Experiential Learning Navigation

Academic Advising: For “Does this placement count for credit?” or “How does this meet my degree requirements?”

Career Counselling: For “How do I find a placement?” or “How do I talk about this experience on my resume?”

Academic advising is available across all faculties at McMaster. Visit your program/department or Faculty webpage to connect with an academic advisor. Some Faculties and programs also have career offices for career counselling. Additionally, career counselling services are available for all students at the Student Success Centre.

Addressing Barriers to Participation in Experiential Learning

Navigating experiential learning (EL) opportunities can be challenging. We acknowledge that there can be barriers to participation including but not limited to lack of funding, lack of existing accessibility supports, incompatible scheduling, and the need for many students to balance personal and professional responsibilities with academic study. 

The resources listed below can help you navigate some of the common challenges related to participating in EL. Additionally, we recognize that there may be others outside of this list that you might turn to for support, such as peers, staff or faculty members, alumni, or others who can offer guidance in your personal, academic or professional life. 

Accessibility & Accommodations

  • Student Accessibility Services (SAS): Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides academic accommodations and related supports for students with disabilities at McMaster. They may be able to support students enrolled in course-based experiential learning opportunities.
  • Career Access Professional Services (CAPS): Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) offers individualized career development and experiential learning support for students and alumni who identify as members of equity-deserving groups or face employment barriers.

Identity & Community-Based Support

  • Black Student Success Centre (BSSC): The Black Student Success Centre (BSSC) supports the holistic success of Black and African decent students through mentorship, scholarships, and dedicated programs that foster a positive student and athlete experience.
  • Indigenous Student Services (ISS): Indigenous Student Services (ISS) provides academic advising, financial support, and a Student Development Program to enhance Indigenous students’ professional growth through holistic academic and personal experiences.
  • Equity and Inclusion Office: The Equity and Inclusion Office fosters inclusive environments through programs for dispute resolution, anti-racism education, and accessibility consultation, while providing trauma-informed support through the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO).
  • Archway Program: The Archway Program offers mentorship, as well as resources and guidance, to off-campus students to help them navigate their first year at McMaster.

Safety & Well-Being

  • Student Wellness Centre (SWC): The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) provides a range of services to support student wellness during their time at McMaster, including medical care, health education and promotion programs, counselling and peer support programming.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO): The Sexual Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) provides trauma-informed support, prevention education, and community consultation to ensure all campus environments remain safe and free from sexual violence.
  • Student Success Centre (SSC): The Student Success Centre (SSC) facilitates hands-on learning through experiential programs and recruitment fairs, while providing one-on-one appointments to help students align their volunteer and career goals.

Student Testimonials

“In this experience, the most impactful aspect related to my future professional and personal aspirations was the opportunity to work on a real-world, client-facing project that utilizes work related to my studies. Working with an international team was as exciting as it was challenging but I can confidently say that my collaboration and communication skills have improved. Because of my vested interest in policy, global development and socially driven organizations, I’ve also strengthened my ability to translate the massive concepts I’ve been learning about into actionable recommendations for the client my team worked with. WACE was a great bridge between academic learning and professional practice!”

– Anonymous, World Association for Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE) Global Challenge

“I had the opportunity to attend the American Institute of Chemical Engineering Conference in Boston where I got to present my research and also listen to presentations. This was the first time I have ever presented my work in an oral format so I learned a lot during it and before it prepping for the presentation. My goals for the future are to attend graduate school and work as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, through this experience, I had the opportunity to speak to and connect with many other graduate students and professors around the world. It has solidified my future direction and motivations. “

– Anonymous, Research Conference 

“The most relevant part to my future aspirations was being responsible for guiding a team through complex decisions rather than just completing individual tasks. The experience made me learn how to align technical work with broader goals, support teammates with different working styles, and keep progress moving over a long timeline. I envision myself trying out a management role within software engineering, and this experience helped build the leadership and organizational skills I want alongside my technical background. “

– Anonymous, Experience Ventures Hack-a-thon