Applied Learning

In 2005, Missouri Western State University was designated as Missouri's applied learning campus. This means that Western's focus is on allowing its students to engage in learning that occurs outside of the classroom, either on or off campus. These activities give students the opportunity to apply the theory of the classroom to a practical situation. The following experiences are common examples of Applied Learning:

Last year, around 80% of our graduates completed some form of applied learning experience, and that percentage continues to grow every year!

At Western, students are able to take part in student-faculty research as an undergraduate student. On most university campuses, this opportunity is reserved for students at the graduate level. Undergraduate research opportunities are available in every department and are available for freshmen through seniors. Students in Biology do DNA research using the University's DNA Sequencer, while Marketing majors do research using market analysis and market trend data that they collect from consumers.

As an entering freshman or qualified high school student, you have the opportunity to work as part of a research team with one faculty member and one undergraduate student during an 8 week program known as the Summer Research Institute! To find out if you are eligible and how to apply to the program, visit the Summer Research Institute website.

Internships, clinics, and practica are one of the most popular forms of applied learning. These allow students to acquire hands-on experience in a "real-world" setting. Students in every major are put into these situations as early as their freshman year! Internships can range from a communications major working in our Public Relations Office on campus to a government & public affairs major working working on a campaign in Washington, D.C. Your advisor will help you choose the opportunity that is right for you.

Each year, students at Western engage in thousands of hours of community service. This is a unique form of applied learning in that allows you to develop citizenship and help improve today's social issues. For example, as you are building houses for Habitat for Humanity, you may think of ways you could help eliminate poverty housing. While serving food at the local Food Kitchen, you may see some issues that you can discuss in your humanities classes.

Western can help you realize your dream of studying off campus. We offer short
(1 week to 3 week) classes in places like New York, Washington, D.C., London, France, and Turkey.

We also offer the opportunity for you to spend a semester abroad almost anywhere in the world. Most of our semester programs feature a scholarship to cover Missouri Western tuition, and most of the semester programs allow you to register for classes at Missouri Western so the classes you take abroad are instantly credited to your transcript at home.