Service-Learning
At the University of Northern Iowa, service-learning is a class-based experience, informed by/co-created with community partners, intended to expand and deepen discipline-specific knowledge and skills, strengthen the community, and develop a student’s sense of civic responsibility. Service-learning is the integration of service and learning to enhance each.
- Service-learning activities align with academic coursework, providing a deeper understanding of the academic discipline.
- Service-learning activities align with community strengths and needs AND faculty prepare students to work with the community partner.
- Faculty engage students in purposeful and guided reflection.
- Service-learning activities prepare students for active citizenship and social responsibility and builds students’ cultural competence for engaging with diverse populations in diverse settings.
Spring 2024 Service-Learning Courses
ACCT 3055- VITA: Individual Income Tax Preparation
ART 3030: Graphic Design- II
ARTED 2500 ( Sections 1&2): Foundations in Art Education
ARTHIST 4950: Race and Representation in Art
COMM DM 3651: Advanced Digital Media Production: TV Studio Live/News
COMM 3455: Storytelling & Identity
COMM 4544: Digital Culture & Communication
ELEMCML 3149: Child, Family, School and Community Relationships
ENTR 3586/5586: Entrepreneurial Strategy
ENGLISH 3710: Craft of Creative Nonfiction
FAM SERV 2060: Strategies and Issues in Family Services
GEOG 1211 (Sections 1&2): Planet Earth Lab
HIST 1011: Field Experience: Public History
PH 1101: Introduction to Public Health
POL AMER 4143: Citizen Participation and Civic Engagement
POL AMER 4188: Race and Public Policy
RTNL 2210/4210: Nonprofit Leadership Practicum (1&2)
RTNL 3378/5778: Community Based Tourism
SW 1001 (Sections 1&2): Introduction to Social Work and Social Services
TECH 4159- Interdisciplinary Senior Design
TESOL 4110- Structure of English
TESOL 4510/5510- Language Development
UNIV 1010 ( Sections 1, 5, 20) - Cornerstone, Intergraded Communication II
UNIV 2196: Seminar: Housing Inequality & the Legacy of Redlining in Iowa
College of Education
ELEMECML 3149 - Child, Family, School, and Community Relationships
HPE 4383/5383- Health Promotion Implementation and Advocacy
RTNL 2210/4210/5210 - Nonprofit Leadership Practicum 1 & 2
RTNL 2130- Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
RTNL 3378/5778: Community Based Tourism
RTNL 4998- Technology, Cross-Cultural, & Evidence-Based Practices in TR
College of Business
ACCT 3055 - Section 1 & 2 -VITA: Individual Income Tax Preparation
ECON 3125- Economics of Sustainability
MKTG 3586/5586- Entrepreneurial Strategy
College Social & Behavioral Sciences
FAM SERV 1210- The Creative Experience
FAM SERV 2060- Strategies and Issues in Family Services
HIST 1011 - Section 1 & 2 - Field Experience: Public History
PH 1101: Introduction to Public Health
SW 1001 - Section 1 & 2 - Introduction to Social Work and Social Services
College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences
ART 3030: Graphic Design-II
ARTED 2500: Foundations in Art Education
ARTHIST 4950: Race and Representation in Art
ARTHIST 5003: Collections and Care Management
CAP 3131: Rhetoric, Environment, and Community Engagement
COMM DM 3651: Advanced Digital Media Production: Television News
COMM 3455: Storytelling & Identity
COMM 4444/5444: Communication, Community, and Change
COMM 4765: Applied Writing: Workplace Communication
English 1005: College Writing & Research
English 3710: Craft of Creative Nonfiction
English 4192: English Senior Seminar: Literary and Digital Culture
English 4775/5775: Applied Writing: Specialized Documents
English 4785/5875: Applied Writing: Projects, Grants and Careers
English 5765: Applied Writing: Workplace Communication
RELS 4490: Professional Development Seminar
SPAN 3003: Advanced Conversation and Reading
SPAN 4045: Translation
SPAN 5045: Translation
TECH 4159: Interdisciplinary Senior Design
TESOL 4110: The Structure of English
TESOL 4510/5510: Language Development
Theater 1050: Creative Drama
University Interdisciplinary Courses
UNIV 1000: Cornerstone I
UNIV 1010: Cornerstone II
UNIV 2196: Seminar: Housing Inequality & the Legacy of Redlining in Iowa
UNIV 4555: Interactive Digital Studies Practicum
Types of Service-Learning
Indirect Service-Learning: Not always visible
Working indirectly with individuals and organizations to address a community issue or need.
Examples:
- Painting rain barrels for land and water conservation efforts
- Revitalizing buildings and structures
- Creating a community garden
- Creating promotional materials for local organizations

Direct Service-Learning: Usually visible
Working directly with individuals and organizations to address a community issue or need.
Examples:
- Tutoring other students and adults
- Serving meals to the homeless
- Volunteering for disaster services

Advocacy Service-Learning
Planning, conducting and/or creating awareness initiatives and events to address a community issue or need.
Examples:
- Bringing in a guest speaker and discussion on a topic of interest in a community (author of White Rage)
- Educating and promoting pesticide-free lawns among local schools, daycares and churches (Green Iowa)
- Working with elected officials to draft legislation to improve communities

Research-Based Service-Learning
Collecting, analyzing and/or implementing qualitative and quantitative data to address a community issue or need.
Examples:
- Analyzing an organization’s survey results to evaluate the effectiveness of their program
- Conduct energy audits in public buildings
- Compiling history facts
