UNIV 304: Experiential Learning in the Workplace
Connect your studies to your future career
“There is no class like this one that will teach you such valuable real-world skills. The benefits of this class are the excellent instructors, motivated environment, intelligent speakers, and all the knowledge you can take with you into the real world.”
UNIV 304 Student
UNIV 304 is a unique work-integrated learning (WIL) course that you can take while working at any job or volunteer position. Over the course of the semester, you will connect your work experience to your studies and develop professional skills in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, while developing goals for your career development.
You must have completed at least 18 units to register for UNIV 304 and cannot be enrolled in a co-op work term at the same time. Register now for Spring 2023 semester through the MyUCalgary portal.
Frequently asked questions
UNIV 304 is an alternative work-integrated learning opportunity and cannot be done at the same time as a co-op placement.
Yes, although some positions may be more suitable for UNIV 304 than others. Your job or volunteer position will need to be at least 3 hours a week and you will need a supervisor or manager to collaborate with you and provide feedback throughout the course as well.
Your work-integrated learning placement can be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, volunteer or a career exploration like job shadowing a professional. The position can be in any field or industry either directly related to your degree or something else you want to explore.
Opportunities like those through Canada Summer Jobs, volunteering with a non-profit you are interested in, shadowing a job you are interested in learning more about and work opportunities in your chosen field are all great examples of the kinds of opportunities you can pair with this course.
UNIV 304 will help you develop foundational and transferable skills that will support your success in workplace, volunteer and professional settings.
UNIV 304 will teach you how to recognize and integrate the skills you learn at any job with your career goals and studies. Topics will include teamwork, professionalism, communication, problem-solving, leadership, and time management.
Yes, UNIV 304 is open to students from any faculty and department whether your program offers a work-integrated opportunity (co-op, practicum, internship, etc) or not. You must have completed at least 18 credits before you can register for UNIV 304.
UNIV 304 is a great option if you:
- have financial, personal or time barriers to traditional co-op or internship programs
- want to try out a smaller work-integrated experience before applying to a co-op or internship
You'll enjoy an enriched learning community structured on diverse peer-to-peer disciplinary perspectives. You'll also learn from your peers' variety of professional placements.
Take this course at any point in your degree program, as long as you've completed 18 credits.
Second-year students
This course might be a chance to decide if you want to commit to more extensive opportunities like a co-op internship.
Senior-level students
UNIV 304 will give you the chance to learn more about how your degree skills can transfer to the work world. Explore the career options open to you once you graduate!
A great WIL opportunity will help you explore and understand competencies usually acquired from a professional context like leadership skills, time management, teamwork, communication, adaptability and problem-solving. A good WIL placement will help you develop course-based goals in the aforementioned skills.
Meaningful work integrated learning requires an engaged partnership between you, your instructor, and the community or industry partner who is hosting you.
You need to ensure that your manager/supervisor or career exploration professional is aware of your enrolment in this course. They should commit to supporting you and your goal development.