The Learning Beyond One-Credit Option

What is it?

The One-Credit Option (OCO) is a one-credit course offered in conjunction with a 2-4 credit “parent” course and which involves experiential learning.  It’s called the one-credit option because it’s taken at the option of students enrolled in parent course. The OCO includes both an experiential component (15 hours minimum) and an appropriate amount of gradable academic work.  The experience may any number of forms, such as:

  • visiting a museum, cultural center, or science center
  • attending or participating in artistic, cultural, or community events
  • volunteering at a community organization
  • visiting or volunteering at a state park or nature center
  • attending lectures or discussion groups
  • attending or participating at a conference
  • attending sessions of local, state, or federal government
  • interviewing or visiting with leaders in a field or community leaders
  • mentoring or tutoring children or adults

The overall objective of any experiential learning course is the integration of theory and practice—integration of academic study with direct or hands-on experience.

Course content and assignments:

  • The academic component must include at least one assignment that can be graded, for example, journals, papers, or presentations. The assignment does not have to be something written; it could be an artistic product or a computer program.
  • While most experiential activities will occur off-campus, this is not required. The experiential component may include attendance and/or participation in on-campus events, such as art exhibits, musical performances, book talks, guest speakers to the college, or guest speakers to the OCO students themselves.
  • The choice of location(s) and experiential activities may be determined by the instructor and/or by the students themselves.

Benefits to students:

  • An OCO looks good on a transcript or resume.
  • The experiential activities may lead to networking or job opportunities.
  • Students get to try new things, meet new people, connect campus and community, and interact with people of diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds. And it’s fun!

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Logistics of registration:

  • Only students who register for the parent course in one of the LB designated sections are able to take the OCO. (This requirement may be waived with permission.)
  • The parent course and the corresponding OCO must be taken during the same semester/session. (This requirement may be waived with permission.)
  • The instructor of the OCO sets the student cap for the OCO, which may be less than that of the parent course.
  • The two courses are graded separately, A-F. The pass/no credit option is not available for OCOs.
  • OCO credits can only be used only as General Electives.

Comparison of a Traditional 3-credit course and an OCO:

Traditional 3-Credit Course OCO
Credits 3 Credits 1 Credit
Seat Time 45 Hours None*
Experiential Component None 15 Hours
Academic Component Approximately 45-90 Hours Approximately 15-30 Hours
Total Hours Required of Student Approximately 90-135 Hours Approximately 30-45 Hours

* There is no preset meeting time. Any meetings with instructor or group meetings are considered “seat time” and the number of hours devoted to experiential activities may be reduced accordingly.

     
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