Service-Learning

Dominican’s Service-Learning program centralizes resources and support for faculty, students, partner organizations and the diverse communities they serve in order to advance education and social justice through shared learning and collaborative action.

service learning

Through Service-Learning, you will have an opportunity to put education into action by engaging with the community and experiencing the relevance of your coursework first hand. 

Move beyond the classroom to work with local community organizations and schools, learning about the lives of others, developing awareness and expanding your understanding of how we can contribute to issues of social justice that ultimately impact us all. 

There are many Service-Learning-designated courses throughout Dominican’s course catalog. Some of these opportunities include:

Career Opportunities

Gain many of the top job skills employers are looking for: the ability to work as a team, creatively problem solve, communicate well and effectively, and to plan and adapt to changing work conditions. 

With increasingly insistent calls being made for college degrees to be practical and relevant, Service-Learning helps students develop the skills and capacities that employers value most highly: critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving in diverse environments, and the ability to reflect and articulate persuasively.”

— Nicola Pitchford, President, Dominican University of California

Service-Learning: Benefits and Outcomes

  • Explore personal interests, values, and career choice
  • Develop deeper connections on campus and with the local community
  • Cultivate interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
  • Increase the relevance of academics and gain hands-on experience 
  • Learn from professionals and community members in their areas of expertise (possibly leading to an internship or job after you graduate) 
  • Strengthen your resume – SL classes and scholarships are noted on transcripts
  • Find deeper meaning and direction in your education through engagement with diverse people and communities
  • Reflect and act on civic values. Take action on issues you care about.
     
  • Act as socially responsible community member
  • Apply learning in social context(s)
  • Value community voice and knowledge
  • Reflect critically on root causes and systemic social/environmental issues
     

Our numbers tell our story

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125K+

Service Hours

The number of hours spent serving with one of our 25 community partners.

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5209

Students Engaged

Students serving in their community.

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91.4%

Students Supported

Students who felt community engagement supported their learning.

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Service-Learning Courses

Interested in putting your education into action now? Want to explore personal interests, work with community members and find meaning and direction?

SL Courses CASC Minor Social Justice Major
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News and Events

Hear from students, faculty and community partners who are actively engaged in our community putting their education into action.

Read News View Events

Meet the Team

Julia van der Ryn headshot

Julia van der Ryn, MA

Executive Director, Center for Community Engagement Assistant Professor, Philosophy and Social Justice
Jenny Bray headshot

Jenny Bray

Service-Learning Program Manager
Emily Wu headshot

Emily S. Wu

Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Project Development, Service-Learning Program Social Justice Faculty

Service-Learning in the News

Contact Us