You decided to attend Lang in search of a relevant education, one that would prepare you for positive (and progressive) social change in the world. But you shouldn’t have to wait until graduation to make a difference. You can affect change at a local, national, and/or international level by participating in a service learning project as early as freshman year.

Join the increasing number of students who earn academic credit while promoting change. Service-based learning represents an opportunity for you to make a meaningful difference through an applied experience, including field placement, an independent research project with a faculty mentor, or an educational internship. You can participate in an “alternative” spring break program, or engage in a service-learning project overseas.

Like internships, civic engagement opportunities draw upon student knowledge, talents, and ingenuity so that students can impact the wider community. Through the Institute for Urban Education, Lang students work with disadvantaged students to prepare them for higher education and to enhance collaboration between educators and youth organizations. In local high schools, students can work directly with ninth and tenth graders—and their teachers and guidance counselors—to help them embark on the road to college. Lang students can help empower these students by teaching them strong leadership and communication skills.

Read on to learn more about what distinguishes service learning from other approaches to learning and helping. Prepare to enrich your academic experience at Lang to move beyond the classroom, and to apply your unique skills to benefit the larger community.

Visit the Tishman Environmental Merit Scholars page for more information about that program.

Questions? Email LangSpecialProjects@newschool.edu