Individualized Integrative and Applied Learning (IAL) Opportunities

First-year students entering the college in Fall 2022 and beyond must satisfy the Integrative and Applied Learning (IAL) graduation requirement. IAL is intended to be an upper-level experience that meets the outcomes below.

Students will be able to:

• Integrate multiple bodies of knowledge with their personal experience by asking meaningful questions about real-world problems
• Apply skills, theories, and methods gained in academic study, professional experiences, and/or co-curricular experiences to new situations
• Reflect upon changes in their learning and outlook over time, and integrate into their future endeavors based on that self-reflection 

Students can meet this requirement in a variety of ways that have touchpoints with the Career Design Center. In addition to taking a course that is approved to meet the Integrative and Applied Learning requirement, students may elect to complete an individualized experience to satisfy the IAL requirement or complete an internship through one of the IAL-approved internship courses. 

Individualized IAL experiences could include, but are not limited to:

• Long-Term Volunteering
• Study Abroad
• Professional Development Programs
• Campus Leadership Positions
• Teaching Assistantships
• Part-Time/Summer Employment
• ...and more, if the experience can satisfy the learning outcomes!

Access GradLeaders Here

Step-by-Step Instructions for Submitting an Individualized IAL Proposal

Step 1: Identify Your IAL Experience

First, identify your individual IAL experience that will demonstrate how you will meet the Integrative and Applied Learning outcomes. This can include many options, including but not limited to: directed studies with faculty, structured long-term volunteer opportunities, individual study abroad programs, working on campus initiatives or serving on the executive board of organizations, and more. Be sure to identify a “field supervisor” who can verify your work. 

Step 2: Log into the GradLeaders System

GradLeaders is the system used to track individualized IAL experiences and credit-bearing internships. Log in here. Use your full G# as your User ID and geneseo as the password. All students are automatically registered for GradLeaders accounts. If you can’t access the system, use the system to find your email and reset your account or contact careers@geneseo.edu.

Step 3: Click on “Add Internship”

After setting up your account, make sure you select the Integrative and Applied Learning labeled option for the semester to begin your learning agreement. 

Step 4: Fill Out Learning Agreement

Required fields include: a minimum of three learning objectives, completed prompts for the Integrative and Applied Learning outcomes, GPA, and field supervisor contact information.

Step 5: Approval Process

Upon your completion of the form, the staff of the Career Design Center will initiate the electronic signature process to get the experience initiated in the system. Each participant in the approval process (field supervisor, Career Design Center staff, etc.) is given the opportunity to review and then accept or reject the learning agreement if key components are missing. Accepted forms are automatically sent to the next participant in the process. Rejected forms are reviewed by Career Design Center and routed back to be corrected.

Step 6: Reflections

Throughout the semester, the GradLeaders system will notify you to complete mid-semester and final reflections on your experience, which will be reviewed by staff in the Career Design Center and serve as an opportunity for you to reflect on the impact of your experience in relation to your learning, personal development, and career readiness competencies. To receive the IAL attribute, all reflections must be completed in full prior to the end of the semester.

Following the successful completion of all reflective components (initial learning agreement reflection, mid-semester reflection, and end-of-semester reflection and career readiness assessment) the Career Design Center staff will send verification of completion to the Office of the Registrar. After this point, your DegreeWorks will be updated to reflect successful completion of the Integrative and Applied Learning requirement. 

With any questions on individual student-initiated experiences, please contact Hope Martin, Applied Learning Coordinator, at hmartin@geneseo.edu.