The best way for students to learn moral concepts is not through lectures and tests, but through experiencing them together. Literary but not academic; therapeutic but not clinical. This is the EXL Lab’s integrated approach to human transformation. This is exactly what students need.”
— Varun Soni, USC Dean of Religious Life

The EXL LAB @ USC Dornsife College believes knowledge becomes meaningful through experience.

 

Our community and the world provide natural contexts for meaningful learning experiences, where curiosity inspires engagement, imagination, and connection.

What We Do

We create experiential learning programs that develop durable skills in communication, collaboration, and “present and defend“ capacities.

We integrate state-of-the-art technology, thought provoking guest speakers, and innovative experiential learning opportunities to prepare students for the evolving digital future.

These activities enable students to move confidently between interdisciplinary content areas in navigating challenges, recognizing opportunities, and building relationships personally and professionally.

Course Enhancement

Academics in action increase learning through real-life applications and experiences.

Partnerships

With USC community service programs to address situations of need on and off campus.

Workshops

We offer experience-based explorations of current themes that provoke, inspire and motivate.

Mentoring and Internships

We help students find opportunities with companies, organizations and schools.

Why Experiential Learning Is For You

Every potential employer will ask, “what problems have you solved and what did you learn?”       EXL-Lab activities prepare you to:

  • Show what you know through the problems you solve with what you make in response.
  • Learn interdisciplinary collaboration, a necessity of the modern work environment.
  • Build essential skills in leadership, communication and problem-solving.
  • Enhance your CV and e-portfolio with real-world experiences demonstrating your knowledge.

Here’s What Students Have to Say about EXL Lab Programs

This program was the first time I thought of gratitude as a gift, and not something that’s static, but something you receive and then you pass on. So it was cool to think of it as something in motion, like this ever-flowing river that passes through us.

—Suhas

I discovered that I had a larger capacity for gratitude than I initially thought. One of the activities we did toward the end was the personal experience journaling about gratitude for community, family or friends, and I think writing about that made me realize, without actually talking about what I wrote about, because it was very personal, I tried to challenge myself to see if I can write about gratitude for something I normally would not be grateful. And I was surprised that I actually had a lot to say about that.

—Arnav

My favorite experience was definitely braiding the sweetgrass together. Prior to the program I’d actually read Braiding Sweetgrass and I really resonated with the book. It was one of my favorite classes from last semester. And being able to revisit that book, and not only read everything again, but being able to actually braid sweetgrass and see it in person, it was definitely something very powerful for me, and it was great to be able to do that in this program.

—Irene

Students share their responses to the Gratitude Transformation Series, in which participants created a project on the power of gratitude in their life as a force for inspiration, transformation and community.

    Students share their responses to the Gratitude Transformation Series, in which participants created a project on the power of gratitude in their life as a force for inspiration, transformation and community.

    Course Enhancements and Workshops

    Meet the EXL Lab Team