YSU Experiential Learning and Engagement
Connecting Academics with Real-World Experiences
Community Engagement
Youngstown State University values its role as an engaged partner in the community, building meaningful, reciprocal relationships that benefit both students and the region. This commitment is reflected in YSU’s Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, recognizing institutions with deep, sustained collaboration with community partners.
Select courses bearing the community-engaged learning (CEL) designation embed community engagement into the course. Students can find CEL courses by searching for the “Community Engaged Learning” attribute when reviewing classes offered each semester.
Faculty Led Study Abroad
YSU offers students the opportunity to explore the world through faculty led study abroad (FLSA) experiences in destinations such as the Bahamas (San Salvador), Scotland, Japan, and beyond. These programs combine travel with academic learning, allowing you to engage directly with course concepts while experiencing new cultures alongside your peers.
Designed to be accessible and immersive, faculty-led trips are typically short-term (about one week to 10 days) and guided by YSU faculty who bring both subject-matter expertise and deep knowledge of the destination.
Students can find FLSA experiences by searching for the “Faculty Led Study Abroad” attribute when reviewing classes offered each semester.
Partnerships
Experiential Learning and Engagement includes a strong network of partnership programs that support student learning and academics in an active, experiential learning environment. See below for a list of these programs with a brief description of each.
Academic Achievers
Academic Achievers is a program at Warren G. Harding High School designed to facilitate academic success for high school students and graduates enrolled at YSU. Students in the high school program participate in Saturday enrichment sessions and a summer experience created to promote academic success. Students that matriculate to YSU from Academic Achievers continue to stay involved, meeting with program mentors and developing as young professionals.
SCOPE
S.C.O.P.E. (Student Centered Occupational Preview Experience) is a pre-college enrichment program to prepare high school upperclassmen for college. Students participate in activities such as ACT Prep Tutoring, structured experiences and curriculum that exposes them to vast career opportunities, and prepares them for the very real demands of today’s workforce. S.C.O.P.E. Participants learn about college admissions and financial aid, observe college classes, and participate in job shadowing and experiences.
YSTAR
The YSTAR Scholarship, funded through the Youngstown Foundation, provides financial support for graduates of Youngstown City Schools (East, Chaney, Youngstown Rayen Early College, and Wilson Alternative and Virtual Academy) to attend Youngstown State University. In addition to scholarship funding, recipients benefit from dedicated experiential learning and engagement opportunities designed to promote and support student development, persistence and graduation.