Integrative Learning
Integrative Learning programs at Holyoke Community College offer a holistic approach to teaching and learning in the general education curriculum. This approach provides students with the opportunity to make connections between their classroom work, their life experiences, and their community. Our faculty and students work together to establish these meaningful connections with local businesses, nonprofits, other colleges and universities, to help bring academic work to life so that students can see the relevance of their school work.
In today's rapidly changing and interconnected world, integrative learning builds bridges between the student, their classroom, and the world. These bridges are critical in the achievement of personal success, social responsibility, and civic engagement. Students will enhance their academic and professional potential by participating in these programs while positively impacting their communities.
Our integrative courses at Holyoke Community College offer hands-on learning experiences that encourage students to think independently, find their voice, and feel empowered. Our faculty experts create curricula that promote learning across different subjects, helping students to make sense of the world and their place in it. Take advantage of our academic programs, explore diverse themes, and develop valuable skills that will set you apart as you pursue your career and transfer goals. Discover the benefits of integrative learning at HCC today by speaking with someone in the Integrative Learning Program Office.
The Honors Program is designed for HCC students who seek to excel academically and may be considering transferring to a 4 year college or university.
All liberal arts majors must complete a minimum of six credit hours of an Integrative Learning Experience to graduate from HCC's Liberal Arts & Sciences program. Honors courses fulfill this requirement, and can also satisfy the general education requirements.
Learn more on our Honors page.
Learning Communities are team-taught, interdisciplinary courses that take a common theme and view it through the lens of multiple disciplines, such as English and Psychology or English and Theater. LCs help under-prepared students to prepare, prepared students to advance, and advanced students to excel.
Learn more on our Learning Communities page.
Community-Based Learning is an educational initiative in which students complete a project in the community that directly relates to the objectives of a course and meets the needs of the community-based organization.
Learn more on our Community-Based Learning page.
HCC's Experiential Learning program provides our students with the opportunity to test drive real-world careers in their field of study through academic internships.
Learn more on our academic internships page.
Pathways wants you to dream big!
Pathways Program is a transfer support program that helps promising high-achieving students the ability to succeed at HCC and explore transfer opportunities to selective liberal arts colleges such as Mount Holyoke, Smith, Amherst, Williams, and others. The program intentionally fosters student relationships utilizing the holistic approach to offer academic and personal support such as advising, workshops, hosting transfer information sessions with selective college representatives, conducting college visits and assists with the transfer process to selective colleges for high-potential students, especially from underrepresented backgrounds. If you love learning, we welcome you to have exploratory conversations about select colleges' transfer admissions processes, majors and course selections, and GPA requirements.
Integrative Learning
What are Learning Communities? What happens in Service Learning classes? Will Honors classes prepare me for a four-year college? This short video addresses some of those issues through the voices and experience of HCC students. (Video produced for HCC by KnoxworX Multimedia.)
