How Sustained Service-Learning Experiences Inform Career Pathways

Abstract

Developing values, interests, and skills for future careers, an important part of career development, is an outcome alumni perceive from participation in servicelearning. Using indepth interviews, this qualitative study of 33 alumni from three servicelearning programs suggests rich connections between sustained servicelearning experiences (i.e., coursebased community engagement programs lasting two or more consecutive terms) and career decisions. More specifically, alumni perceive their engagement in servicelearning as facilitating exploration of career possibilities connected to public service and social responsibility.