What is work-based learning?
Available for select courses, work-based learning is designed to put your knowledge to work in the real world. Your faculty and employer can help you identify skills in your course that apply to your job. Then you’ll use your work activities in projects and discussions alongside other students in the course.
Work-based learning programs
For our work-based learning programs, you’ll either bring a project from your workplace to the courseroom, or you’ll work on a semi-structured collaborative project with a Capella partner organization. The valuable real work experience you gain can apply to both the courseroom and your career.
- How you’ll learn
- Available programs
- Work-based courses
- Examples of work
Workplace learning
- Use a real-world project from your place of employment rather than the projects provided in the course
- You may or may not be collaborating with other employees at your workplace
Experiential partners
- Collaborate with other learners on real work projects at a workplace of a partner organization
- Follow a semi-structured approach to cooperate with and learn from one another
Workplace learning
- BS in Computer Science
- BS in Information Technology
- MS in Information Technology
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Health Administration
Experiential partners
- BS in Computer Science
- BS in Information Technology
- MS in Information Technology
- Master of Business Administration
- MS Human Resource Management
Workplace learning
- Ethics and Business Goals for the Information Technology Professional
- Information Security Concepts for the IT Professional
- Enterprise Data Storage and Data Management
- Internetworking Architectures
- HRM Professional Internship
- BS Computer Science: Computer Science Capstone I
- BS Computer Science: Computer Science Capstone II
- BS IT Capstone: Information Technology Capstone I
- BS IT Capstone: Information Technology Capstone II
- MS IT Capstone: Applied Information Technology Project I
- MS IT Capstone: Applied Information Technology Project II
- MBA Capstone Experience
- Project Management Foundations
- Strategic Healthcare Planning
- Organizational Leadership and Governance
- Health Administration Capstone
- Healthcare Quality, Risk, and Regulatory Compliance
- Introduction to Health Information Systems
- Database Development and AI
- Application Development and AI
Experiential partners
- BS Computer Science: Computer Science Capstone I
- BS Computer Science: Computer Science Capstone II
- BS IT Capstone: Information Technology Capstone I
- BS IT Capstone: Information Technology Capstone II
- MS IT Capstone: Applied Information Technology Project I
- MS IT Capstone: Applied Information Technology Project II
- MBA Capstone Experience
- HRM Capstone: Improving and Transforming HR Practice
Workplace learning
- Current employer project
- Stretch assignments
- Job shadowing
- Case studies
Experiential partners
- Group projects
- Employer partner project
Questions about work-based learning? Start here.
Options for work-based learning at Capella depend on the program and course. In courses with an experiential partners component, faculty help match you to an organization to work on a real project. Otherwise, in select courses, you may be able to work on a project in your current workplace, completing a case study or stretch assignment. This may involve presenting a deep understanding of a complex issue you faced in your work environment and explaining how you navigated it.
“The primary benefit that I derived from this process was the ability to showcase my research abilities and take on additional projects similar to this in the future that could lead to advancement within my company. I also had the opportunity to present my project to both our local management and senior leadership teams using the process requirements in the capstone project: a detailed assessment and an executive summary in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.”
Capella offers two work-based learning options. With our experiential partners option, you’ll work on a semi-structured collaborative project with a Capella partner organization. You’ll get exposure to other work cultures, expand professional networks and gain new insights into the strategies and tactics of other organizations. Or, with our workplace learning option, you can apply your direct experience in your current workplace to your coursework. Connect with co-workers, network, influence projects – all while learning new skills. Get a better understanding of your role and organization and pursue your personal and professional goals.
How you demonstrate growth depends on the course objectives and the goals you and your instructor agree to at the beginning of the course. Building and delivering real work solutions, regular reflections, consistent engagement in the courseroom discussions and final presentations are all ways you can show how you’ve implemented courseroom learnings in an actual workplace setting.
Other ways to earn credit
Credit for prior learning
You may be eligible to earn credit toward your bachelor’s or master’s for your previous college-level learning, certifications and training acquired on the job.
Internship
You may be eligible to earn credit while gaining professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a career interest.
Transfer credit
Before starting at Capella, you may be able to transfer in credits you’ve earned from another accredited university.