Experiential Learning

At UT San Antonio, we’re committed to turning education into real‑world success through career‑engaged learning. Through the Classroom to Career initiative, our goal is for 75% of students to complete a hands-on learning experience before they walk across the stage at graduation. That’s not just a nice idea. It’s a commitment. From your first week on campus to the day you graduate, UT San Antonio gives you the opportunities, support, and tools to turn your degree into a career you’re excited about.

At its core, Classroom to Career is about building career readiness. It’s not just learning how to do a job, but developing the skills you need to succeed at work and manage your career over time. All our programs and opportunities help strengthen the following competencies:

• Self‑Development: Learn how to figure out what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and how to turn that into a career.
• Communication: Get better at explaining your ideas, speaking up, writing clearly, and listening to others to help you stand out in class, interviews, internships, and on the job.
• Critical Thinking: Learn how to solve real problems, make smart decisions, and think on your feet when things don’t go exactly as planned.
• Leadership: Learn how to take initiative, motivate others, and step up when it counts. Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a skill you build.
• Professionalism: Learn what it means to show up, follow through, manage your time, and be someone people can count on.
• Teamwork: Learn to collaborate, handle conflict, and contribute your strengths while working with others to reach shared goals, even when opinions differ.
• Technology: Learn how to use technology the right way to get work done faster and smarter. From digital tools to emerging tech, you’ll build skills that employers expect you to already know when you graduate.

Learning by doing is another way to say experiential learning. It is learning through experience. You test ideas. You build confidence. You figure out what you love and what you don’t. At UT San Antonio, that can look like:

• Internships with real employers
• Research alongside faculty
• Running a business idea or startup
• Leading student projects
• Serving the community
• Learning in new cities or countries

No two students are the same. That’s why UT San Antonio offers many different ways to connect college to your future. You choose what fits you. Below are several programs and experiences UT San Antonio offers it’s students:

Internships and Service Experiences

• Citymester program: Spend a summer in San Antonio, the nation’s 7th largest city, working with local nonprofits and businesses. You’ll complete a real internship, a service-learning project, and attend networking events across the city, all while building career skills you can put on a resume right away. “Thanks to UT San Antonio, I’ve gained the confidence, discipline and a sense of purpose to lead with integrity, stay civically engaged, and advocate for my community as I prepare for a future in law.” — Richard Lujan, cybersecurity major, interned with the District Attorney’s Office
• Advocacy Internship Program: Work alongside community organizations on real social challenges like homelessness, food insecurity, education, environmental issues, and more. This paid experience helps you connect your values to your career while building leadership and advocacy skills.
• Rowdy Corps Community Scholars: Work-study eligible students get paid internship placements at more than 45 nonprofit and government agencies across San Antonio. Beyond the work itself, you’ll gain leadership training, attend networking events, and complete service-learning projects — all designed to build a complete professional profile. “Being a part of the Rowdy Corps program helped me develop meaningful relationships that will last for years to come.” — Alinna Garcia ’23, worked at San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology
• UTSA Engaged: A platform connecting you with volunteer and service opportunities across more than 100 local nonprofit and public-serving agencies in San Antonio. Log your hours, find opportunities, and build a verified record of community engagement.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

• Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement: This is your home base for career development and entrepreneurship at UT San Antonio. No GPA requirement. No experience needed. No matter where you are in your journey, the Najim Center has a space for you. Students get access to project-based learning, paid consulting roles, mentorship, and programs that help launch real businesses. One example is the Najim Strategist program where you act as a paid consultant for local corporations, nonprofits, and startups. You’ll apply real project management skills to solve actual business challenges. Over 300 students have worked across 34 partner organizations since the program launched.
• Big Rowdy Idea: Have a business idea? Test it here. Open to all students, this competition teaches the Lean Startup method and gives you a platform to pitch real judges with cash prizes and feedback that can actually shape your venture.
• Start-Up Academy: A 10-week, cohort-based program covering financial literacy, customer discovery, and brand-building where you create and sell a real coffee venture. You’ll earn seed funding and donate profits to a local nonprofit. No experience required.
• Roadrunner Experience Showcase: Present your experiential learning story to faculty, employers, and peers. Since 2022, UT San Antonio has awarded nearly $70,000 to showcase participants.

Research and Academic Discovery

• Office of Undergraduate Research: UT San Antonio is a top 4% research university in the nation and you don’t have to wait until grad school to do serious research. The Office of Undergraduate Research connects you with faculty mentors, funding opportunities, and the kind of hands-on lab and field work that makes your grad school application or resume stand out. “I’ve been able to grow both as a researcher and mentor. I have been able to stretch my academic foundation to a whole new level and I know I will be ready for the workforce ahead.” — Ernesto Flores, physics major, presented at conferences
• Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship: A funded 10-week supervised research experience working directly with a UT San Antonio faculty mentor. Competitive, prestigious, and a huge boost for students headed to graduate school or careers in research.
• Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: Get help applying for the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, NSF, and Goldwater scholarships. In 2024 and 2025, four UT San Antonio students were named Goldwater Scholars, one of the most prestigious honors for undergrad researchers. Over six years, UT San Antonio has had more Goldwater recipients than any other university in Texas.

Global Experiences

• Office of Education Abroad : Step outside your comfort zone in a big way. UTSA offers programs taught by UTSA faculty abroad, exchange programs at foreign universities, and international internships — all listed through the UTSA Abroad portal. Employers consistently value candidates who have shown they can adapt to new environments, and a study abroad experience does exactly that. “As an environmental science major, Thailand represents a climate change frontier. My time abroad gave me a new perspective and appreciation of being part of the community and it solidified my career path in the nonprofit realm.” — Madeline Morales, Top Scholar
• Global Summer Institute: A 10-week immersive program where you work with real organizations and companies. Past cohorts worked with Yahoo! in New York (2025), a tech company in Berlin (2024), and the stock exchange in Buenos Aires (2023). You learn to solve real problems while building resilience and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Career Events and Networking

• University Career Center: The Career Center runs events year-round for students at every stage. Whether you’re a freshman just exploring or a senior ready to sign an offer, there’s something here for you:
  • All Majors Career Expo- Held every fall and spring. Meet employers across industries looking to hire for full-time roles and internships. Open to all majors and class levels.
  • STEM Career Expo – A dedicated fall and spring expo focused on science, tech, engineering, and math opportunities — full-time and internship alike.
  • CAREER-A-PALUTSA – A high-energy fall event where students connect with UT San Antonio offices and industry partners offering career resources, guidance, and networking. Open to everyone.
  • Part-time jobs & resource fair – Connects students with seasonal and part-time opportunities that fit around your class schedule.

Pre-Professional Programs

• Summer Law School Preparation Academy: A holistic summer pre-law program covering academics, LSAT prep, experiential learning, and advising. Designed to give you a real head start on law school. “Being in the summer prep academy gave me the ability to want to go to law school and get me started.…It was a very good starting point for me in this career.” – Judge Melissa Saenz ’07, now a Bexar County judge
• Health Professions Office: Thinking about med school, dental school, nursing, or another health profession? This office guides you through career exploration, application prep, and advising — from day one through your final application.

Leadership and Student Involvement

• Student Involvement Center: There’s a student org for almost every interest, identity, and career path. Joining the right one builds your resume, your network, and your sense of belonging on campus, all at once.
• Student Leadership Academy: A structured, tiered leadership program open to all majors. You’ll move from self-awareness and personal leadership to team leadership, earning official certifications along the way. Employers notice this. You’ll be able to articulate your leadership story with confidence.
• Student Government Association: Run for office or get involved in campus governance. Students like Aydan Villarreal worked their way from freshman senator to student body president building public speaking, collaboration, and leadership skills that carry directly into careers

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