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Exploration Terms in Service-Learning

Month-long courses offered in January to facilitate learning about issues of social concern through service, training and discussion.

Formerly known as “Interims” Exploration Terms are Month-long courses offered in January to facilitate learning about issues of social concern through service, training and discussion.

For more than 20 years, BSC students, faculty and staff served their community, country and world in diverse locations such as the Woodlawn neighborhood of Birmingham, San Francisco, Honduras, India, Brazil, Mozambique and Harlem, N.Y. Students are selected in the spring through an application process and spend the fall semester in weekly orientation meetings, and fundraising projects. Students research the host country's people, culture and religion, as well as engage in training and team-building exercises. Evaluation is based on participation in the orientation sessions, a pre-trip presentation and on-site performance.

Recently, the Bunting Center organized two exploration term service trips. One group spent a month in Woodlawn and West End here in Birmingham. The Woodlawn team explored the impact and causes of poverty by working with poverty fighting organizations here in Birmingham. A second Bunting Center exploration team was a partnership with BSC’s education department. The team traveled to Ghana to work with the Bakpa Avedo School, a K-8 school in the Togo area of Ghana.

Mozambique

2012 Ghana Exploration Term
2012 Woodlawn/ West End Exploration Term
2010 Interim Blog
2009 Interim Journal Entries
2008 Interim Journal Entries

How can I participate?

Students are selected in the spring through an application process and spend the fall attending weekly preparation meetings. They research topics related to the host country, its people, culture, and religion, and engage in training and team-building exercises, fundraising and a Fall Break Retreat. Exploration Terms take place each January.

Students can also find assistance for contracting individualized interim projects serving in communities around the city, nation, and world. For more information, contact the Bunting Center staff.