Service Learning in Information Technology Leadership: A Natural Connection

Recent surveys document the growth of service learning on American campuses, whether through college-wide initiatives that encourage or require student involvement in community projects or through faculty-initiated, course-based academic structures. But there is little data on the number of academic majors that include service learning as a graduation requirement. The information technology leadership (ITL) major at Washington and Jefferson College (W&J), created in spring 2002, incorporates service learning in its required capstone course, ITL 400. Requiring service as part of the major enhances the benefits to the department and the community that usually accompany service courses.