Undergraduate Credit

Mission Year is pleased to offer you the opportunity to earn up to 12 academic credits through Eastern University. The Urban Issues I and II courses will relate your Mission Year experiences to theoretical content. The Field Experience and Internship courses provide an academic framework for experiential learning. Requirements consist of academic reading, short papers and journaling. Approved applicants will receive more information about course assignments and due dates. Course descriptions are available below.

These courses are geared toward urban studies and you may be able to use the units toward your major or as electives as determined by your home university (you must have completed at least two semesters and be planning to return). Our goal is to provide you a sound academic experience without compromising your Mission Year. You pay an initial application fee of $25 followed by a one-time administrative fee of $400. That's about $35 a unit! The application, the fees, and a letter from your university must be received by August 15th and Team Members will receive more information about course deadlines early in their Mission Year

For more information email Chris Lahr.

Downloads

College Credit Application: (.pdf)

Course Syllabi

Urban Issues I & II: (.pdf)
Urban Field Experience I & II: (.pdf)

College that have accepted the Mission Year credits so far...

Undergraduate Credit FAQs

Question: What college credit is available during Mission Year?

Response: Because of our collaboration with Eastern College students are able to receive 12 units of college credit at a very low cost. This involves three units of credit in four classes. Two of these classes are called Urban Issues 330 and two are called Urban Field Experience 395 & 495.

Question: What are the requirements for Mission Year academia?

Response: Students will be required to do all that is expected of the Mission Year program. Students will need to send their weekly reflections to Chris Lahr on a monthly basis. Students will also be required to complete five different papers.

Question: Do I have to do additional reading in order to fulfill the requirements for Mission Year Academia?

Response: The required reading for academic credit is the exact same as the Mission Year curriculum reading for Mission Year. Your City Director will provide all these books to you. In addition to these books you will be required to read “Pedagogy of the Oppressed, “ by Paulo Freire.

Question: How am I graded for these courses?

Response: Field Experience I (INST 395) is graded on Pass/fail basis Field Experience II (INST 495) and Urban Experience I & II (INST 330)

Question: I am doing Mission Year next year, and have some questions about the criteria for receiving college credit. I graduated from high school last month, and have not completed one semester of college. I have completed a total of six advanced placement classes, which count towards college credit hours if I receive a score higher than 3 on the exams. Will I be eligible for academic credit?

Response: You do not qualify for enrollment as an Eastern University Mission Year student because you are not currently enrolled as a student in good standing at another accredited college/university. You may not apply for credit at a later date. Advanced Placement credit is not a factor in your eligibility to earn college credits at Eastern through Mission Year.

Question: A student says she will be transferring from a community college after having completed her coursework there and then doing Mission Year. I assume that if she plans to transfer to Eastern she might be able to get the credit. Is that true?

Response: I do not see how we can accommodate this Mission Year volunteer unless she submits a letter from an academic officer confirming that the courses will transfer back to her university. (Not every college/university will accept Eastern’s Mission Year courses). This is the definition of a Transient Student. She is more likely to be able to get this letter from her transfer university if she applies, is accepted, and then defers her acceptance during her Mission Year. Alternatively she could see if her community college academic officer would write the letter confirming that the community college will accept the credits. You’ll most she’ll be able to use the credits on her Eastern transcript at her university as well.

Question: What if I change my mind and decide to transfer to another college?

Response: You’ll most likely be able to use the credits reflected on your Eastern transcript at any university you attend. Check with the university to confirm this.

Question: Is it possible that my university – or the university I intend to enroll at after Mission Year – will give me credit simply for participating in Mission Year without having to work with Eastern or write the papers? Could I get credit for graduate school? Could I get credit straight out of high school?

Response: It’s certainly worth a try. You’ll need to negotiate this directly with your university. We’ll respond to any questions from the university. We have had students do this successfully at both an undergraduate and graduate level. They are getting credit directly from the university and not through an Eastern transcript. Many colleges are willing to offer students some credit for “field experience” or “service learning”.

Question: Could I get college credit straight out of high school without having to work with Eastern or write the paper? I have no idea where I’ll go to college in the future.

Response: You may want to check if your local community college offers “field experience” courses that can be fulfilled online. Often these courses only require documentation of your service and could be completed long distance while paying in state tuition.

Question: Can I get financial aid?

Response: It is not possible to get financial aid but the total cost is only $425 (about $35 a credit) and your living expenses are covered by Mission Year. So it’s a pretty remarkable deal.

Question: Will I be considered a full-time student for insurance purposes?

Response: Typically a full-time student is taking at least 12 units in a semester. Academic Credit participants are taking only six units a semester. Check with your insurance company about their requirements.

Question: How do a get my transcript from Eastern?

Response: Eastern’s registrar, Diana Bacci, will send unofficial transcripts to the student’s permanent address at the end of each term. She will send official transcripts to the student’s home college/university at the end of the academic year.

Where to Go Next...

Finish a Masters Degree in one year after Mission Year!