Academic Programs
There is quite a range of courses that you can take at Southern Virginia University. Classes vary in discipline, of course, but also in personality, teaching style, difficulty, presentation, and modes of delivery. Some classes give you a little more opportunity to explore and have an adventure.
As a Biologist and Environmental enthusiast, I enjoy taking my classes outside as much as possible. As it turns out, SVU sits in a beautiful location for outdoor adventure, especially, but we also have a lot of opportunities to connect with the community in general. Assignments with these connections are often referred to as “experiential learning.”
What better way to learn than with hands-on, applicable, and relevant experiences that could connect you with jobs, internships, or even a future career?
Many of our students use these experiential learning opportunities to springboard into their next steps after completing their degree. Here are a few of the classes I teach, along with examples of what students have done in them.
BIO 126: Environmental Science - Students complete an environmentally themed service project in the community as their term project, paper, and final presentation. Students have organized charity basketball tournaments, planted trees across campus, organized trail maintenance events, and cleaned up 100s of pounds of trash.
PER 175R: Birdwatching - This class is typically taught by Dr. Scott Dransfield, but I have taught it in the summer as well. Dr. Dransfield has an amazing eye for even the smallest and most evasive birds. He also knows the right times and locations to spot migrating warblers or bald eagles. This is a popular class, so make sure to sign up before it's full!
PER 119: Hiking - Did you know Buena Vista is about 20 minutes away from 3 different trailheads along the Appalachian Trail? There are also plenty of mountain top views, waterfalls, or densely wooded hikes close by. A semester is certainly not long enough to go on all the hikes, but this class will take you to some beautiful places. I recommend taking it in fall to catch the beautiful autumn foliage!
BIO 360: Ecology - This course requires an ecological research project for Biology majors. Students determine their own research on plants and animals in the area to collect and analyze data on a number of exciting projects, including extracting stress hormones from bat fur, collecting data on deer movements using game cameras, comparing salamander densities in urban and forested settings, and cataloging insects in invasive Japanese stiltgrass.
BIO 156/356 Marine Biology - It doesn’t seem like the Appalachian Mountains would be an ideal place to study the ocean, but the largest reservoir in the US is only a few-hour drive from SVU. In this class, we go to a research station in Horn Point, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay and complete a research project, study and collect marine specimens, and take a tour of an oyster hatchery! This class also counts as a life science credit, so it’s available to non-science majors as well.
Travel Study - Opportunities to travel are becoming more frequent post-COVID both within the US and traveling to another country. I’ve taken students on two international trips, the latest was working with sea turtles in Costa Rica. Pura Vida! Keep your eye out for opportunities to travel and get credit.
These aren’t the only “experiential learning” activities you’ll see on campus. This kind of hands-on connection to a subject shows up in many courses across campus and is increasingly being emphasized as professors build more connections with professionals. You don’t have to wait for classes to build these experiences; stop by the Launch Center and see what other internships, jobs, or volunteer opportunities are available for you anytime. You can also join clubs, events, and other campus services to get even more involved. And if nothing else, stop by your professor or advisor’s office, and they can help point you in the direction of your next adventure!
Dr. Sam Hirt
105 Academic Center