Compass Program
The Compass Program is Piedmont College’s experiential learning component which gives students the opportunity to customize their education and gain “real world” experience that will make them more marketable to employers and graduate schools. The emphasis in experiential learning is on personal growth and development, learning to be a leader, connecting what you learn in class to what you need to be successful in your career, and broadening your professional horizons.
The mission of the Compass Program is to expand students’ learning opportunities outside the classroom by interacting with the community, exploring options, and learning skills to navigate and participate in life after college.
Approved experiential learning projects include but are not limited to internships and job-shadowing opportunities, on-campus leadership positions, peer mentoring programs, tutoring, participation in an Alternative Spring Break or Maymester, participation in an academic, musical, dramatic or artistic competition or production, and co-curricular independent research.
The Compass Program is a graduation requirement. Students enrolled at Piedmont for all four of the undergraduate years (96-120 credit hours) are required to complete 45 hours of experiential learning projects. Transfer students who are required to take Piedmont 1101 (transferring with fewer than 24 credit hours) are also required to complete 45 project hours. Transfer students who are not required to take Piedmont 1101 (transferring with more than 24 credit hours) are required to complete 30 project hours. Students who complete 90 or more project hours are eligible for the Compass Program Honor Society.
Students may be exempted from the Compass Program graduation requirement for the following reason(s):
Active military or military veteran
3+ Years of full-time professional work experience while not enrolled as a student
Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
Participation in Piedmont’s engineering or law dual degree programs
Enrolled as a Junior or Senior in a Piedmont College program that includes a clinical, practicum or internship requirement, such as nursing, health sciences and education
Questions may be emailed to compass@piedmont.edu.