Compass Program
The Compass Program is Piedmont College’s experiential learning component. Experiential learning takes place outside of the classroom. It promotes interdisciplinary learning, civic engagement, career development, cultural awareness, leadership and other professional and intellectual skills. It allows students to take initiative, make decisions, and be accountable for the results.
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.
Over the course of their college career, students design and manage projects involving 45 hours or more of service-learning, social ethics, creativity and innovation, cultural awareness, vocation or leadership experiences to explore new opportunities or to apply concepts, skills and ideas learned in the classroom. Opportunities are limited only by the students’ imagination, but typically include job shadowing, co-curricular internship opportunities, assuming a leadership role in a volunteer event, individual research projects, mission work, travel abroad and on-campus leadership opportunities such as Student Government Association and TEAM Piedmont. Based on the scope of the project, students earn either 15 or 30 hours of Compass credit.
Projects are structured to address the six core competencies identified by employers:
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Oral/Written Communications
- Leadership
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Information Technology Application
- Professionalism/Work Ethic
Participation in 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 earn 45 hours of Compass credit. Transfer students who are required to take Piedmont 1101 (transferring with fewer than 24 credit hours) are also required to earn 45 hours of Compass credit. Transfer students who are not required to take Piedmont 1101 (transferring with more than 24 credit hours) are required to earn 30 hours of Compass credit. Degree completion students enrolling with more than 60 credit hours are required to earn 30 hours of Compass credit. Students who complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (dual degree program with Georgia Tech) or Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science (dual degree program with Kennesaw State University) are required to earn 30 ours of Compass credit.
Questions may be emailed to
compass@piedmont.edu.