This unique program offers students opportunities to enrich and extend their studies at Emma Willard through academic and non-academic experiences available on and off campus. Projects are pursued in several ways. In exceptional cases, Practicum projects are used to fulfill distribution requirements. Each Practicum experience is an integral part of a student's schedule, planned with the guidance of the Practicum director and the approval of the student's academic advisor. Projects earn academic credit, with the number of units determined by the Practicum director.
Students explore possible careers through internships or gain academic credit for volunteer service.
Recently interns have been placed in science labs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the State University of New York, at veterinary clinics, at radio stations and television studios, and at the newsroom at the Troy Record. Emma Willard also regularly places volunteers in local hospitals, child and senior day care centers, and a variety of human service agencies. Practicum also enables students to pursue academic interests not covered by the Emma Willard curriculum. Students pursue courses at local universities or community colleges, engage private instructors, or attend classes on campus as designed by the Practicum director or other faculty members. Current students are enrolled in college math, have attended the RPI Theater Institute and the Empire State Youth Orchestra, and have visited private instructors for lessons in oboe, guitar, voice, horseback riding, and ice skating.