RISE for Students

Most students don’t engage in authentic research until their senior year of college or grad school. But BC offers classes that allow you to do real research RIGHT NOW.  In addition to building professional skills, these courses give you a chance to take charge of your own learning. Students who have taken these courses report massively increased confidence in solving problems and working independently. You’ll also build relationships with faculty who can serve as professional references and provide evidence of your research skills.

To find these classes, go to the Class Search webpage and then select “Undergraduate Research Experience” from the Class Attribute dropdown menu.

There are also Off-Campus Research Opportunities:

• UW Undergraduate Research Symposium – each Spring, BC sends groups of students to present their research at the US’s largest undergraduate research symposium. If you’re interested in presenting your research at this conference, please email Alex Berger.
• Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates
• Research and Internship Opportunities for Undergraduates
• Community College Internships with the Department of Energy

Community-Engaged & Civic Education (CECE) courses allow you to apply what you’re learning in class to the real world. In essence, the community becomes another textbook on your way to meeting the goals of your course. CECE courses gets you out into the surrounding community (or maybe bring the community into the classroom) to help meet the needs of a non-profit, government, academic, or faith-based agency while also increasing your understanding of the topics in your class. CECE courses include traditional service-learning (volunteering as a part of your course), community-engaged research, civic action, and more.

Transcript Notation

Service-Learning — meaningfully contributing to the community as a part of the class and reflecting on your learning — looks awesome on your resume…and on your transcript!  Certain courses below may meet rigorous standards and thus provide you an opportunity to earn a special notation on your transcript.  This notation will be helpful for you when applying for jobs or transferring to other institutions.

Not all CECE courses meet the rigorous standards required to qualify for the transcript notation. Ask your instructor whether the course gives you the chance to earn the CECE transcript notation.

The Academic Internship Program helps students in all majors connect to internship opportunities. They can also help you earn college credit for an existing internship.

Students and faculty participating in our various cohort programs build learning communities through which students learn and grow together over multiple quarters in collaborative, supportive environments.

The cohort programs consist of academic opportunities over one year, and often beyond to two or three years. Students take one or more courses together, building their leadership and team skills, reflecting on personal growth and civic responsibility, and practicing critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and analytic skills. These courses also focus on the skills, networks, and mindsets necessary to succeed in the careers the individual students choose for their future beyond Bellevue College.

RISE offers 2 exciting cohort programs.

Neurodiversity Navigators

The Neurodiversity Navigators (formerly Autism Spectrum Navigators) program offers educational opportunities along with individualized advocacy and access services for Neurodivergent Bellevue College students.

STEM to Stern

STEM to Stern is a 2-year-long cohort program that accelerates the growth of students in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The cohort is a supportive learning community and a powerful resource where you will learn skills and make connections that will help you succeed as a STEM student and STEM professional.