Experiential Learning

Real-world Issues, Real-life Implementation

Presidio Graduate School doesn't just teach sustainability theories and concepts—we engage our students in real-world issues and real-life implementation. Our graduates gain competencies and professional experience relevant to a rapidly changing world through “learning by doing,” what we call Experiential Learning. Working on actual sustainable management projects, students demonstrate their learning by delivering results to clients and partners. An evolving field, we believe sustainability education requires hands-on learning integrated into every aspect of the curriculum.

Experiential Learning is a hallmark of Presidio’s curriculum design, allowing Presidio students to graduate with a robust résumé of professional accomplishments and connections.

Students in degree programs work in a variety of courses—from strategy and finance to policy and marketing—with partner organizations and companies on projects that build, enhance and extend their classroom learning (see How it Works for more information). Presidio works with a growing number of local and global partners that value our students’ unique skills and perspective in tackling management challenges. Organizations range from start-up businesses and government agencies to Fortune 500 companies such as Wal-Mart, Hewlett Packard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cisco, IDEO, Sun Energy and the City of San Francisco’s Environment Department.

Throughout the curriculum, students have the opportunity to develop skills through relevant, practical assignments. Degree programs culminate with students crafting a strategic business or policy plan for turning their ideas into action while demonstrating mastery of sustainable management competencies. Some Presidio students choose to launch these ventures after they graduate; others use the experience as solid preparation for other career goals they want to pursue.

In our Executive Certificate program, theory is also connected with practice through a learning lab or incubator component designed to help turn opportunities and ideas into tangible business or policy plans. Projects span a variety of areas including consumer product design, cleantech and nonprofit management.