![Hero Image](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea886ff2201e5eb/662a7fa5811ead1fb60bcc99_IMG_1254-2.jpg)
The Practicum
Discipling our human doing through hands on experience in the field of your choice.
Soft skills & marketplace development
Apprenticeships, internships, & independent study
Build Your Own Path to the Marketplace
In the Core, you discover what it means to be a human being and build a framework to understand God's story. Now it's time to play your part in it. In the Practicum, you discover your human doing. You will discover your passions, gifts and talents and craft a plan to build marketable skills through hands-on experience in the field of your choice. Our unique approach empowers you (in collaboration with our team of mentors and coaches) to create your own customized path into the marketplace, all the while becoming a wise, mature and productive adult. At the end, you'll graduate with a full resume. Scrolling are some of the existing practicum tracks our students have done or are currently doing. You can choose from one of our extensive list of programs or add to our ever-growing network with a practicum track that YOU pioneer.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea886ff2201e5eb/667f655af63d48d8d792481d_DNA%20-%20Core%20Strand%201-3-19.png)
Students in the Marketplace
Below are just a few examples of recent graduates showcasing what their practicum track entailed. We call these tracks "emphases". Click "Learn More" to see what your dossier will look like when you graduate after acheiving your unique emphasis.
Matthew Conlin
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/65241261b753c88bf7d777fa_Matt%20Conlin.jpeg)
Fueled by a desire to make a difference in wilderness settings, I pursued an associate's degree in Emergency Medical Science and worked diligently to obtain my Paramedic Certification. Along the way, I was honored to be elected class president, a role that allowed me to bridge communication between faculty and students while also earning my BLS, PALS, and ACLS certifications.Over the past three years, I've had the privilege to serve at Buncombe County EMS in both full-time and part-time positions. I've been trained as a Community Paramedic, and I take great pride in my role as a BLS instructor, where I've had the opportunity to teach several BLS and CPR classes.
Danielle Walz
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/6524146932866ca48bffcbb3_Danielle.png)
I have served at Radius Chiropractic for almost 3 years now as a Chiropractic Assistant. This role has allowed me to grow my administrative skills in a medical office environment while serving the greater community of Asheville. Prior training for this position required a 6 month onboarding process that consisted of online training module videos, in person shadow experience, reading books and other online resources, and in person science training from local physicians and professionals.
Luca Williams
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/652414d8bb99ef5d05607cca_Luca.jpeg)
Between 2021 and 2023, I attended Excel College — a bachelor’s program that offered me a life-changing, holistic education. Having challenged my mind, body, and soul, and having prepared me for a vocation of data analytics and data management, I’ve begun the process of living a “well examined life” by way of seeking the good, the true, and the beautiful in all scenarios, interactions and people. I’ve become proficient in the application of tools to enable my curiosity and I hope to continue to solve problems and bring awareness in a way that causes the world, the people around me, and my community to flourish.
Katie Schmidt
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/6524160d80eb7df46a6340d6_1H5A1170.jpg)
In my role as a Social Media Manager at Provisions Mercantile and Radius Chiropractic, I have gained immense knowledge on content creation, marketing strategies, and marketing execution. One of the key strengths I have developed is creating effective content strategies that align with the brand's objectives and target audience. I have honed my skill of discovering trends early on and customizing them to fit the company's brand. This helps the business reach their niche audience and stay relevant in the ever-changing realm of social media marketing. This has allowed me to build authentic connections with my audience while producing measurable results.
Elisabeth Schneider
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/6524152f90b8e5d7d3b16a3e_Lizard.jpeg)
I attended Excel College from 2020 to 2023 where I received a holistic education that equipped me to collaborate, create, and problem solve not only in a classroom setting, but also in multiple community contexts. My time there challenged me to grow in confidence and leadership by learning to disciple my peers, lead corporate worship, and maintain flexibility in tending to the daily practicalities of life. My hope is to use these skills and insight to develop creativity and flourishing in any community I have the opportunity to be a part of.
Stephen Barton
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea88649c901e61c/652414bd5710c10a991d3c07_1H5A6378.jpg)
In my time, I got to see from a micro and macro point of view what the challenges look like when organizations face company-wide growth. Operating in all four stages of product development I, myself, had to overcome the challenges of self-education within new programs and processes that were needed for the team. I sought guidance from my peers and during my internship I brought the first solely “fishing” oriented product from customer research to live product launch for the company primarily by myself. Today, the product I launched can be found on Diamondbacks accessories page as the Yakima DoubleHaul.
How We Do It:
The Process
Step 1
Discover
Start your Journey
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea886ff2201e5eb/63f3c5b6fc1240210a204eb8_5D4_3515.jpg)
The Discovery stage actually begins during Phase 1. While Phase 1 focuses on the classroom, this phase also plays a big role in your journey to the marketplace through soft skills training. You'll be working a job to earn a wage and build professional skills, all the while working with your personal coach to discover your strengths, giftings, and passions. You'll utilize best-in-class personality tools like DISC and Strengths Finders, explore your work history to uncover what made you come alive in previous workplaces, and highlight areas you thrived. Coaches will walk with you through questions such as: What skills do you want to learn/become proficient in? Why do you want to pursue this emphasis? After finding the answers to these questions, our team will connect you with employers that you're interested in so you can shadow them before diving in.
Step 2
Plan
Craft a Plan
After discovering your passions, gifts, and talents, you'll choose a field to emphasize in for Phase 2 and we will work with you and your employer to craft a personalized plan to achieve proficiency in that field. This way, you can stay focused on achieving outcomes that are set by professional mentors in the field - not just passing tests.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea886ff2201e5eb/640ce3839747f40a0ec06da1_1H5A5152.jpg)
All the while, you'll be prepared for life in the marketplace through learning important soft skills, such as: financial stewardship, time management, attitude in the workplace, leadership skills, communication, and how to set yourself apart in the workplace.
Step 3
Advance
Get Hands On Experience
The most important part of any plan is execution. In the Advance Stage, you’ll spend the majority of your time in your internship, apprenticeship, or independent research study developing the skills you need to succeed in the marketplace.
At the same time, you'll be walking with your classmates and coach through the Core curriculum - but this time, backwards, discovering and walking out the virtues of each module. After all, if we begin with God, we also end with Him.
Throughout the process you'll receive regular feedback from your employer as you self assess your growth in the industry. You will finish your practicum with a Capstone semester where you will complete your professional portfolio (aka dossier) highlighting your completed outcomes. At the end, you'll graduate with a resume.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61528645bea886ff2201e5eb/640ce484bc45fd1891328909_5D4_4981%20(1).jpg)
Find Other Helpful Resources
Want to learn more or have other questions? Feel free to contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.