This Student-Originated Studies (SOS) program is intended for upper-level students with a background in community-based learning, who have made arrangements to carry out a focused project within an organized community center, workshop, agency, organization, or school setting. Community projects are to be carried out through internships, mentoring situations, or apprenticeships that support students’ interests in community development. Students will submit weekly written progress/reflection reports, and will meet as a whole group in a weekly seminar on Wednesday mornings to share successes and challenges, and to discuss occasional short readings. Students will also organize small interest/support groups to discuss their specific projects and to collaborate on a final presentation. Occasionally, seminars will be replaced with relevant campus and community workshops or events. The program is connected to Evergreen's Center for Community-Based Learning and Action (CCBLA). As such, this program benefits from the rich resource library, staff, internship suggestions, and workshops offered through the Center.

The range of activities suited to this program includes working in an official capacity as an intern with defined duties at a community agency, organization, or school; working with one or more community members (elders, mentors, artists, teachers, skilled laborers, community organizers) to learn about a special line of work or skills that enrich the community as a whole; or designing a community action plan or case study aimed at problem solving a particular community challenge or need.

A combination of internship and academic credit will be awarded in this program. Students may arrange an internship of up to 30 hours a week for a 12-credit internship. Four academic credits will be awarded for seminar participation and weekly journal writing. Students may distribute their program credits to include less than 12 credits of internship when accompanying research, reading, and writing credits associated with their community work are included.