Quinnipiac University
Commonly Searched Terms
Popular Resources
Quinnipiac University

Experiential Learning

Your learning will take you to some of the most intriguing and inspiring places, from around the corner to around the world. Studying and working outside the classroom challenges you — and changes you. The experiences make you more confident, more independent and better prepared for whatever profession you pursue.

Apply Request Info Visit

Beyond the walls — and borders

At Quinnipiac, a world-sized classroom is a concept that is critical to a transformative student experience. It includes internships, clinical work, service learning programs, guided research, student organizations and multidisciplinary projects — and more.

It means hundreds of internship sites available to our business students; inner-city schools where our education students teach; research sites in Hungary and Mexico; universities in Ireland and Australia, and museums in Italy. It includes farms an hour from campus, where our students perform health screenings for migrant workers. It means raising more than a quarter of a million dollars to help fight childhood cancer through QTHON, one of our more than 150 student-run groups.

It’s this experiential learning that will prepare you to be an engaged, culturally aware citizen, while learning the kinds of adaptable skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

A group of Quinnipiac students stand on a ledge high above the city of Barcelona, Spain

Study Abroad

Here you’ll join an extensive network of programs and partnerships that extend your reach across the United States and throughout the globe. See the world by participating in one of our programs in 32 different countries. Intern at NBC Entertainment or the "Conan" show in our semester-long Quinnipiac University in Los Angeles program, or get involved with politics with our Quinnipiac University in Washington, D.C. program. We'll connect you with unique environments where you'll apply your learning, acquire professional skills and learn about yourself in the process.

Explore study abroad opportunities

Internships and Clinicals

Management alumna Brittany Hayles poses in front of Google's headquarters in California

Start building your career before you graduate

Internships and clinicals are about much more than earning a few mandatory credits while “getting your feet wet.” In a modern, globalized economy, employers across industries value hands-on experience and a proven track record from young job recruits. As such, we recognize the importance of professional exposure in a modern education, and we take your internship and clinical placement very seriously.

The Quinnipiac network spans countries and industries — and continues to grow. Each year, we help students from all schools and academic disciplines secure internships and clinicals at thousands of globally recognized companies, organizations and firms. They develop their leadership skills and technological expertise at innovative giants such as Google and Comcast; they work alongside doctors, nurses and other health care professionals at St. Vincent's Medical Center; they contribute to newscasts at major networks such CBS, NBC and ESPN; and they learn innovative public relations and marketing strategies used at HarperCollins Publishers and Disney.

In addition to traditional internship and clinical placements, special semester-long programs, such as our Quinnipiac University in Los Angeles program, allow students to intern — and live — in the vast media and entertainment mecca that is LA. QU in LA, as well as our international internships offer not only industry exposure, but complete cultural immersion.

Whatever your major, professional internships and clinicals are the key to bridging your current passion to your future profession. In many instances, our students are offered full-time positions at their internship and clinical locations after they graduate, proving readiness to tackle challenges in any professional environment confidently and competently.

Two students examine human bones as part of a research trip

Centers and Institutes

We have identified specific areas of excellence where our students interact with researchers and professionals at the leading edges of their disciplines. From humanitarian service to entrepreneurism and innovation, our 20 centers and institutes open doors to amazing opportunities for you to intern, study, work and conduct research — both on campus and in countries around the world. That means, you'll have the chance to learn from the best minds in their fields.

Centers and Institutes
Students throw a giant neon green and orange beach ball around during a dance marathon competition

Student Groups

We offer more than 150 student-run groups, where you’ll have the opportunity to join students with diverse backgrounds who have a common passion. Whether that’s Student Government Association, Psychology Club or joining a sorority or fraternity, you’ll find a way to connect with others who share your interest. And it doesn’t stop there. If the group you want to join doesn’t exist, we’ll support you in creating it. It’s up to you what you’ll do.

Explore student groups

Capstone Projects

Two engineering students gesturing toward equipment in a lab, starts video
In the School of Engineering, every student completes a Senior Design Project that incorporates real clients and problems, and simulates a project that they might encounter their first day on the job.

Your crowning achievement

Like every Quinnipiac student, your academic experience here will culminate in an integrative capstone project that illustrates the depth of your knowledge and skill not only to your professors and peers, but also to potential future employers.

We know that each academic program — and student — is unique, and therefore no two capstone projects are the same in scope or execution. Communications and media studies students may produce a documentary over four years that showcases their visual storytelling ability, while students in civil engineering may spend the bulk of their senior year working with a local environmental agency. Capstones also can be collaborative and interdisciplinary, allowing you to contribute your expertise to a greater project alongside peers from several other majors. Your adviser will work closely with you to map out exactly what your project will look like — and it will become your crowning achievement.

Your capstone is a true passion project that synthesizes every bit of knowledge you’ve acquired and allows you to do or create something impactful with it. Moreover, it stands as a testament of your capabilities and growth from curious student to an extraordinarily well-prepared professional.

Competitions and Conferences

National competitions and professional conferences enable students from all academic disciplines to address real world issues, present their own research and match their expertise against the brightest minds from other nationally ranked universities across the country. Moreover, they have the chance to earn their first of many publication credits and be regarded as peers by veteran scholars and other leaders in their fields — all of which are great resume builders that employers look for.

These events allow you to represent Quinnipiac on the national stage and open doors to powerful networks, membership to professional organizations and a many other professional resources. Below are just a few competitions and conferences you can take advantage of each year:

  • American Mock Trial Association Competition
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Student Design Competition
  • Global Game Jam
  • National Student Advertising Competition
  • New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) Challenge
  • Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition (NISC)
  • Quinnipiac University App Development Hack-a-Thon
  • Rotman Financial Trading Competition
  • Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Case Competition

  • American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress
  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing annual summit
  • American Marketing Association Conference
  • Center for Women and Business, Professional Development Seminars
  • National Student Nurses Association annual meeting
  • Pediatric Medical Student Research Forum
  • Quinnipiac Global Asset Management Education (G.A.M.E.) Forum
  • Society for American Archaeology Conference

Business students get in the GAME

A business student introduces speakers at the GAME Forum in New York City

Quinnipiac GAME Forum

What’s the name of the game? Getting hands-on experience that translates into real-world success. Each year, 40 or so Quinnipiac business students play an integral role in organizing the annual GAME Forum, a three-day conference held in New York City that brings together the sharpest minds in the finance world. This engaging event — the largest, student-run financial conference in the world — draws more than 1,200 students and faculty from more than 150 colleges and universities. GAME Forum participants hear 140 high-level speakers sound off on everything from investment strategies to the role of social media in the stock market.

QU students, who act as hosts at the event, have the chance to get up close and personal with these finance superstars by participating in Q&A sessions, and attending breakout discussions and workshops on everything from investing to career development.

Learn more about GAME Forum

Serving the Community

Screenshot of students presenting virtually on projects day
Quinnipiac engineering student-designed projects enhance quality of life in the community
Quinnipiac engineering students put their skills to the test during the spring semester, gaining practical experience while enhancing the quality of life in New Haven County and across Connecticut.
Read More
Apply Request Info Visit