Holy Cross students know that a liberal arts education differs from a specialized or technical degree in that it prepares students for a broader range of career choices, for higher levels of critical thinking, and for the pressure to adapt and adjust to new circumstances in their chosen profession.
This belief is put to the test every day through experiential learning opportunities that take place both on and off campus, and integrating these into a student’s liberal arts education requires more than providing a range of opportunities for learning outside the classroom.
This experience might be a student-designed project or a research opportunity; a study abroad experience; a focused commitment to a community organization or activity; an internship or semester program related to their vocational interests; or an “entrepreneurial” opportunity that integrates skills and academic interests with an engagement in the world. As a Jesuit institution, we also expect that every student will develop the capacity to be reflective about the opportunities they are choosing, the skills and capabilities they are developing, and the connections between their academic and cocurricular experiences as well as between their undergraduate and post-graduate goals.
The Donelan Office connects students and faculty with community partners who help students learn while they serve. For students pursuing a life of civic engagement or a career in the non-profit sector, community-based learning is a chance to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to immediate problems.
Holy Cross’ highly selective Washington Semester Program place students in intensive internships, supplemented by small seminars and capstone projects.
Semester Away options also exist for students seeking to study at another higher education institution within the United States or Canada in order to access specialized academic opportunities not available at Holy Cross.
The Academic Internship Program grants academic credit for internships of a minimum of eight hours per week, plus successful completion of a relevant internship seminar.
Holy Cross' summer research program is one of the most ambitious such programs in the country. Students in every major and from each class year spend nine weeks working full time on a faculty project, or on a project of their own design.
Through participation in our award-winning Moot Court, Mock Trial, and Mediation teams, students put their critical thinking and oral communication skills into action.