Experiential Learning

It was around 350 BC that Aristotle wrote, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." An ancient idea, for sure, but nowhere does it take on more present-day importance than at St. Bonaventure University.

A student teacher reading to elementary students

Internships, student teaching & service learning

Many of our students have literally hundreds of hours of on-the-job experience by the time they graduate. They're career ready, and raring to go.

Our education majors are working alongside teachers in local schools beginning freshman year. They will accumulate as many as 250 actual classroom hours before they even begin their student-teaching experience.

Students in our Jandoli School of Communication must serve 400 hours of internships before they graduate. It's a big number, but it comes with a big payoff. Many Jandoli School graduates working in communication today will tell you the internship requirement helped land their first job.

Accounting, marketing and management majors in our School of Business put their education to work serving internships on campus and off, including with such high profile firms as KPMG, Xerox and Cutco Corp.

Visit our individual school and academic program pages for information on academic-related internships and experiential learning opportunities.

Our Franciscan Center for Social Concern presents students with many opportunities to serve others, from local youngsters in need of a companion to hungry and homeless adults looking for a hot meal and a friendly face. A St. Bonaventure education is informed by our Franciscan tradition, and is the reason many graduates leave here having learned the importance of giving back, and firmly committed to a lifetime of service and citizenship.

A study abroad student at the ruins of Pompei, Italy

Brooke Saffire, '19, at the ruins of Pompei as part of our study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy.

Study abroad: More than just a trip overseas

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the best part of your college career, and a life-altering experience, all rolled up into one fantastic and unforgettable journey.

We offer a number of exciting and educational summer study abroad programs through the university and various academic departments, including the prestigious Francis E. Kelley Oxford Program, a six-week experience in which students study at the world-famous Oxford University.

There are also St. Bonaventure affiliated summer programs in China; Spain; Sorrento, Italy; Perugia, Italy; and Japan.

In addition, we partner with CEA, a leader in the study abroad industry, to provide our students with semester-based study abroad programs in Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, and a host of other nations.

Learn more at STUDY ABROAD.