Special Opportunities

An Elmhurst education is about much more than teachers and classrooms.

From trips to urban and suburban centers to political campaigning, our co-curricular opportunities will stimulate your mind and put what you learn into practice.

The World is Your Classroom

At Elmhurst, the world is your classroom. Our urban studies students have toured Europe nine times, visited Russia five times, and traveled to Australia and New Zealand twice. Tours are packed with meetings with city officials and visits to municipal offices and facilities.

Minutes Away From a World-Class City

Even closer to campus, downtown Chicago offers job opportunities, internship prospects, landmarks, and historic sites. You’ll learn about local government by attending meetings and hearings, or interviewing city officials. Area leaders, including congressmen, senators, and mayors, often visit the Elmhurst campus to share their experiences with students.

Elmhurst University participates in the Chicago Semester Program, which combines an internship with relevant course work in a downtown setting with students from the Chicago area.

Internships and Campaigns

Most students participate in an internship—a great opportunity to test abstract theories and gain first-hand insight into classroom issues. You may also participate in a political campaign for office. This kind of field work offers unbeatable insight into the political process and understanding of campaign issues that affect cities and suburbs. In the past, Elmhurst students have worked on campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the Illinois state legislature, and the presidency.

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