Quinnipiac University

BS in Civil Engineering Experiential Learning

Experiential learning at Quinnipiac offers multiple opportunities to apply your knowledge through hands-on work, service and exploration, preparing you for success in 21st-century careers. With an abundance of resources, internship opportunities and career-focused guidance, you'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge that distinguish you to employers and pave the way for long-term success.

Showcase Your Designs

Before graduating from the School of Computing & Engineering, every student is required to complete a Senior Design Project. This culmination of their time at Quinnipiac incorporates real clients and problems and simulates a project that they might encounter the first day on the job.

Projects Day

Projects Day is designed to showcase and celebrate our students’ hard work and achievements from real-world projects completed during the spring semester. Mentored by professionals in the industry, students assemble into design teams, choose topics and bring their ideas to life.

Learn more about Projects Day

Civil Engineering Projects

This research project investigates environmentally friendly alternatives for deicing road salts (NaCl or sodium chloride) to determine if these alternatives will cause the release of heavy metals from the bioswales. The study also investigates lower concentrations of sodium chloride to establish safe levels of road salt use in sensitive watersheds or ecosystems.

Student Lead: Mackenzie Guthrie

Adviser: Professor John Greenleaf

Lake Whitney Dam, which was constructed in 1860, must be rehabilitated to meet current demands and safety standards. As part of this effort, we designed a temporary cofferdam upstream of the existing dam. Soil parameters were used to calculate lateral earth pressures and ensure stability. Fill material, such as rip rap and gravel, was chosen to meet hydraulic constraints. A broad-crested weir was designed to maintain flow downstream to the water treatment plant.

Student Team Members: Joe D’Adamo, Grace Davis, Nolan Kus, Brendan McNally, Martin Radeny

Advisers: Professor Ari Perez, Professor Priscilla Fonseca

Client: Regional Water Authority

Located in Maspeth, Queens, Shaft 18B will serve as a new connection to the existing NYC Water Supply Tunnel. Our group was tasked with designing a retaining wall to protect the adjacent Long Island Railroad to ensure it can remain operational during the drilling and blasting of Shaft 18B. Our portion of wall will tie into an existing retaining wall built prior to this project. It will be extended 30 feet, turn at a 45-degree angle, extend another 20 feet and tie into another existing wall.

Student Team Members: Gianluca Chiodi, Jason Collett, Luca Fanelli, Stephen Schmidt, Tiana Walker

Advisers: Professor Ari Perez, Professor Priscilla Fonseca

Client: Delve Underground

Our project focuses on planning and developing the first Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) Team at Quinnipiac University. SSBC is an annual competition hosted by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Deliverables include sponsorship outreach and fundraising, cost estimates for tools, materials and travel, and an annual schedule for design, fabrication and competition. A turnover binder will be given to the leaders of the club next year. We will provide recommendations on how the team should be run to be the most successful.

Student Team Members: Matthew DeLuca, Londel Lennon, James O’Keeffe, Ryan Pajer

Advisers: Professor Priscilla Fonseca, Jon West

Client: Quinnipiac School of Computing & Engineering

Immerse yourself in funded summer research

Two students working with the School of Engineering's water flow simulator

Take part in the Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship

Open to students of all majors, QUIP-RS provides up to $5,000 in funding for undergraduate students to conduct research or complete creative projects alongside faculty mentors. This intensive 8-week program enables students to develop scholarly skills while encouraging discussion about successes and shortcomings with fellows and mentors.

Learn more about QUIP-RS

A Foundation for Your Future

95.7% Success Rate

Percentage of our 2024 program graduates who are either employed or pursuing graduate study six months after graduation (89.7% Knowledge Rate).

#1 in the United States

#1 Best Employment Rate

For the fifth year in a row, the career site Zippia ranked Quinnipiac as the best college in the nation for employment 10 years after graduation.

73% Hands-On Experience

Percentage of seniors who participated in at least one internship during their time at Quinnipiac.

Career-Building Resources

Job Market Trends

Quinnipiac students excel as interns, new hires, managers and executives in almost every industry. Gather real-world data about starting salaries, hiring trends and in-demand skills to inform your decision-making and put you on a path to success. 

Explore real-world data and insights

View all tools and resources

Design your career path

With an abundance of career-focused information and resources, the career advisers within the School of Computing & Engineering support students as they expand their professional networks and attract the attention of prestigious employers.

Learn more about career development

Career and Experiential Learning Lab

iQ, Quinnipiac University’s holistic approach to career development and experiential learning, surrounds every individual with a personalized plan that maximizes their time at Quinnipiac. The powerhouse of iQ, our Career and Experiential Learning Lab is the physical space where students and advisers bridge the gap between college and career. 

Learn more about our Career and Experiential Learning Lab