Special Programs

The Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA)

As part of its participation in the ACCA, Dominican University offers credit for cooperative courses given in selected environmental topics at Argonne National Laboratory and Morton Arboretum. These courses are taught by guest lecturers expert in the particular subject. ACCA also holds an annual symposium for students to present results of their research.

Internship and Independent Research Programs

The internship and independent research programs at Dominican University have successfully placed students in a variety of organizations. Students apply concepts learned in the classroom to the real world while working for professionals in field research and business settings. In most cases, students earn college credit and a stipend while gaining experience in their area.

Dominican University environmental students have pursued various independent research projects either on campus or at area research institutions. In recent years, students have completed research projects on white sharks in South Africa, coastal wetlands management in Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, and coastal biodiversity in Australia at the University of Adelaide.

Students who begin independent research work in the second semester of their junior year may be eligible for Dominican’s Degree with Distinction program. Here are some of the organizations where Dominican students have recently pursued environmental internships:

• Brookfield Zoo • Browning Ferris Industries (BFI)
• Clarke Mosquito • Eubanks and Associates Environmental Consulting, Inc.
• Forest Preserve District of Cook County
• Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
• Illinois Natural History Survey
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Park District of River Forest
• Park District of Franklin Park
• Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium
• South African White Shark Research Institute
• The School for Tropical Studies
• Trailside Museum
• Wild Rose Nature Center
• Willowbrook Wildlife Center
• Waste Management