Professional Development
These resources for professional development are to guide Arts & Humanities graduate students in planning for a career, be it in academia, cultural organization, government, or business. Please contact the Dean of Students office at ahd-dos@uchicago.edu for additional resources.
UChicagoGRAD supports graduate students at every stage of their academic careers. From resources that support timely degree completion to those which enhance career development and help students translate their degrees into a variety of careers, UChicagoGRAD is a one-stop shop. Throughout the year, UChicagoGRAD offers programs and events for graduate students and postdocs that facilitate the exploration of a variety of industries and career paths. UChicagoGRAD provides graduate career services including one-on-one advising, experiential career exploration, and job search preparation. Fiona Maxwell at maxwell@uchicago.edu is the primary career advisor aligned with the Arts & Humanities Division.
Career and Professional Development for Humanists
The Council on Advanced Studies sponsors graduate research workshops in the humanities, social sciences, and divinity studies. The aim of these workshops is to bring together faculty and graduate students within the University and the wider Chicago area in an effort to create scholarly dialogue, to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, and to foster exchange of ideas through the presentation of graduate student dissertation work in progress.
There are dozens of workshops that represent the vibrant and diverse intellectual community both within the Arts & Humanities Division and the university as a whole. New workshops are added each year. An exhaustive list of the current workshops can be found on the CAS website. Since each workshop reflects the research interests of different groups of faculty members and graduate students, the workshops vary in organization and administration. Individuals interested in participating should contact the workshop coordinator or faculty advisor, and may visit the workshop's website for current information.
A growing number of experiential education opportunities allow students to explore opportunities for applying the knowledge and skills of humanists to society more broadly in career fields outside the academy. There are a range of internships, externships, and other opportunities for students who are interested in exploring careers outside academia, or simply embrace the role of a public intellectual who is engaged with the world. Please consult the list below to get started.
Nonprofit Organizations
University Community Service Center (UCSC) maintains a list of employment opportunities and internships in nonprofit organizations (such as the Center for Research Libraries and the Hyde Park Art Center) and includes links to other nonprofit job networks. The UCSC also administers Summer Links, an intensive 11-week, paid internship program for 30 returning College and graduate students committed to public service, community building and social change. Also look to your department as a resource for internships and employment specific to your field of study.
UChicagoGRAD Internship Programs
UChicagoGRAD manages the Higher Education Internship Program, which was created in response to the strong interest in academic administration among graduate students. Interns learn about careers opportunities in higher education by attending monthly Leadership in Higher Education seminars and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals. Higher Education Interns are employed for a minimum of ten hours per week during the year or during the summer quarter in a host office on campus; particpants have interned in a variety of offices, including the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), the Office of International Affairs (OIA), the Office of Career Advancement, and the Office of Campus and Student Life.
UChicagoGRAD launched the Graduate Global Impact Internship (GGI) Program.The GGI Program provides graduate students with year-round opportunities to gain career experience at local, national, and global organizations that are relevant to their academic interests and professional goals. UChicagoGRAD will help students connect with UChicago partners and alumni who can often facilitate beneficial internships in corporate, nonprofit, and government work settings. This work experience will prove vital for graduate students pursuing work across a range of career paths.