The Center for Career & Professional Development
The Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) supports students’ holistic development by helping them connect the dots between the knowledge and skills they are gaining both inside and outside the classroom to potential careers, enhancing their career and professional development through programming and services, and providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary for post-graduate success.
Starting this fall, Centre is launching Career Exploration Communities (CECs). At the end of their first semester, students will have the opportunity to join one or more CEC: Arts, Media & Entertainment; Business & Entrepreneurship; Health & Medicine; Law, Government & Policy; Science, Engineering & Technology; and Social Impact. Events across campus will be offered through each CEC to help students learn more about potential careers and connect with industry professionals. In addition, each CEC will have a dedicated career coach, so that students can work with someone with specialized knowledge of their career field(s) of interest. There is also a career coach dedicated to meeting specifically with students who are undeclared or are undecided about their major or CEC choice. Career coaches can walk students through the entire career readiness process, from initial career exploration through applying for jobs or graduate schools. Along the way, career coaches can provide students with self-assessments, help them identify and articulate their skills, teach them how to research careers, help them locate and apply for internships or undergraduate research, assist with resume writing and interview preparation, and assist with locating and applying to post-graduate jobs and graduate schools. In addition, students will be able to connect and network with industry insiders through our Career Mentor Network and the networks of Career Advocates for each CEC. Finally, the CCPD has a wealth of information and resources on its website, including Handshake, our personal internship and job posting site, and resources tailored to each CEC.
Through intentional involvement with the CCPD, Centre graduates experience unparalleled success. On average, 97% of graduates are employed in professional positions or enrolled in graduate or professional school within one year of graduation.
Internships
Internships are essential in supporting successful careers after graduation. Aside from valuable real-world experience, internships allow students to try out careers, giving them the freedom to begin exploring their futures before graduation. An internship is a form of experiential learning that empowers students to integrate knowledge and theory learned throughout the curriculum with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Centre offers internship opportunities to all students on a non-credit basis and during the sophomore, junior, and senior years on a credit basis.
An internship for academic credit can be completed during all academic terms as well as the summer and includes substantive academic work. The experience is guided by a member of the faculty and by a supervisor at the internship site with oversight by the CCPD. Students may earn two or three credits for their experiences based on hours worked. One-credit internships are also available in the summer. Students considering this type of internship must meet with their career coach to discuss their options and internship requirements. During the summer, a small fee is charged to complete an academic credit internship. Additionally, internship credit can be applied toward the Connections portion of general education requirements or fulfill elective credit. Academic advisors can provide individual guidance and planning for internships within the academic schedule.
Non-credit internships exist for students who want to gain additional insights and experiences related to their potential career choice. This internship does not result in academic credit and is most often completed during the summer. The CCPD can assist in finding these experiences.
Both types of internships can be valuable components of a student’s career and professional development process, enabling them to make connections between the college experience and various career fields. Also, interested students may apply for funding (on a competitive basis) for internships taking place during the CentreTerm or the summer. Whether engaging in an internship for academic credit or not, all participating students should report their experience to the Center for Career & Professional Development.