Professional Pathways & Future Possibilities
Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities is a three-quarter academic and professional development experience for second-year first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students, offered through a collaboration between the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) and Student Enrichment Services (SES). Beginning with a one-credit Winter Quarter course and continuing through Spring and Summer, students explore their professional interests, pursue summer internship opportunities, and receive ongoing support as they prepare for and participate in a summer internship aligned with their interests and values.
What You'll Gain
- Academic credit through a one-credit SESP course
- Greater clarity about your professional interests, values, and future possibilities
- Practical skills for exploring opportunities, navigating the application process, networking, developing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
- Individualized support as you identify and pursue a summer internships aligned with your interests and values
- A $6,000 stipend to help reduce financial barriers to pursuing an unpaid or low-paid summer internship
The Three-Quarter Experience
Winter Quarter: Explore & Prepare
During the Winter quarter students will be enrolled in a one-credit course where reflection, career exploration, skill building, community are pillars of the experience.
During the Spring Quarter, students are enrolled in zero credit course. They will take the lead in identifying and applying for summer internship opportunities that align with their interests and values. Students will regularly share updates on their internship search and have access to individualized support as they navigate the process. Students can use one-on-one meetings to ask questions, identify resources, develop search strategies, strengthen applications, and prepare for interviews.
Summer Quarter: Experience & Reflect
During the Summer Quarter, student are enrolled in a zero credit course. They will participate in their internship experience and have access to individualized support as they navigate the workplace. Students can opt into one-on-one meetings to reflect on their experiences, ask questions, process workplace dynamics and observations, and think through how what they are learning connects to their interests, values, and future possibilities. Throughout the summer, students will also share reflections on their experience and complete program evaluations that help them make meaning of their learning and inform the continued development of the program.
Community & Support
From the Winter Quarter classroom through summer internships, students are part of a cohort of second-year peers who bring different identities, experiences, interests, and aspirations to the program.
The cohort creates space for students to learn from one another, share questions and experiences, celebrate progress, and talk openly about the uncertainty that can come with figuring out what comes next. Opportunities to reconnect beyond the classroom, including the Pathways Send-Off, allow students to share where their paths are taking them and what they are feeling excited, curious, or nervous about as they prepare for their summer experiences.
While each student's path will look different, Pathways is designed so they don't have to figure it out entirely on their own.
Who Should Apply
Professional Pathways and Future Possibilities is designed for:
- Second-year undergraduate students
- Identify as first-generation and/or low-income
- Committed to exploring their personal and professional development through reflection, collaboration, and action
How to Apply
Applications for Winter 2027 will open in late October 2026
As part of the application, students will respond to the following questions:
- Describe how your personal background, lived experiences, and academic interests have shaped your understanding of social identity, class, and opportunity. How do these perspectives influence the way you think about your future career goals?
- Students in this course commit to exploring their personal and professional development through reflection, collaboration, and action. What do you hope to gain from this course and how do you see yourself contributing to the learning community?
Application Timeline
- Week of October 19: Application opens
- Week of November 9: Applicants notified of their application status