Mentorship. Career exploration. Research and creative opportunities. Internships.
Employers are looking for the three C’s: Communications. Creativity. Critical Thinking. These are three skills that liberal arts majors typically have in abundance that will serve them well throughout their careers. At the University of Rhode Island, undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences are now gaining an additional employment preparedness advantage through a unique new Career Readiness program—a four-year journey from college to career.
Your Career Journey
Year 1
Career readiness year one introduces first-year students to available career development resources and matches them with peer mentors to support them in negotiating college life and nurture a sense of belonging on campus. URI 101 is an introductory course created by the College of Arts and Sciences that starts students on the path to thinking about career options.
Year 2
In year two, students participate in workshops connecting their majors to careers, learn about personal branding, participate in “micro-internships” (on-campus and short-term opportunities) and engage with alumni through career networking events where they can ask questions, learn how careers unfold, and start to map their own path.
Year 3
Year three immerses students in practical skills for landing a job. Learn to craft a resume. Optimize search rankings on LinkedIn. Take a Rhode Trip, where students visit leading Rhode Island companies and organizations to network with hiring teams. Students are guided to pursue internships to help them experience the work place and build their skills outside the classroom. Our Internship Fund can cover costs associated with transportation, professional attire, or offset the need to work a paying job during the internship period. Lunch and Learn Chats are virtual sessions where students join executives and other professionals to discuss careers, core skills, and transitioning to the business world.
Year 4
In year four, students put together all the skills they have learned in previous years to reinforce learning opportunities and prepare for the job market. Getting the Job Workshops teach students how to prepare for interviews, negotiate salaries, and manage their own personal finances. They can engage in learn the basics of coding through a course called “Coding with R” and a course on data visualization where they learn how to read and interpret data to further develop their career toolbox and critical thinking skills.
Career Readiness Program
The Arts and Sciences Career Readiness Program offers students a variety of one-credit classes aimed specifically at building marketable skills and preparing for the workplace.
