Graduate Practicum in the Social Sciences

Undergraduate / Graduate

Students interested in gaining applied experience in a specific pathway or completing a capstone should consider taking the Graduate Practicum in the Social Sciences course. The practicum is a hands-on experiential course designed to enable students to apply and expand their knowledge and skills based on their unique interests and improve their technical and applied writing skills, project management abilities, business communication and acumen, with a focus on client deliverables all while providing a useful service to a Chicago-based community partner. During the course, students work individually or in small teams to identify and address issues/needs faced by a local community partner of their choice. Each student or team receives guidance from their instructor and community partner throughout the project. The experience culminates in a final project (report and formal presentation to the community partner and/or class). Past projects have centered on non-profit administration, policy analysis, grant writing and philanthropy, impact reports, training and development, museum exhibitions, and user/patient experience.