Aligning passion and profession

How does one turn their undergraduate experiences into a fulfilling career? This week’s Major Fair will provide tools to help Clark students navigate this important process.

The fair, which will be held on Thursday, March 30, from noon to 2 p.m. in Tilton Hall, will spotlight the experiences of members of the Class of 2023. A senior from each major will share their four-year journey at Clark, detailing how they chose their major, how it allowed them to pursue their interests, and how that combination of experiences has helped lead to a career path.

“Students often ask how to go from point A to point B. We’re trying to make that explicit,” says Evan Wilson ’06, M.A. ’07, assistant dean of the college. “Arriving at Clark, finding your interest, and gaining experience doesn’t magically happen. It takes thought, planning, and networking.”

Each senior presenting at the fair has completed an internship, a research or independent project, or has worked with faculty.

“The goal is that students will connect with an upper-class student who has gone through the major and see a real-life example of what it’s like to take the courses while augmenting and adding to that knowledge,” says Wilson.

The fair will feature newly created major “maps” — a guide to help students maximize their academic, personal, and professional interests. A map exists for each undergraduate major and explains how skills and knowledge acquired through coursework will benefit students in the workplace.

“The intent is to break down small steps students can take each year to prepare for leadership roles or research opportunities so that when they leave Clark, they feel ready to apply for and get a professional job that’s aligned with their passions,” says Wilson.

Major maps are part of the Curriculum and Careers initiative, a facet of Clark’s strategic framework. Curriculum and Careers embeds career learning practices into students’ four years on campus. The initiative helps students visualize how a liberal-arts education translates to post-graduation success, linking course concepts to club and internship experiences and community engagement.

The initiative is a program crafted by partners across campus, including the dean of the college, the dean of the faculty, the Career Connections Center, faculty, and staff. Clark launched Curriculum and Careers in 2019 with funding from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

Curriculum and Careers also includes internship-like Problem of Practice (POP) courses, which students typically take during their sophomore or junior year. The classes focus on a concrete problem and connect students with members of the community to help address it, providing hands-on experience in the real world. One of these courses is Herencia y Cultura Hispánicas, in which students develop their knowledge of Hispanic culture and Spanish language through an exchange with Worcester Public Schools students between 8 and 10 years old.

“Career planning does take creative thinking,” says Wilson. “We want students to get tapped into resources.”