Graduate Opportunities
Graduate student experiential learning
CFS partners with the Northwestern Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) to offer 2 course-connected internship experiences for MA and PhD students:
- The Graduate Engagement Opportunities (GEO) Community Practicum enables graduate students across disciplines to connect theory & practice through a quarter-long internship with a community organization and a credit-bearing seminar on engaged scholarship. The GEO Practicum takes place each Spring Quarter, and CCE manages all application and placement processes.
- The NU Chicago Humanities Initiative (CHI) enables graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences to explore public-facing scholarship and careers beyond the tenure-track. Through an 8-week internship with an arts, culture or community organization and a weekly seminar, participants will explore the role of the humanities in public life through hands-on, real world practice and interdisciplinary classroom discussion. CHI takes place each Summer Session, and CCE manages all application and placement processes.
See the CCE website to apply to either program and explore the Center’s other opportunities for graduate students.
Graduate Student Teaching in CFS
CFS frequently offers graduate students the chance to teach a course in the program with mentorship from experienced CFS faculty and staff. This is a unique opportunity to develop a syllabus, teach a lively internship-connected seminar, and build the pedagogical skills required for a successful experiential-learning course.
Teaching opportunities vary yearly and are typically open to students who are eligible to receive a TGS Interdisciplinary Graduate Assistantship.
The application process takes place each Spring (for the following year) through the TGS Interdisciplinary Assistantship Application Portal.
Other Graduate Student Work in CFS
CFS occasionally has opportunities for graduate students to support the program in advising or administrative capacities, either through a TGS Interdisciplinary Graduate Assistantship or other funding structure. In this capacity, a graduate student might help to advise undergraduates through internship-search processes, develop internship opportunities in a particular field, assist with CFS outreach to undergraduates, or support curricular projects.
These opportunities take shape only as needed. We may circulate calls for applicants through relevant offices (such as specific departments or the SESP graduate program in Higher Ed Administration and Policy), or we may use the TGS Interdisciplinary Assistantship Application Portal when appropriate for the role and timing.