Career & Internship Courses

Are you a humanities and social sciences major ready to supercharge your career path? We’ve created courses designed specifically for you — equipping you with the essential skills and knowledge to translate your unique strengths into a fulfilling career. Look for these classes offered each fall and spring! 

Career Readiness Courses

Choose the CAL Advance First-Year Seminar (GEN S-100) track that sparks your interest and get ready to explore.

You’ll take part in four signature experiences that connect your interests with real-world learning opportunities from young alumni and industry professionals in your choice of these five CAL meta majors (career cluster) areas:

  • Public Service, Social & Global Impact 
    For students passionate about making a difference through community work, advocacy, or diplomacy.

  • Education & Academia
    Ideal for future educators, researchers, or anyone drawn to the learning process.

  • Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship & Technology
    Explore innovation, digital tools, financial literacy, and creative business ideas.

  • Legal & Policy Analysis
    Get insight into law, public policy, justice, and civic leadership.

  • Sustainability & Environment
    For those interested in climate action, sustainable systems, and environmental change.

To reserve your spot in CAL Advance (GEN S 100A) — you must indicate your interest directly on your pathway preference form. If you plan to live on campus in the 2026-27 academic year, please complete the Residential Success Pathway Preference Form. If you plan to live off campus, please complete the Commuter Success Pathway Preference Form.

Open to first-year through junior students who want to explore career options via a CAL major. This one-unit course is geared toward lower-division students and designed to help you develop a four-year career development plan that leverages your academic experiences and prepares you for life beyond graduation. Enroll in CAL 100 and chart a course for success throughout your studies and into your career.

  • Engage with thought-provoking content that highlights the value of a social sciences and humanities education.
  • Build a foundation for critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills.
  • Assess your personal strengths and explore the connection between your major, values, and personality, and career goals
  • Create your personal elevator speech and hone your networking, resume, and cover letter skills to stand out to potential employers.
  • Learn how to leverage your academic and co-curricular experiences to build a roadmap for your future, integrating internships, projects, and experiential learning.
  • Connect with faculty, advisors, and peers who support your journey.
  • Explore real-world opportunities in community engagement and career development.

Recommended for transfer students, juniors, and seniors; focuses on career readiness skills (résumés, interviewing, AI tools)

Key course takeaway: Complete industry credentials from Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, and others. Preview the full options on Coursera.

Real student outcomes: Interviews and job offers at the career fair; multiple interviews for internships and full-time positions; multiple internship and job offers; successful negotiations for job benefits and salary for full-time positions 

Applied Internship Courses

Supervised internship with businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Introduces professional skills, reflection, and workplace learning. Students connect academic knowledge to applied contexts and develop foundational career readiness competencies.

Advanced internship integrating academic study with professional practice. Students create a learning agreement, engage in reflection, and complete an integrative project demonstrating workplace analysis, career competencies, and professional skills growth. 

Alumni Stories

When she thinks about her career journey, Imbres sees the wave as a metaphor. “You have to learn how to ride it, and to not swim against the current,” Imbres said. Her advice to students is “to be open to different opportunities — determine your unique skills set and find your superpowers.”