For-Credit Career Courses - Undergraduate

The Career Center offers the following for-credit, career courses for undergraduate students. Learn more about graduate course offerings here.

Single-Quarter Courses 

AMS 95: Careers and Identity in American Culture

(2 units - Letter Graded)
This course guides students through the career exploration process, using the components of Design Thinking. You will explore aspects of your identity using a variety of assessment tools, and use this knowledge to research possible career paths and choices. You will develop the tools that you need to intentionally choose your direction and search for opportunities to build the skills you need to be successful. We offer two sections: one general section, and one section for current student-athletes in partnership with Intercollegiate Athletics. This course is typically offered in fall, winter and spring quarters. 

ENL 149: Topics in Literature - Topic: Career Decision-Making and English

(4 units – Letter Grade | Course Prerequisites: English major/minor, ENL 003 or UWP 001 or UWP 001V or UWP 001Y)
Taught in collaboration with the English department, this class provides answers to the perennial question: "What can you do with an English major?" While developing your own career narrative, you will prototype and refine career tools including networking, writing for the job search, and interview skills. Additionally, you will take self-assessments, read a variety of materials about the workplace today and write critical reflections. Using such techniques, this class aims to help students majoring in English understand and articulate the application of their major to the world of work. This course is offered once per year, typically in the fall quarter.

Course Series

Career Discovery Groups (CDG)

In partnership with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Career Discovery Groups give freshmen and first-year transfer students an opportunity to explore career possibilities and make academic choices for future success. Students who participate in Career Discovery Groups have higher rates of retention at UC Davis. Interaction with faculty and advisors helps them gain focus while guidance from graduate student mentors helps students learn to navigate the research university and use campus resources. All College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) freshmen and first-year transfer students are welcome.

Freshman Students: The freshman Career Discovery Group includes three courses in major and career exploration, one per quarter during freshman year. Graduate students trained as Career Discovery mentors and experts from the Career Center lead these courses. You are encouraged to enroll in all three quarters. Prepare to position yourself for success at UC Davis and beyond!

  • Fall Quarter: SAS 006A (1 unit, 1 hour/week, pass/no pass)
  • A Career Discovery mentor leads you in learning how to navigate the university and explore your personal skills and values as they relate to your major and career exploration. Set the stage for a first year at UC Davis full of insight, connection and knowledge of where to go to find the support that you need.
  • Winter Quarter: SAS 006B (3 units, 3 hours/week, letter-graded)
  • Learn key career preparation lessons from a Career Center advisor, and continue to discuss with your Career Discovery mentor and peers. Learn how to write a resume, network for your success and ace an interview while building a foundation for your career launch.
  • Spring Quarter: SAS 006C (1 unit, no weekly classes, pass/no pass)
  • Attend career development field trips and reflect on how these trips relate to personal career goals. Put your knowledge into action and visualize next steps.

Transfer Students: The transfer student Career Discovery Group includes one accelerated course, meant to give first year transfer students a running start to their time at UC Davis. Transition smoothly into your new school while also developing key career readiness skills. Graduate students trained as Career Discovery mentors lead these class sections with the assistance of experts from the Career Center. Prepare to position yourself for success at UC Davis and beyond!

  • Fall Quarter: SAS 106A (1 unit, 1 hour/week, pass/no pass)
  • A Career Discovery mentor leads you in learning how to navigate the university, exploring your personal skills and interests and building the foundation for your career launch. Students enrolled in this course will develop the tools that they need to intentionally choose their direction and will receive valuable advice from Career Center experts and working professionals.

BioLaunch Fellows Program

The BioLaunch Fellows Program is designed for College of Biological Sciences undergraduate students to participate in career exploration, professional development and experiential learning over the course of their 4 years at UC Davis. Each sequential course in the series is 1-2 units, Pass/No-Pass and no final. Fellows are invited to special events to network and hear from career professionals and have access to dedicated career advisors to support them in their career journeys.

  • BIS 006: Career Pathways Seminar (Year 1)
  • This course provides students with an opportunity to explore career possibilities and make academic choices for future success. Through hearing from weekly guest speakers with a background and/or career in biological sciences, you will practice building professional networks, identifying transferable skills and develop materials and strategies for landing relevant opportunities in the biological sciences fields. Open to first-years who have completed BIS 005 or with permission of instructor.
  • BIS 060: Career Labs (Year 2)
  • This course builds on the first-year seminar course by engaging guest professionals with a background in the biological sciences in interactive sessions with students. This course will expose you to a wide range of roles you might consider after graduation and help you explore how the skills you acquire in the classroom, through volunteering and through internships would make you a good candidate for future employment. Open to second-years who have completed BIS 006.
  • BIS 106: Experiential Learning Seminar (Year 3)
  • This course leads students to reflect on current or recent work or volunteer experiences and discuss issues such as organizational / office culture, conflict resolution, identity/equity issues, appropriate networking, mentorship, time management, etc. Fellows participating in unpaid experiences are eligible to apply for a $3,000 stipend. Open to third-years who have completed BIS 060.
  • BIS 160: Career Next Steps Seminar (Year 4)
  • This course supports students in the job search and graduate / professional school application process as well as introducing financial literacy principles. Students apply lessons learned throughout the BioLaunch Fellows Program and give and receive peer support and coaching on applications and interviewing. Open to fourth-years who have completed BIS 106.

For general questions about the career courses above, email careercenter@ucdavis.edu.