SEHE majors career and postgrad development

SEHE majors are designed to prepare you for future career and postgraduate opportunities. We integrate career and postgraduate preparation into our core courses that are required for all students in Environmental Studies and Global & Community Health, from your introductory course to your capstone experience. Here is how it works.

Objectives:

• Prepare for careers and/or postgraduate training as part of SEHE core courses.
• Explore career options related to SEHE majors, beginning in year one.
• Gain experience in each of the NACE Career Readiness Competencies (Career & Self Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology).
• Gain field-specific skills that SEHE’s community partners highlight as important, as well as essential research skills.
• Engage with co-curricular and job opportunities (volunteering, clubs, internships, research positions, seminars) related to future career plans.
• Get to know the UCR Career Center, Pre-Professions Advising Center and Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning.
• Create an eportfolio reflecting experiences in and related to the major, to use when applying for jobs, graduate or professional programs.

Resources:

• UCR Career Center video recorded workshops and handouts 
• LinkedIn Learning minicourses (software, project management skills etc.)
• UCR Library Research Fundamentals and Information Literacy tutorials 
• Pre-Professions Advising Center (PPAC) for health and legal professions. → Note to all students interested in entering a health or legal profession: please contact the PPAC as early as your first year at UCR, to begin benefiting from the support of health and law professions advisors.

Introductory courses in the major: SEHE 001 and SEHE 002

Our introductory courses implement the UCR Career Center ‘Faculty AMA’ program to support you with resources for exploring your future. We discuss how to search for jobs and internship opportunities on Handshake, and what resources are available to you at UCR. You will create an eportfolio where you will highlight your coursework and co-curricular experiences relevant to your goals, over the course of your major. The centerpiece of the Faculty AMA program is an ‘industry panel’ of alumni and other professionals working in the field of health or environment. These professionals talk about their career journey, education, and offer to answer students’ questions.

SEHE 101: Community-based research methods

In this core methods course, you will practice research methods and essential research skills. You will learn about research opportunities and grants at UCR. You will learn how to communicate (in your resumes, graduate/professional school applications and LinkedIn e-portfolios) about skills you develop while volunteering or working with their family, neighborhood or broader community to improve health, wellness and/or environment.

SEHE 105, 106, or 110: Environment and Health

This core course requirement addresses intersections between environmental justice and health equity, and highlights local or global movements and organizations. You will research UCR alumni and others working in your field of interest, and have an opportunity to contact them to ask for an informational interview. We will discuss how to network, including how to build good relationships with faculty. You will receive information and resources to learn about internships, fellowships or jobs related to the class. You will continue to update your eportfolio as you gain new skills and experience in your field.

SEHE 193 or 198I/G: Capstone Experience

The SEHE capstone experience deepens and applies skills and expertise gained in SEHE classes, through either an extended capstone project (SEHE 193) or capstone internship (SEHE 198I/G). Your capstone work will build on your previous work in SEHE classes (so remember to save your assignments as you go!). You will complete your eportfolio of coursework and related experiences and skills. The capstone project or internship experience will be the centerpiece of your eportfolio, which you can use to apply for jobs, graduate schools and/or professional schools.

Eportfolio

SEHE majors will create an eportfolio website, highlighting coursework and experience relevant to your future goals. The eportfolio allows you to record your progress and learning in the major; reflect and connect your coursework to your co-curricular activities, life experiences and future goals; and translate your experiences into competencies that are legible to employers and graduate/professional schools. You will start the eportfolio in the introductory class for your major, develop the eportfolio in your Upper Division classes, and curate your final eportfolio in your capstone course. You will graduate from SEHE with a polished portfolio that showcases your experiences and abilities for future employers or graduate programs.

Quarterly: SEHE Open Houses and communications

SEHE will aim to hold an Open House for majors once every quarter highlighting career and internship opportunities, health and law professions advisors, as well as SEHE courses and faculty. The SEHE Discord server and email communications to majors will highlight upcoming opportunities and deadlines for volunteer positions, internships and jobs. The SEHE Research Symposium and Latinxs & the Environment Seminar will highlight professional and research opportunities for students.