Non-credit, on-transcript “Careers In” courses are now offered to Harris students during their first year so they can determine and discover career paths, develop basic applied skills while completing the core curriculum, and competitively position themselves for a range of internships and full-time job opportunities.

The Harris Career Development Office (CDO) recently designed and launched non-credit, on-transcript courses that offer Harris Public Policy first-year students a structured way to explore career paths and prepare for recruiting within specific industries. 

For the pilot of this new program, CDO partnered with instructors and academic centers to design relevant content that speaks to how a public policy degree is valued within specific  industries. Students who successfully complete a "Careers In” course expand their knowledge of organizations and roles available in those organizations, identify internship and job opportunities of interest, prepare an industry-oriented resume, prepare for interviews, and network with professionals currently working in the industry. 

Rebecca Wolfe
Rebecca Wolfe, Senior Lecturer and Executive Director of International Policy & Development

This past fall, Senior Lecturer and Executive Director of International Policy & Development Rebecca Wolfe taught Careers in International Development.

“Looking for employment in international development can be overwhelming given the breadth of organizations, types of roles, and sub-sectors," said Dr. Wolfe. "The course helps orient students to think about their career journey by giving them frameworks for understanding their career goals and where those fit in the development space.”

Swani Ramchandani, MPP Class of 2026, who participated in the Careers In International Development course, said the course was "one of the most grounding and insightful experiences of my first quarter at Harris. It offered a rare and honest look into the complexities of international development careers—beyond just job titles and sectors. Professor Wolfe's thoughtful approach, real-world insights, and emphasis on value-driven work helped me better understand how to navigate the space with both purpose and realism. I left each session feeling both challenged and inspired.”

Krisinda Doherty
Krisinda Doherty

 In the future, CDO plans to partner with employers and/or alumni that have deep industry knowledge to further refine content or develop new content in emerging areas. Future potential “Careers In” courses include Municipal Finance, Research & Think Tanks, Financial Services, and Government.

“Ideally, these courses will be attractive to current and potential employer partners because they offer an additional way to identify and promote an employer’s brand to interested students,” said Krisinda Doherty, Associate Dean of Professional and Career Development. “We are looking forward to further developing this program to better prepare students for their career and internship search.”

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