By: Renee Radzom, DePaul University graduate, former University Internship Program (UIP) assistant
UIP 240 is a 2-credit course offered by the University Internship Program (UIP) through DePaul. The class is structured to guide students on possible career options and help them explore their interests and major. The class is based on the individual and what he/she is looking to gain from the experience. Amal Saleh, former job fair & events manager at the Career Center, says the UIP 240 class really shaped her experience at DePaul.
Amal took the class as a freshman after a Career Advisor recommended the course to her. She mentioned that one of the benefits of taking the class was that it fit directly into her tuition package of 18 credit hours. Amal also said, “the class assisted me tremendously with identifying my major, career, and how to translate that at networking events.” The course evaluates your personality through assessments like the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and then helps you translate that into possible career choices and majors. The class is designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to identify your academic and career path.
The class [UIP 240] assisted me tremendously with identifying my major, career…
Some of these skills may even follow you long after the class. Amal says that she still refers to the “skills card deck” that was presented to her in class in order to prioritize her interests and stay on her career path. She also enjoyed how the class always presented her with assignments that exposed new skills, such as public speaking and networking, which she did not know she possessed. Every day she was surprised by her own interests, and learned how to translate them to help her in her academic work.
Another thing that surprised Amal was that UIP 240 made her realize that her original major was not for her. Amal entered the class as a marketing major, but soon realized that “the major did not reflect [her] interests or passions.” Without this guidance, Amal would never have been given the knowledge to find the major that was right for her. Amal says, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the assistance and guidance from this class and the professor.”
UIP 240 gives great advice to any student at DePaul who is not 100% sure of what they are interested in. Amal recommends this class to anyone who would like a bit of guidance and advice in translate their interests into a fulfilling major/career. There are so many different takeaways from the class that anyone who takes it is sure to find something they enjoy and will use later on.
Want to learn more about DePaul’s University Internship Program? Check it out, here, or send inquiries to UIP@depaul.edu. Need help finding an internship? Visit depaul.joinhandshake.com, or come into DePaul’s Career Center to meet with an advisor.