UC Irvine Giving Day 2025

Support the Field Study Career Summit on Giving Day!

In today's competitive job market, studies indicate that two-thirds of college graduates face challenges in launching their careers post-graduation. At the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, we are dedicated to reversing this trend by equipping our students with essential skills—communication, critical thinking, analytical prowess, technological fluency, and interpersonal abilities—through experiential field study opportunities.

Since 1970, Field Study has been a cornerstone of our curriculum, embodying our commitment to training future leaders. This program integrates academic coursework with practical field placements, preparing students to address pressing issues confronting business and community leaders on local, regional, national, and global scales.

Building on this legacy, we are excited to host our second Field Study Career Summit. This day-long event is designed to enhance the professional trajectories of our current students and alumni, ensuring they are well-prepared to embark on their chosen career paths.

Highlights of the Field Study Career Summit include:

• Making Yourself Marketable: Participants will engage in workshops to hone essential interview skills, craft impactful resumes and professional summaries, and receive assistance in building compelling LinkedIn profiles. Additionally, attendees can obtain professional headshots to enhance their professional presence.
  
  
• Career and Internship Fair: Our community partners will host booths, offering insights into internship and employment opportunities across various sectors.
  
  
• Soft Skills Development: Recognizing the importance of personal attributes in professional settings, our workshops will focus on enhancing abilities such as effective collaboration, time management, and clear communication. Developing these soft skills is crucial for navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and building strong professional relationships.
  
  
• Putting Your Degree to Use: Alumni, ranging from recent graduates to seasoned professionals, will share their experiences on how they have leveraged their Social Ecology degrees in their careers. Field Study site partners will also discuss available opportunities and potential career paths for students.
  
  
• Building Your Network: The summit will provide attendees the chance to apply their networking skills by connecting with fellow students, alumni, field study partners, and professionals from key industries.
  
  

The success of our inaugural career summit was evident, with students and alumni expressing how the event informed and inspired them. Networking sessions with professionals in urban planning, criminology, psychology, and related fields were particularly highlighted as valuable experiences.

Join Us in Empowering the Next Generation

We invite you to support the Field Study Career Summit by making a gift to the Field Study Program. Your contribution will play a pivotal role in ensuring our students have access to the resources and experiences necessary to succeed in their future careers. Together, we can continue to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world practice, fostering the development of well-prepared, confident, and capable leaders.

Thank you for being an integral part of our commitment to student success.