How do I translate my interests, skills and values into a career in public service and social impact? This course will introduce you to a wide range of roles that help shape public policy and civic life, including government (Legislative, Federal, State & Local), nonprofits, social enterprises, media and the arts. It also will help you define the specific values, roles, and opportunities that interest you as you prepare to seek future internships, jobs, and graduate programs. "Pathways" can be taken for one or two-units. For one-unit, you participate in a weekly, interactive Speaker Series designed to give you a sense for what different public service careers are like. Each week, expert and high-profile professionals in the public service space describe their current organizations and roles, highlight key intellectual issues and policy challenges, discuss their career paths, and describe skills crucial for work in the field. Each session will include a moderated discussion with the guest speaker, followed by interactive Q&A. For a second unit, you participate additionally in a more participatory weekly session designed to help you translate this new knowledge into action. You will identify roles and organizations that might be a good match for you, build your network through informational interviewing, receive personal career coaching, and acquire the concrete tools you need to launch your job or internship search. This course is open to all students, not only those studying political science, public policy and other social sciences, but also those in the arts, humanities, sciences, or engineering. Course content will be relevant to both students soon entering the job market and those facing choices about future courses of study, fellowships and internships. It is co-sponsored by the Haas Center for Public Service, the School of Humanities and Sciences, the Program in Urban Studies, and Stanford in Government. Students taking the course for one-unit (Tuesday Speaker Series) must enroll in the -SYMSYS 01 course listing and students taking the course for two-units (Tuesday Speaker Series and the Thursday seminar) must enroll in the -SYMSYS 02 course listing.
1-2 units · Satisfactory/No Credit
How do I translate my interests, skills and values into a career in public service and social impact? This course will introduce you to a wide range of roles that help shape public policy and civic life, including government (Legislative, Federal, State & Local), nonprofits, social enterprises, media and the arts. It also will help you define the specific values, roles, and opportunities that interest you as you prepare to seek future internships, jobs, and graduate programs. "Pathways" can be taken for one or two-units. For one-unit, you participate in a weekly, interactive Speaker Series designed to give you a sense for what different public service careers are like. Each week, expert and high-profile professionals in the public service space describe their current organizations and roles, highlight key intellectual issues and policy challenges, discuss their career paths, and describe skills crucial for work in the field. Each session will include a moderated discussion with the guest speaker, followed by interactive Q&A. For a second unit, you participate additionally in a more participatory weekly session designed to help you translate this new knowledge into action. You will identify roles and organizations that might be a good match for you, build your network through informational interviewing, receive personal career coaching, and acquire the concrete tools you need to launch your job or internship search. This course is open to all students, not only those studying political science, public policy and other social sciences, but also those in the arts, humanities, sciences, or engineering. Course content will be relevant to both students soon entering the job market and those facing choices about future courses of study, fellowships and internships. It is co-sponsored by the Haas Center for Public Service, the School of Humanities and Sciences, the Program in Urban Studies, and Stanford in Government. Students taking the course for one-unit (Tuesday Speaker Series) must enroll in the -01 course listing and students taking the course for two-units (Tuesday Speaker Series and the Thursday seminar) must enroll in the -02 course listing.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.