Academic and Professional Support

During the MAPH year, we offer the following programs for students interested in continuing their studies in PhD or professional programs:

• Panels on topics such as: conference paper proposals and presentations, statements of purpose and writing samples, transitioning from an MA to a PhD, and more.
• The “Works in Progress Conference,” which allows selected students to present their thesis work.
• MAPH students can also meet one-on-one with the MAPH Director, Preceptors, Mentors, and Staff to discuss their applications for further graduate study.

MAPH alumni go into a wide variety of professions – teaching, non-profit administration, museum curation, technical writing, to name a few. In order to best prepare our students for entering or returning to a career, we offer many different professional learning opportunities throughout the MAPH year.

• Career fairs with over 500 employers attending in the fall and spring quarters.
• A fall quarter Alumni Career Night where MAPH alumni return to campus to speak about their career trajectory.
• Resume and cover letter workshops.
• Alumni receive weekly jobs emails with professional opportunities curated by MAPH’s Associate Director.

UChicagoGRAD provides academic and professional resources to graduate students at the University of Chicago. UChicagoGRAD offer services on a range of topics – communication and teaching skills, job searches and applications, interview preparation, issues surrounding diversity and inclusion, and more. MAPH students and alumni are encouraged to take advantage of the resources UChicagoGRAD makes available, such as:

• Quarterly networking and career fair events.
• Mock interviews with UChicagoGRAD staff.
• Personalized cover letter and resume reviews.
• Job opportunities curated by UChicagoGRAD and posted through their private jobs board.

Each year MAPH partners with several Chicago cultural, non-profit, and educational institutions to offer a number of internships. These internships are paid opportunities for recent MAPH graduates. Summer internships have included positions with the following Chicago organizations:

• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Browne & Miller Literary Agency
• The Chicago History Museum
• Chicago Humanities Festival
• The Chicago Review
• Critical Inquiry
• Illinois Humanities Council's Odyssey Project
• The Newberry Library
• The Smart Museum of Art
• The Smithsonian Institution

Three MAPH graduates are hired every spring to work during the following academic year as MAPH Mentors. The Mentors split their time between MAPH duties and working with the University of Chicago’s Writing Program as Writing Interns. As Mentors, they act as advisors for the current class of MAPH students and help foster community by organizing a variety of social, cultural, and career events. As Writing Interns, they gain teaching experience by teaching writing seminars for first-year College students at the University.

Because MAPH Mentors have just completed the program, they serve as invaluable advisors. They help students pick courses, find thesis advisors, and write resumes. At the same time, they serve as excellent resources to speak about the culture and opportunities at the University of Chicago.