THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Outcomes
The UChicago MA is an increasingly important credential in a wide number of professional and academic fields. Have a look at the detailed summaries of our professional career outcomes and our recent PhD placements.
Each year:
- About one-third of our graduates go on to work in private industry, especially consulting, management, and research-oriented positions.
- About one-third go on to work in the non-profit world, including government, educational administration, think tanks, and social service organizations.
- About one-third apply successfully for PhD programs in the social sciences, professional, and interdisciplinary fields.
PhD Support
MAPSS students who do well in coursework and write a well-received M.A. thesis or capstone are well-situated to go on to PhD study. Students planning to apply to PhD programs should speak with their preceptor about whether to complete a thesis or a capstone.
MAPSS academic staff work closely with our graduates to identify the right doctoral programs, review and strengthen your applications, and help you negotiate your final decisions.
MAPSS students are best positioned to apply for PhD programs the year after they graduate from MAPSS, as the thesis or capstone is a cornerstone of a successful PhD application.
MAPSS alumni typically find that MAPSS has prepared them to complete their PhD requirements expeditiously, and so the “gap” year does not overall reduce their time to complete the PhD. Some MAPSS students go on to study in UChicago PhD programs, but in many cases the student’s research agenda, developed over the course of their MA year, turns out to be a better fit for faculty and departments elsewhere. For that reason, some of our best students pursue their doctoral work at other highly ranked institutions.
Professional Support
MAPSS has its own full-time Senior Director of Career Services and Professional Development in charge of career advising, employer recruitment, and alumni networking. Our Career Services team offers workshops to train students in effective career preparation, including career exploration, resume and cover letter writing, networking, interviewing, negotiation and more. They also run experience-based programs in which students can explore different career paths through internships and externships (project-based opportunities). Visit the SSD MA Career Resources Website to learn more.
A week does not pass without notices of job openings, paid internships, research opportunities, and hiring events announced in the MAPSS Bi-Weekly Digest.
We have monthly career preparation and professional development workshops, an annual industry showcase, and a career conference (featuring alumni panels and TED-style talks on how to secure career-level positions in different sectors). In addition, our Alumni Association hosts networking and social events throughout the year.
MAPSS students also have access to UChicagoGRAD, which offers additional support, oral communication training and writing resources, fellowships advising, and campus-wide programs and recruitment events.