GSAS Compass Programming and Events

GSAS Compass offers a suite of programming tailored to Master’s and doctoral students in the Arts and Sciences. Log into GSAS Compass to view upcoming offerings. If you are a prospective or incoming student, please note that you will receive access to the GSAS Compass portal the first week of classes.

If you are a current student or GSAS graduate, please direct questions to [email protected].

Career & Professional Development Workshops and Talks

Job Search 360
Explore this new online resource to help you prepare for and execute a successful job search. Find original, on-demand content on: 

  • Creating effective résumés and cover letters
  • Expanding and leveraging your professional network
  • Developing your interviewing skills
  • Evaluating job offers and negotiating your salary

Job Search 360 includes video presentations from GSAS Compass staff and quick overviews of all of the essential elements of the job search process, complete with links to our favorite resources. Access Job Search 360 in CourseWorks and start planning your career.

Peer-to-Peer Mock Interview Workshops
Attendees sharpen their interview skills through these fun, interactive workshops, which offer a rare opportunity to be on both sides of the interview table.These sessions are offered several times a year.

MA Academic and Professional Development Series
This series of workshops is designed specifically for Master’s students. Each workshop focuses on a topic that is critical to students’ academic progress and professional success, and helps to build community across MA programs. Topics include career planning, applying to PhD programs, and selecting a research topic, among others. Check out our Youtube Channel for past events. For upcoming workshops in the series log into GSAS Compass here.

PhD Pathways: Conversations Series
Each month, GSAS Compass invites a different PhD graduate for an informal conversation with students about their postgraduate career journey. Doctoral students at any stage and in all departments are encouraged to join these intimate and engaging conversations with PhD alumni. Log into the GSAS Compass portal to view upcoming workshops in this series and check out our YouTube Channel to view recordings of past speakers.

Individual Development Plan Program
The Columbia University Individual Development Plan (IDP) program is designed to help participants recognize the importance of managing one’s own career, develop strategies to help with career management, and comprehend the purpose and value of an IDP. Through involvement in the IDP series and workshops, participants will also be able to develop skills relevant to a variety of careers. The program, which is administered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and co-sponsored by GSAS Compass, is open to postdocs and PhD students in any discipline.

Public Speaking Competitions
Challenge yourself to present your dissertation or Master’s thesis research clearly and succinctly to a broad, general audience in just three minutes. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners!

  • MA students: Learn more about the GSAS Master’s SynThesis competition here.
  • PhD students: Learn more about the Columbia University 3MT Competition here.

Employer Recruiting Events

Information Sessions
GSAS Compass’s primary way of connecting students with employers is through information sessions. Each session features one or several employers for a 60- to 90-minute event, which might include a formal presentation, an employee panel, a talk about the company’s work, a question-and-answer portion, or a combination of these elements. The employer may be recruiting for specific positions, or may just be interested in meeting Columbia MA and PhD students to increase awareness about their organization for future opportunities.

These sessions are either in-person or online, and we host employers across the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

These events are excellent opportunities to grow your network of professional  connections, gain insider knowledge about an industry or specific employer, and learn about employment opportunities and fellowships. Check the GSAS Compass portal for upcoming sessions.

Career Expos
During a career expo, students have the opportunity to meet with many different employers for brief conversations about their companies. Our expos typically have representatives from 30-50 different organizations across many different industries, who share information related to job and internship opportunities. Whether held virtually or in-person these events afford students an excellent opportunity to expand their network of professional connections.

GSAS Compass typically offers at least two career expos:

  • The Graduate Career Consortium PhD and Master’s Virtual Career Expo is a national event held in March that connects PhD and Master’s students, postdocs, and alumni job seekers from STEM, Humanities, Arts, and Social Science disciplines. This event is open to graduate students from many of the top universities in the country and attracts a wide variety of employers from across the US and beyond.
  • The Columbia Graduate Virtual Career Expo, held in February, is open exclusively to Master’s and doctoral students from five graduate schools at Columbia: the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, School of Professional Studies, School of Social Work, and Teachers College. In the past, we have had 40+ employers from New York City and beyond interested in recruiting Columbia students and graduates.

Alumni Networking Opportunities

GSAS Compass partners with our colleagues in GSAS Alumni Relations and the Columbia Office of Alumni and Development to plan both general alumni networking opportunities and industry-specific networking events in fields such as non-profit, arts and culture, tech, consulting, and finance, among others.