On-campus student organizations with a professional goal are an excellent way to explore your future career and get involved in your field. For more information on the organizations below use the GVSU LakerLink.

• Active Minds
• Alpha Kappa Delta – International Sociology Honor Society
• Alpha Psi Sigma – Scholastic honorary society for criminal justice
• Anthropology Club
• Archeology Society
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Beekeepers
• BSW Student Organization
• Council for Exceptional Children (CECS)
• Criminal Justice Student Association
• Ethics Bowl Team
• Lambda Epsilon Chi – Legal Honor Society
• Law Society
• Mock Trial Club
• Pals Student Mentors
• Philosophy Club
• Psi Chi – National Honor Society for students in Psychology
• Psychology Club – In partnership with Psi Chi
• SLAM
• Sociology Club
• Student Chapter of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
• Student Senate
• Teachers of Tomorrow – Phi Delta Kappa
• Triota Honor Society – Academic honor society for the field of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Education
American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE)
Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) 
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
National Education Association (NEA)

Environmental
National Association of Environmental Professionals
Student Conservation Association

Law
American Bar Association

Nonprofit
Certified Nonprofit Professionals (CNP)
Young Nonprofit Professionals 
International City/County Manager Association

Psychology
American Psychological Association
American Board of Forensic Psychology
American Counseling Association
National Board Certified Counselors

Social Work
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

• A gap year between undergrad and graduate school can be beneficial for many students to gain valuable work experience, clarify goals, strengthen your graduate application, and minimize burnout. 
• Consider the goals and skills you would like to develop when considering options for a gap year. Some opportunities may even offer funds towards furthering your education upon completion of a service term.
• Some examples include:
  • Connect with the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships to learn about opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad
  • Check out resources through the Civic Engagement Office on post-graduate service opportunities
  • AmeriCorps
    • Cherry Health 
    • Bethany Christian Services
    • Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps
    • Michigan Education Corps
  • PeaceCorps
  • City Year
  • Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)
  • Teach for America

• Attend an Info Session. Questions about a graduate program? Some programs will offer in-person or virtual info sessions to learn more about a program you might be considering 
  • Consider attending a GVSU Graduate School info session for a program of interest
  • Check out GVSU’s Graduate School Podcast Series for more information
• Gather information on whether to pursue graduate education and a timeline for preparing for graduate study.

Some common post-undergraduate pathways in Human and Public Service may include:

• Law School
  • Check out the Pre-Law FAQ page for numerous resources and answers to many of your questions about pursuing a career in law
  • See the list of ABA-approved Law Schools
• MPA, MPH, Public Policy, and MPNL 
  • GV Master of Public Administration
  • GV Master of Public Health
  • Master’s in Public Policy Programs: https://www.naspaa.org/schools-search
  • GV Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
• So You Want to be a Therapist? 
  • Check out this great resource created by the Psychology Department outlining the different pathways you can take to pursue this career
  • GV Master of Social Work; Find a list of accredited SW programs on the CSWE
  • Find a list of accredited counseling programs through CACREP
• Higher Education
  • For those interested in pursuing careers within higher ed administration or student affairs settings: College Student Affairs Leadership (CSAL)
• Police Academy/Law Enforcement
  • GVSU Police Academy

• Personal Statements: The personal statement is an opportunity to introduce yourself and share your story in a well-crafted narrative. Find a collection of tips and resources from the Fellowship Office and meet with the Writing Center, your Career Advisor, or faculty for additional feedback
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): You may be asked to create a CV as part of your application. This is a more comprehensive resume demonstrating your full academic credentials including research, teaching, publications, and more!
  • Check out our online Resume guide or stop by CareerLab for additional help
• Graduate School Entrance Exams: Depending on the program, you may be required to take an entrance exam such as the GRE or LSATS. Be sure to check the specific program to understand requirements and recommended score ranges
  • Khan Academy LSAT Prep site (free & official partner of LSAC)
  • LSAT preparation and resources: GoGrad's LSAT Guidebook
  • Check CLAS Advising for GRE practice test opportunities  
• Ways to Finance Your Graduate Education: https://www.gvsu.edu/gs/financial-support-28.htm   
  • Look into Graduate Assistantships and scholarships you may be eligible to apply for to help offset costs
  • If you are working, see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement benefits

• LARA is the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs department for the State of Michigan. Learn more about licensing or certifications required for your field. If moving out of state, be sure to check with that state’s licensing board. 
• The Center for Adult and Continuing Studies offers continuing education programs for Educators and Social Workers
• Learn more about the badges and certificates offered by Grand Valley to help expand your skill set and enhance your professional profile

Summer can be a great way to develop teaching skills, discover alternative pathways, work on continuing education, or take a break before the upcoming academic year. Whether you are just starting out, a seasoned educator, or  looking for something new, explore these resources to make the most of summer break!

• Continuing Education Opportunities:
  • Many education conferences happen during the summer- check out summer education conferences in Michigan 
  • Check out GVSU’s SCECHS opportunities to take self-paced continuing education credits
  • Search the Michigan Online Educator Certification System for other opportunities 

• Teaching Related Opportunities:
  • Check out summer positions within local school systems 
  • Consider teaching Driver Education  for high school students
  • Explore opportunities at Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)
  • Check out resources through the Civic Engagement Office on post-graduate service opportunities
  • Volunteer within the community or at GVSU
  • Offer tutoring services in a specialized area such as reading, writing, or math

• Attend an Info Session. Questions about a graduate program? Some programs will offer in-person or virtual info sessions to learn more about a program you might be considering 
  • Consider attending a GVSU Graduate School info session for a program of interest
  • Check out GVSU’s Graduate School Podcast Series for more information
• Gather information on whether to pursue graduate education and a timeline for preparing for graduate study.

Some common graduate pathways in Education may include:

• Higher Education- for those interested in pursuing careers within higher ed administration or student affairs settings
• Education Leadership- provides aspiring educational leaders with clinical experiences, case methods of teaching, and pragmatic curriculum geared to the specific knowledge required for success in school-level leadership for pre-K through grade 12.
• Education, Instruction, and Curriculum- allows current educators to gain a master's-level understanding and content specialization in specific areas.
  • Education Differentiation emphasis
  • Early Childhood emphasis
  • Elementary Education emphasis
  • Secondary Education emphasis
• Education, Learning, Design, and Technology- prepares professionals to design and develop effective, engaging instruction and empirically-grounded learning environments that utilize technology effectively in a variety of settings, including PK- 12, higher education, business, non-profits, and other training settings.
• School Counseling-  prepares students with the skills needed to develop, manage, implement, and assess a comprehensive school counselor program.
• Graduate Teacher Certificate (GTC)
• Special Education, M.ED
• Special Education Administration, M.ED

After passing the MTTC exam  and meeting the Teaching Certification Requirements , students are able to complete a variety of teaching certificates:

• Standard Teaching Certificate 
• Professional Teaching Certificate  
• School Administrator Certificate  

Students interested in graduate programs should explore the Education Graduate Program website and the various certificate options available: 

• Graduate Teacher Certificate (GTC)
• Graduate Certificate in Online/Blended Learning 
• Graduate Certificate in English as a Second Language (ESOL) 

For more information about certifications, the MTTC test, or questions about the process to become a teacher, check out the GVSU Education Programs Department.

Some students decide after graduation to enter the Education field but did not graduate with a teaching degree. Here are a few alternative pathways to certification:

• Department of Education Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification and Endorsement
  • Department of Education Approves Alternative Route Providers 
• GVSU alumni have served with Teach for America and used that as an avenue for certification
• Graduate Teacher Certificate (GTC)
• Many of our charter schools have alternative pathways and you can teach without certification. 
  • Home | Grand Rapids Michigan | National Heritage Academies (nhaschools.com)
  • Choice Schools
• Michigan College Access Network offers great opportunities to work in high schools or community colleges as college access advisors or college completion corps. They also offer college debt relief/college funding.