Global Education and Field Study
Career Catalyst Blocks
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Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s Career Catalyst Program brings professional experience into the classroom, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students out into the real world. These immersive courses connect liberal arts learning to hands-on, curriculum-connected projects in a wide range of industries.
Career Catalyst Blocks are designed and led by faculty in partnership with the organizations and take full advantage of the Block Plan’s flexibility. Whether on campus or embedded at a partner organization, students work in teams to solve problems, collaborate with professionals, and gain the confidence and skills needed to thrive after college.
FAQs Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs
How is a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB different from other Blocks Away?
How is a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB different from other Blocks Away?
In many ways a Career Catalyst Block is just a type of Block Away, but there are some significant differences. Here are 5:
- Unlike most Blocks Away, a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB normally starts on campus and ends on campus with 10-14 days spent at the host organization during weeks 2-3 of the block. The course combines the classroom with on-site experiential learning and immersion.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB courses are not announced on a standard timeline like other Blocks Away. The College must negotiate with our host organization, and sometimes the final agreement to host a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB means that the course is announced only a few months before it will be offered, so a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB can have a very accelerated recruitment, enrollment, and pre-departure timeline.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB Aid Awards have their own funding, not linked to standard Block Away Aid Awards, so receiving aid for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB does not remove one of the two Block Away Aid Awards eligible students are able to use. For this reason a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB can be a 3rd Block Away for a student who uses aid awards to join Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ off-campus blocks.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB Applications may require students to submit a résumé or a short video on a theme tied to the course. This process helps Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the partner organization identify students who are honed into the focus and the emphases of the program's immersion component.
- Unlike many Blocks Away, one of the primary focus points for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB is on the connections between a Liberal Arts education and career paths that may not seem directly linked to your major or area of specialization. There is always a career exploration and competency-building aspect to a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB that may not be similar to the academic focus of another off-campus block.
What can a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB do for me?
What can a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB do for me?
Career Catalyst Blocks are innovative courses that integrate classroom learning with real-world challenges and offer students the chance to apply what they’ve learned in a fast-paced, professionally engaged setting — without pausing their academic journey. Through a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB, students...
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Gain experience working on real‑world challenges
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Develop skills in communication, critical thinking, and creative problem solving
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Learn directly from industry professionals partnered with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ faculty
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Build confidence and clarity around your professional goals
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Earn academic credit in an immersive, high‑impact format
What are some examples of recent Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs?
What are some examples of recent Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs?
Some of the recent Career Catalyst Blocks have included students spending 2 weeks at Mattel headquarters in L.A., exploring the U.S. justice system in the San Francisco Bay Area, learning how science is made approachable at National Geographic, and exploring the reality of wildfires and their environmental and economic impacts while attending Colorado Fire Camp.
You can check in on recent Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB's on our page dedicated to Recent Off-Campus Blocks.
How can I learn about current Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs being offered?
How can I learn about current Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs being offered?
You can find current year Career Catalyst Blocks, including any that are seeking applications right now, can be found on our Current Blocks Away page.
Check back periodically as Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵBs can be announced and open application cycles at any point during the year, a major difference from other off-campus blocks.
How do I apply for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB?
How do I apply for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB?
As with other Block Away courses, you apply for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB through Summit. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB application may look a bit different from other blocks away and may ask for a résumé or other additional materials. You will also want to look for the deadline as most Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB application periods are shorter than the standard Block Away application window.
If there is a Career Catalyst Block currently open for applications, it will appear on .
How does aid work for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB?
How does aid work for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB?
While the timing for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB Aid Awards, just like the timing for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB applications, is quite different from other Blocks Away, the aid itself is very similar.
Once approved for a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB in Summit, you will automatically be reviewed for aid eligibility. If you are eligible, an aid award letter will be sent to you, outlining the amount of your award. All awards represent a percentage of the cost of the travel program, ranging from 20% awards up to 90% awards. The award will take into account the advertised program fee for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB as well as airfare, if it is not included in the program cost. No awards provide 100% coverage of the cost, so there will be some portion which you or your family will be expected to pay.
Quick Links to More Block Away & Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵB Information
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