History Cougar Map

The Cougar Map is intended to guide you with suggestions for potential activities and career paths that can help you along your educational journey. Although everyone has different abilities, experiences and challenges, this Cougar Map can be used with the help of your advisors to prepare for the future you want with a clear vision of your college-to-career pathway. Please refer to the SXU Academic Catalog and academic planning resources for detailed degree requirements.

If you would like to print out the Cougar Map, please view the History Cougar Map (PDF).

Competence (Major/minor, summer suggestions, academic research)	First Year	Second Year	Third Year	Fourth Year
	Bring writing assignments to the Learning Center/Writing Studio for help in fine-tuning papers. Don’t get discouraged in your first year! For stress relief ideas, visit the Counseling Center. Take advantage of your summer by taking courses to graduate on time or earlier	Taking your Methods class? Visit the Hub for technical assistance. Visit the library for the appropriate resources in writing your research papers. Consider pursuing a second major or minor to achieve your career goals.	Pre-law students may want to consider participating in the LSAT study sessions. Consider working with a faculty member on a research project. Be mindful of important dates, i.e. semester ends and begins, deadline to withdraw from a course, petition for graduation.	Showcase your student-faculty collaborative project at the Research Expo or at a regional or national conference. Begin work on your topic for your Senior Seminar independent research project.
Character (Service, global perspective, study abroad, club RSOs, volunteering)	Consider joining a student club or intramural sports team. Clubs can include the History Club Pre-Law Association, Model United Nations Club or Student Government Association and Student Activities Board.	Research opportunities to take part in a service trip or study abroad program. Participate in the departmental mock trial or Model United Nations teams.	Take on a leadership role within a student club or organization. Participate in the Model United Nations conferences as a club member. Participate in a study abroad opportunity.	Mentor the next generation of student association officers. Get involved in service projects with Campus Ministry.
Career Success (Career or grad school prep, internships, jobs)	Complete your SXU Handshake profile for student employment with the help of Center for SUCCESS. Talk to your advisor about preparing for internship experiences such as a semester in Washington D.C.	Create a LinkedIn profile and establish meaningful connections within your academic and personal circles. Explore internships with a public history agency, community education group or government office. Attend SXU’s career-related events throughout the year and network with professionals.	Apply for summer internships with the Washington Internship Institute or at places such as the Chicago History Museum, the National Archives at Chicago, the Field Museum and the DuSable Museum of African American History. Join the American Historical Association or another history organization.	Take the GRE or LSAT exams early and apply to graduate schools in December and January. Visit Center for SUCCESS to create a job search plan, sharpen your resume and practice interviewing. Attend job, graduate school and intern fairs to help prepare you for what comes next after college.