Career Catalyst Program
About
CC’s Career Catalyst Program brings professional experience into the classroom, and CC 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 courses 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.
GRATITUDE TO OUR DONORS
With the generous support from donors, we’re working to ensure cost is never a barrier to opportunity and Career Catalyst Blocks are accessible to all students.
Thank you to Liz MacLean Larned ’83 P’21, P’23 and Barry MacLean P’83, G’21, G’23 for their transformational $2.5M gift in support of the Career Catalyst program.
[Read More About Their Gift →]
Experiential Education as a Course (Not All Inclusive)
|
TYPE |
Career Catalyst Block (CCB) |
Community Engaged Learning (CEL) |
Field Studies (FS) |
|
Type of Engagement |
Immersive, site-based interdisciplinary experience embedded within a single organization for a minimum of 7 to 10 days |
Disciplinary or interdisciplinary in nature collaborative projects or assignments with community partners to address real-world issues |
Disciplinary, site-based learning, typically involving multiple locations, not typically embedded within a single organization for over a week.
|
|
Partner Types |
Corporations, NGO’s, Civic Institutions, non-profits |
Mission-driven organizations (nonprofits, grassroots groups, government agencies, etc.) |
Research sites, cultural institutions, natural environments, laboratories, government agencies, community organizations, etc. |
|
Focus |
Understanding how an organization functions internally and apply interdisciplinary knowledge to organizational challenge(s). Intentional reflection. |
Apply course content to community-identified needs, contributing to positive social change |
Observing, analyzing, and interpreting phenomena in real-world contexts to deepen disciplinary knowledge and connect theory to practice |
|
Design Structure |
Co-designed by CC faculty and host organization; meets CCB established learning outcomes; focused on a central question that aligns with CC values |
Faculty – designed with input from community partners; integrated into course objectives and assignments |
Faculty-designed; fieldwork, site visits, and experiential activities are integrated into course objectives and assignments |
|
Outcomes |
Enhanced professional skills, career exploration, strengthened career competencies. |
Enhanced civic learning, deeper understanding of social issues, meaningful community relationships, and strengthened identified competencies |
Strengthened disciplinary expertise, applied research and analytical skills, increased adaptability in varied settings, and enhanced competencies in observation, interpretation, and synthesis |
Express Interest in a Career Catalyst Block
Faculty interested in developing a Career Catalyst Block are invited to submit this form to share their ideas and indicate interest. Whether you already have a community or industry partner in mind or are seeking guidance in identifying one, the Career Catalyst team can help you shape an immersive, career-connected learning experience that aligns with your academic goals. Submitting this form is a great first step toward exploring how your course or project can connect students with real-world challenges and professional pathways.
Career Catalyst Blocks: Present & Past
Academic Year 2025-2026
- Evolving How We Narrate Evolution: National Geographic and the Role of Educational Nonprofits, Block 2, Washington, DC
- The Art and Science of Convening for Social Change at the Aspen Institute, Block 6, Aspen, CO and Washington, DC
- The Judiciary at the Hall of Justice, Block 7, San Francisco, CA
- Burning Questions: Wildfire Journalism & Ecology at Colorado Firecamp, Block 8, Chafee County, CO
Academic Year 2023-2024
Benefits for Students
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.
- Gain experience working on real‑world challenges
- Develop skills in communication, critical thinking, and creative problem solving
- Learn directly from industry professionals partnered with CC faculty
- Build confidence and clarity around your professional goals
- Earn academic credit in an immersive, high‑impact format
“Having that layer of a CC professor to guide the experience takes it to a whole other level.”
— Olivia Xerras ’24, Marketing Analyst, Mattel Inc.
Alumni, Parents & Family, Friends of the College - Partner with Us
Interested in hosting a Career Catalyst Block or live client project?
We’re seeking industry, nonprofit, and public-sector partners who want to work with creative, motivated liberal arts students on real-world challenges. Blocks can be structured to meet your organization’s needs while creating meaningful educational experiences for students.
You can find more information here.
Let’s build the future together.
Questions
If you have questions, please reach out to eeatcc@coloradocollege.edu and we will direct your question to a member of the Career Catalyst Team.