The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) believes that preparing for a fulfilling, meaningful, and productive life and career is one of the most important services we provide for Pratt students and alumni. We inspire, support, and educate students and alumni providing a holistic approach to career development. 

Career staff assist students and alumni on internship and job searches, freelancing and small business planning, life coaching and mindfulness practices for engaged creativity. Support is offered for portfolio reviews, exhibition submissions, grants, fellowships, residencies, and Fulbright grants. We encourage peer learning through our Career Advocate program and Student Events Team. 

• Life and Career Planning
  Career center staff offer one-to-one guidance and present workshops to assist students to cultivate effective career development skills. Staff work with students on résumés, cover letters, portfolio, mock interviews, and basic and advanced personal and professional development action plans. We guide students through their internship and job search, implementation of freelance and studio practices, and entrepreneurship and small business planning. Appointments can be scheduled via Pratt Pro (under Career Center)

• Job and Internship Search
  The CCPD manages Pratt Pro, the go-to resource for students seeking internships, full- or part-time staff positions, freelance work, or volunteer positions. Employers from all industries around the world seeking Pratt talent post thousands of opportunities each year. CCPD staff stay abreast of changing trends and employer needs, maintain relationships with employers and internship providers nationally and internationally, and offer curated opportunity fairs, networking events, and portfolio reviews.

• Professional Development Programming
  Guest speakers and recruiters come to campus every semester to speak about careers in creative industries, review portfolios, and hold interview sessions. We welcome classroom visits to the Center every semester and offer presentations on résumé building, networking, interviewing skills, developing an online presence, portfolio presentation, self-promotion, freelancing, and starting your own business. Individual and

• Entrepreneurship + Innovation: The Ignition Lab
  The CCPD delivers resources for students and alumni who want to become successful entrepreneurs through the Ignition Lab program, which consists of 5 sessions over a 7-month period, live streaming of industry innovator speakers, and culminates in a pitch competition. 

The staff of the CCPD welcomes your questions. To find out how the CCPD can help you, contact career@pratt.edu.

PRATT INSTITUTE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Each Pratt student has the opportunity to gain hands-on and virtual professional experience in New York City and beyond through an academic internship program administered in collaboration with department faculty. The CCPD supports students in gaining hands-on professional experience interning at companies such as Oscar De La Renta, the Guggenheim Museum, Knoll, GLAAD, and Warner Media, and many more.

Internships play a crucial role in developing skills and offering professional perspectives. An internship at Pratt is an academic opportunity available to full-time matri­culated students every semester, including summer semester. For more information about internships, such as eligibility, the registration process, and deadlines, go to https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-services/center-for-career-and-professional-development/internship-program/. In most cases, students must complete at least one full semester to be eligible for academic credit for an internship.

What Are Internships?

Internships are learning experiences in the workplace that relate to students’ major or professional pursuits. Interns are able to take the skills and theories learned in the classroom and apply them to real-life work experi­ence. Intern­ships are an opportunity to try a specific field, organization, or company and participate as a trainee within that site. Internships also allow students to develop a network of professional contacts and build relationships in the field, which will serve them well as emerging professionals.

Some key components of a Pratt internship:

• The experience is a full semester.
• The experience can be paid or unpaid.
• Internships are available to all domestic, international, and transfer students during their time at Pratt.
• Internship credits vary from 0 to 3 credits based on student need, number of hours worked, and individual departmental policy.
• To obtain academic credit for an internship, students must be enrolled in an internship course at the same time they are participating in the internship.

Students are required to watch the required Internship Orientation video (found here) before registering for an internship course. The video will inform about the internship program, how to begin an internship search, and how to find departmental eligibility information.

Following the completion of the video, look through the Academic Internship Guide to clarify any questions and subsequently complete either the international student or domestic student internship quiz.

Book an appointment to learn more about internships through Pratt Pro or contact career@pratt.edu.

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Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Rhonda Schaller
rschal20@pratt.edu

Associate Directors
Carl Fengler
cfengler@pratt.edu

Hera Marashian
hmarashi@pratt.edu

Deborah Yanagisawa
dyanagis@pratt.edu

Assistant Director
Mackenzie Adriance
madrianc@pratt.edu

Career Development and Industry Specialist
Alex Fisher
afish299@pratt.edu

Professional Development Specialist
Sam Harvey
sharvey@pratt.edu

Office
career@pratt.edu
Tel: 718.636.3506
www.pratt.edu/ccpd