Careers

What can you do with a degree in AES?

With a sophisticated understanding of issues related to power and social justice in American societies, AES graduates thrive in any role that deals with diverse groups of people. The cultural competency they learn through scholarship and hands-on experience enables them to create respectful, effective working relationships in a variety of organizations.

Many of our alumni pursue careers explicitly related to our department’s social justice mission as public servants, educators, attorneys or scholars. Our graduates find successful careers as experts in dealing with relationships across different kinds of communities. They bring additional in-demand skills to their careers, including the ability to communicate across different media, to adapt to different working styles, and to analyze complex problems and develop effective solutions.

Example Alumni Professions

  • Academic Adviser
  • Attorney
  • Civil Rights Director
  • Community Affairs Specialist
  • Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Educator
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing Director
  • Professor
  • State Representative
  • Web Developer
  • Youth Counselor

Example Alumni Employers

  • Amazon
  • Boeing
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Nike
  • Princeton University
  • Providence Health System
  • Seattle Art Museum
  • Seattle School District
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs
  • UC San Diego
  • University of Washington
  • Wing Luke Asian Museum

Alumni Profiles

  • Alumni News — Read about the careers and achievements of our alumni.
  • There's a Job for That! — Take a quick quiz to learn what College of Arts & Sciences alumni with similar interests have done since graduating.
  • UW LinkedIn — See career trajectories of UW graduates who studied AES, as well as other fields.

Internships

Gain career experience through internships, fellowships, and other learning opportunities, both on- and off-campus.

Career  and Job Resources

University of Washington offers numerous resources to help students build the skills to launch their careers:

  • Idealist.org — This independent career search engine provides job postings for institutions with a specific insight on non-profit job postings
  • hr.uw.edu/jobs/ - this is the University of Washington job postings good for recently graduated undergrads to find staff work at either Bothell, Seattle or Tacoma campuses
  • C21: Center for 21st Century Liberal Learning — Offers immersive learning experiences, partnerships both on campus and in the community, and a network of mentors to help guide students in the College of Arts & Sciences on the pathway toward selecting a major and preparing for a career after college.
  • Career & Internship Center — Educates and supports students as they explore and choose academic majors and career options, obtain and reflect upon career-related experiences, and develop professional presence and essential skills for workplace success.
  • Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center — Coordinates and connects students to community-based experiences in and around Seattle.
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