Professional Practice Experience

Background

Junior Professional Practice (PROFPRAC 39XX or DEPT 39XX) provides third-year students who have completed between 60 and 90 credits with various professional practice activities so that they will be prepared for life after SAIC in a wide variety of professional contexts. The course emphasizes a hands-on, real-world curriculum. Students will engage in a semester-long, faculty-defined creative project, as well as an online project. Additional course activities may include preparing a CV, networking with alumni and other key figures in their fields of interest, or giving an artist talk or scholarly presentation.

The Junior Professional Practice course is usually a three-credit course, and, as determined by each department, can function as either a seminar or a studio. Depending on course format, each section will meet for either five hours weekly or for three hours weekly. The sections that meet for three hours weekly include the expectation that students are completing six hours of work outside class, which might include portfolio development, project development, proposal writing, and networking in fields of artistic or scholarly interest. Some Professional Practice courses integrate studio projects while others focus exclusively on the stated professional practice learning goals. Courses listed as PROFPRAC 39XX are open to all third-year students who have completed Sophomore Seminar or Research Studio for Transfer Students. PROFPRAC 39XX courses can be either interdisciplinary or discipline-specific with departmental prerequisites.

Junior Professional Practice is the second course in the three-course sequence of the Academic Spine (Sophomore Seminar, Junior Professional Practice, and Senior Capstone), which is required for all freshmen who began their undergraduate degrees at SAIC (transfer students must take Research Studio for Transfer Students, Junior Professional Practice, and Senior Capstone). Professional Practice is offered in both the fall and spring semesters, to give students flexibility in incorporating this requirement into their schedule. PROFPRAC 39XX should always be taken when students have between 60-90 credits completed (roughly third or junior year for a full-time student). This course is a prerequisite for all Senior Capstone courses, to ensure the Spine courses are completed in sequential order.
 

Course Description

In the Professional Practice Experience (PROFPRAC 39XX or DEPARTMENT 39XX) you will engage in a wide variety of professional practice activities to help prepare you for life after SAIC. Course assignments include preparing a CV, creating a website, writing a statement, attending events and more. Additional activities may include giving an artist talk, conducting an interview or hosting a community event. The course emphasizes hands-on, real-world professional activities and opportunities for emerging artists, designers, and scholars. You should plan to take Professional Practice Experience during your third year at SAIC.
 

At the conclusion of the Professional Practice Experience, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and practiced understanding of professional writing and research skills. 
   Examples of evidence: a professional application packet of their choice. This is a required assignment that is consistent across all 39XX. Pre uploaded to canvas.
    
2. Present a body of work online in a professional context, demonstrating critical awareness of audience and selection of work.
   Examples of evidence: website, canvas portfolio, substack, professional social media account, etc.     
    
3. Network with relevant practitioners, organizations, and institutions in students’ field(s) of interest, with an attention to identifying key figures and situating their own work within these fields.
   Examples of evidence: Students are required to engage with CAPX at least three times. This on campus professional engagement should be supplemented with off-campus real world activities such as artist interviews, attendance at panel discussions, gallery openings, artist talks and more. 
    
4. Implement a well-planned creative act that applies and enhances your professional skills. 
   Examples of evidence: design a personal logo, branding for your materials, host an open studio or present your artist statements in class
    

Professional Practice Courses

The information below updates twice a week—it is possible that changes may occur between updates. Up-to-the-minute information for enrolled students can always be found at PeopleSoft Self-Service.

Contact Us

For all questions about the undergraduate Academic Spine curriculum, please email saic-academicspine@saic.edu.