Welcome to External Programs, Internships & Career Services
External Programs, Internships, & Career Services (EPICS) provides personalized guidance, comprehensive resources, and opportunities for School of Communication graduate and undergraduate students to explore their career interests and develop meaningful connections with alumni and industry professionals as they prepare for life beyond Northwestern.
How do we do this?
- We demystify industries and career paths
- We foster an environment that promotes serious play, resiliency, and confidence
- We program events and create content that foster a collaborative environment for students to explore potential lifelong interests ranging from creative fields to health professions
Upcoming Events
- Oct142025
SoC I EPICS: Life After NU - Made You Look! Shape Your Marketing Career
5:00 PM
Hear from recent SoC grads about what life has been like after graduating and navigating the transition from college to career. Get an edge with career tips from young professionals building a career in Marketing.
- Oct202025
SoC I EPICS: Casting Unfiltered - Q&A with Chicago Casting Directors
5:00 PM
1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208Join us for an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from casting directors and producers from three of Chicago’s leading theatre companies. This interactive Q&A is designed for School of Communication students, with a special focus on actors seeking insight into the casting process, industry trends, and professional advice.
Whether you’re preparing for your next audition or exploring careers in theatre, this is your chance to ask questions, gain practical advice, and learn from leaders shaping Chicago theatre today.Katie Galetti, Artistic Producer & Casting Director at Writers Theatre
JC Clementz, Director of Casting and Artistic Operations at Steppenwolf
Lauren Port, Casting Director at Goodman - Oct202025
Dean E. Patrick Johnson Dialogue with Fan-Gang Zeng
6:30 PM
1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208Dialogue with the Dean is a series of conversations with emerging and established communicators who are advancing the futures of their fields, challenging paradigms, and creating new knowledge.
Fan-Gang Zeng, Ph.D., is Chancellor’s Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Cognitive Sciences, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and Director of the Center for Hearing Research at University of California, Irvine. He is a leader in hearing science and technology, with 323 publications, 20,381 citations, and an h-index of 68 (Google Scholar, August 19, 2025). He serves as the Editorial Board Chairman for The Hearing Journal and has provided advisory service to the NIH, NSF, American Tinnitus Association, Hyperacusis Research, Beijing Audiology Association, Paris Hearing Institute, Providence Center, Syntiant, and over a dozen AI and medical device companies. He led the development of the Nurotron 26-electrode cochlear implant and SoundCure tinnitus suppressor.
Handshake
EPICS is integrated with Handshake, Northwestern’s central career services hub. Through this platform, students can access job and internship opportunities, schedule career appointments with EPICS staff, and stay updated on career events and workshops—all to support your career planning and job search.