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
- Jan302026
SoC I EPICS: Q&A With Janet Lin
3:00 PM
1920 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208Join us for a Q&A with Emmy-Nominated Writer Janet Lin moderated by Assistant Professor Brett Neveu. She is currently developing three series – a DC Wonder Woman series Paradise Lost for HBOMax, a show set in the Game of Thrones universe, The Golden Empire of Yi Ti for HBO, as well as a genre procedural about a werewolf in a retirement home, RISC, for FOX. She has most recently staffed on two upcoming series for Amazon, 56 Days and Rise of the Empress. Her credits also include: Bridgerton, Cursed, The Orville, Forever, The Night Shift and Bones. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two stretchy sons.
- Feb032026
SoC I EPICS: Life After NU - Data Meets Design: The Art & Science of Engagement
5:00 PM
How do you capture attention and create meaningful engagement in today’s digital-first world? At the intersection of art, technology, and strategy, alumni are shaping the future of connection through sports marketing, analytics, digital media, and game design. In this Life After NU panel, you’ll hear from alumni as they share their career paths, industry insights, and advice for navigating what comes next.
- Feb062026
SoC I EPICS: Site Visit to Chicago Advertising Career Day
8:00 AM
1213 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607Ready to step inside the world of advertising? EPICS is covering tickets for a select group of students to attend Chicago Advertising Federation’s (CAF) Career Day —a high-energy, full-day experience that brings together 300+ students, grads, and early-career creatives who are serious about breaking into Chicago’s ad scene. If you want to understand how advertising actually works—and how to get hired—this is the place to be.
Communication Studies undergraduate students are being given first priority for registration. Don't miss out!
This event will include:
-Keynotes that inspire
-Panels that spill the industry secrets
-Networking lunch with agency pros
-Connection to people who recruit talent
-ickets are intended for students able to participate in the full day.Need a ride? If transportation to UIC is a barrier for you to attend, please let us know in your registration. We are exploring options for transportation if needed.
Registration Requirement:
To secure your EPICS-sponsored spot, please submit a brief (2–4 sentence) note sharing why attending CAF Career Day would support your career development.
Spots are limited—don’t wait to make connections, gain information, and prepare for your next career move.
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.



