Advising & Career Center
Students at graduation with their arms in the air in celebration as The School of Human Ecology is announced.

Just Graduated?

Report your post-grad plans here

Post-Graduation

Whether you are moving on to your first-full time job, graduate or professional school, or a year of service, post-graduation transitions can be stressful. The Advising & Career Center is here to help you. Use these resources to get started.

Considering Your Next Steps

Thinking about graduate school?

Deciding whether or not to go to graduate school should be a process of careful reflection and planning. Graduate school focuses exclusively on one area of study and is oriented towards either research or professional preparation. It’s a great step if you know what you want to study and what your goals are for obtaining your advanced degree.

Read the SoHE Graduate School Guide and use the resources below to begin your search for the right graduate program. Your SoHE Career Advisor can also serve as a resource throughout this process!

Looking for post-graduate employment?

Use this worksheet to guide your job search strategy.

Then, take a look at our Job Search Resources page for comprehensive major-specific career guides designed to walk you through the job search process, along with links to local, nationwide and worldwide job sites.

You can also learn about different types of careers related to your SoHE major or field of interest via the lists below:

Considering a year of service?

UW–Madison continually ranks as one if the top schools in the nation for students who volunteer with service organizations post-graduation. A year of service can be a great way for new grads to develop hands-on skills working with and serving a wide variety of communities.

Check out this document for suggested questions as you explore service program opportunities.  Here are a few sites mentioned in the video and documents to start exploring possibilities for service years.

Current Post-Graduate Job Opportunities

See below for a list of post-graduate job opportunities separated by major. There is a separate tab for each major in the School of Human Ecology. The tabs include:

  • Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
  • Community and Organizational Development
  • Design, Innovation and Society
  • Human Development and Family Studies
  • Interior Architecture
  • Personal Finance
  • Textiles and Fashion Design

First Destination Survey Results

Results from the 2023-24 campus-wide First Destination Survey show that based on a 46% response rate, 78.7% of respondents from the School of Human Ecology indicated they were planning to work, serve in the military, or a volunteer program. Of that 78.7%, 52.9% secured employment within the first 6 months of graduation. Additionally, 21% of respondents indicated they were planning to continue their education, with 83% pursuing a Master’s degree, 8% a doctorate, 4% a second Bachelor’s degree, and 4% a certificate. Human Ecology graduates reported employment in 16 states/territories and 10 Wisconsin counties. 100% of respondents participated in a workplace experience while at the UW (internship/co-op, employment, volunteer work, research, clinical, practicum, or student teaching). 88% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that UW-Madison prepared them for the next step in their career path.

Post-Graduate Positions: Where Are They Now?

Since the 2016–17 academic year, 79% of School of Human Ecology (SoHE) graduates who completed the First Destination Survey (FDS) at the time of graduation reported plans to work, serve in the military, or participate in a service program post-graduation. This interactive map highlights the wide range of careers our alumni have reported.

The data featured here is drawn from FDS responses from Fall 2019–Fall 2024 graduates, along with the SoHE Alumni Career Development Survey, administered to alumni 1–3 years post-graduation in December 2019 and 2022.

To explore the wide range of career pathways by major, expand the map using the icon in the upper right-hand corner and apply the available filters.

View a Google Sheet of these experiences.

Visit wisc.joinhandshake.com to explore additional jobs in your desired field!

Career Pathways of Human Ecology Graduates

Map symbol key:
A green circle showcasing an upward graph trend that symbolizes the Personal Finance Major on the map Personal Finance                 A dark pink circle showcasing two buildings that symbolizes the Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies Major on the map Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies

An orange circle showcasing a house that symbolizes the Interior Architecture Major on the map Interior Architecture           A yellow circle showcasing a smaller white circle that symbolizes the Community and Nonprofit Leadership Major on the mapCommunity & Organizational Development

A purple circle showcasing a white hanger that symbolizes the Textiles and Fashion Design Major on the mapTextiles & Fashion Design A blue circle showcasing two humans walking that symbolizes the Human Development and Family Studies Major on the mapHuman Development & Family Studies

 

 

 

Continuing Education Pathways of Human Ecology Graduates

 

Map symbol key:
A green circle showcasing an upward graph trend that symbolizes the Personal Finance Major on the map Personal Finance                 A dark pink circle showcasing two buildings that symbolizes the Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies Major on the map Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies

An orange circle showcasing a house that symbolizes the Interior Architecture Major on the map Interior Architecture           A yellow circle showcasing a smaller white circle that symbolizes the Community and Nonprofit Leadership Major on the mapCommunity & Organizational Development

A purple circle showcasing a white hanger that symbolizes the Textiles and Fashion Design Major on the mapTextiles & Fashion Design A blue circle showcasing two humans walking that symbolizes the Human Development and Family Studies Major on the mapHuman Development & Family Studies

 

 

 

Since the 2016–17 academic year, 15.2% of School of Human Ecology (SoHE) graduates who completed the First Destination Survey (FDS) at the time of graduation reported plans to pursue further education. This interactive map highlights the diverse graduate and professional programs our students and alumni have attended around the world.

The data featured here is drawn from FDS responses from Spring 2020–Fall 2024 graduates, along with the SoHE Alumni Career Development Survey, administered to alumni 1–3 years post-graduation in December 2019 and 2022.

To explore the wide range of continuing education pathways by major, expand the map using the icon in the upper right-hand corner and apply the available filters.