For Students:
With an HSS Degree, you can do nearly anything. That is incredibly empowering, especially in a rapidly changing job market. But it can also be intimidating and frightening. In the Passage to the Future Program, we help you navigate the challenges of the contemporary job market and make the most of your degree.
In the program, you will:
- Reflect upon, enhance, and articulate the skills and knowledge you are learning in your degree programs
- Explore the wide variety of rewarding careers available to HSS majors
- Develop professional habits and ways of thinking that can enhance career prospects and performance
- Build Professional Communication Skills and Networks
You will do so in:
- A 3 Unit Course: HSS 200: Careers in the Humanities and Social Sciences, where you will reflect, explore, and design a path towards life and career success.
- An approved HSS Elective that will teach you skills unique to a potential career path.
- An outside Internship program where you will gain the experience that can open up opportunities after graduation.
- Regular Passage to the Future events, where you can meet fellow students, network with alumni, and interact with professionals in various fields.
For Partners:
Shape the Future: Partner with Passage
Invest in Talent. Inspire Success. Drive Economic Mobility.
The Passage to the Future program is a premier career-integrated pathway that bridges the gap between a Humanities and Social Sciences degree and a meaningful career. By partnering with us, you are directly supporting the CSU Promise: the guarantee that every student graduates ready for the workforce. Our students are equipped with "durable skills" validated through our newly formalized pre-professional certificate program, making them a diverse and highly motivated talent pool- including the 39% of our participants who are the first in their families to attend college.
How You Can Make an Impact: Offer Transformative Internships: Join a network of 60+ industry partners and tap into a pipeline of Titans ready to apply their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in real-world settings. Last year, our program saw a 168% increase in internship placements, proving the high demand for our career-ready graduates.
Mentor the Next Generation: Invest your time and expertise in our signature Titans Reach Higher Weekend and Passage Speaker Series. Professionals and alumni serve as mentors, conducting mock interviews and sharing personal career stories that help students envision themselves as future leaders and changemakers.
Fund Proven Outcomes: Your donations keep these life-changing opportunities accessible as we scale to serve 10% of the HSS student body. We use an evidence-based approach, collaborating with the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) to track the long-term job placement and salary growth of our graduates, ensuring your investment drives measurable economic mobility.
“As a first-gen student, Passage has been like my personal keychain; every mentor, lesson, and connection has been another key opening doors I never even knew were there. Those doors have led me to experiences I wouldn’t have accessed on my own, from gaining clarity, building professional confidence, to forming connections in the field I want to enter.”
- Angel Rincon, Political Science Major
“Passage to the Future has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what my career can look like, beginning with a degree in social science. Passage to the Future has invited me to a variety of different conferences and networking events that have connected me with professionals in fields that interest me. By seizing these opportunities, I have gained the confidence to navigate professional settings and envision a future where my academic background serves as a strong foundation for impactful work”
-Isadora Santos, Political Science Major
“Passage to the Future has been the most transformative program of my college career. I am a first-generation Latina college student, and this program has helped me overcome imposter syndrome, embrace the value of networking, and pursue professional development with confidence. Since joining Passage, I have had the opportunity to participate in experiences that have shaped both my academic and professional journey, including completing two internships, receiving hands-on training in Apple technology, and being recognized by the United States Congress and the County of Orange. Passage has not only opened doors but has equipped me with the skills, networks, and confidence to walk through them. It has single-handedly been the most impactful catalyst of my undergraduate experience.”
-Brianna Castillo, Sociology Major
"The Passage to the Future experience is a crucial foundational element in the overall development of CSUF Humanities and Social Sciences students. The Program provides exposure to numerous internship and employment opportunities as well as the development of critical skill sets. The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in Irvine is honored to provide paid internships to HSS students as part of our support to the Passage to the Future Program.”
-Testimonial From Our Partners