The OPTIONS Program is an initiative to support all engineering graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to explore diverse career options.
Purpose & Content
This program is designed for Master’s students considering different career opportunities. It equips you with personal and professional skills to navigate your career exploration while complementing your technical expertise.
You will:
- Create a Career Exploration Plan to achieve your goals
- Reflect and communicate the skills you develop in your graduate studies to move into different career options
- Join a dynamic cohort of Master’s students from different departments with diverse career aspirations.
The program provides:
- Four, two-hour sessions
- Two career management tools to develop an individualized, career exploration plan
- A one-on-one, 30-min meeting with a career coach
- Activities designed to help you reflect and communicate on your experiences, skills, and strengths
- A Peer Success Team to support your career exploration
Schedule
Review the OPTIONS Master’s Schedule Fall 2026 before submitting an application to ensure you can attend all four sessions. All sessions are in-person with the exception of the one-on-one career coaching appointment.
If you will experience a visa delay and might not be able to attend the first session on Thursday, October 1 in-person, please contact Joanne at joanne.lieu@utoronto.ca.
Benefits
In addition to the programming, resources, and one-on-one meeting listed above, participants who complete the program (attend three of four sessions) receive a digital certificate of completion.
Selection Criteria
- U of T Engineering Master’s student
- Strong interest in developing personal and professional skills beyond technical knowledge
- Curious about career exploration
- Eager to participate in group discussions
- Willingness to be part of a team and support your peers’ career preparation
Program Delivery
This is an interactive program (not a traditional lecture). You will participate in interactive activities and small group conversations. For online sessions, you will need to use your audio to communicate with peers and (if possible) video.
All four sessions occur live from Thursday, October 1 to Thursday, October 22 from 1 – 3 pm ET in-person.
Applicant Commitment
By applying to The OPTIONS Program, I commit to attend all four sessions. Why?
- This program is designed as an integrated sequence of sessions, and you will benefit most by attending all four sessions. We recognize some session titles or descriptions might not resonate with you. We ask that you bring curiosity, patience, and an open-mind. Since 2017, we have delivered thirteen OPTIONS cohorts to over 400 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The MOST common feedback we receive from participants is that the individual sessions build on each other to form a comprehensive, structured career management experience.
- You are joining a cohort of 40 participants, and within this cohort you are placed in a Peer Success Team of four to five participants. Over four sessions, you will work with the cohort and your team to complete program activities and discussions. By applying to this program, you are committing to the cohort and your Peer Success Team that you will attend all sessions.
- You commit to participate and engage in conversations with your peers. In particular, for online sessions you will need a quiet space and access to your audio to participate in small discussions (and, if possible, your video). During an online session, you should not be completing work outside the program, commuting, etc.
- The Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice invest a significant amount of resources and time in developing and delivering this one of a kind program to you FREE OF CHARGE. We ask that you commit to attend all four sessions AND, although not required, take advantage of the one-on-one meeting, and session materials.
- We receive more applications than the program can accommodate. By committing to this program, you are taking a spot from another student.
Most importantly, this program is here for YOU to develop your personal effectiveness, clarify your career aspirations, and have a meaningful learning experience with a supportive community of peers and instructors. There is no homework, only optional activities to accelerate your career exploration, and no grades. We recognize life happens and there might be unexpected situations that might mean you have to miss a session. That is okay! Remember, you must attend at least three of the four sessions to receive your certificate.
Applications Due
Submit your application by Monday, September 21 at 12:00PM EDT.