Fall, Winter, or Spring with CFS
CFS at a Glance
Chicago Field Studies combines a course and internship experience to bring academic context to the professional world, expanding learning beyond the classroom and enabling students to pursue both academic and career aspirations. This one-quarter academic internship program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all Northwestern schools and majors who wish to connect academic learning and practical experience.
CFS students participate in a weekly, 2-hour themed seminar course that relates to their internship field or industry. These classes allow you to bring theory and experience together through discussion, reflection, and theme related assignments, papers, and projects. CFS courses are either set at 4 units of credit or variable credit (1-4 units). Students who are participating for 4 units of credit are expected to dedicate their quarter exclusively to their CFS class and internship while variable credit allows students to take 1 or 2 other NU courses in addition to doing CFS. More information on CFS classes…
Students in CFS courses are required to participate in internships during their CFS quarter, as reflecting on internship experiences provides valuable context to class discussions and assignments. You are welcome to secure your own internship or work with your CFS advisor to find one that is right for you. Your internship does not have to be directly related to your major or minor but should connect to the theme of your CFS class. More information on internships…
Academic credit and grades are earned based on your coursework and participation in the CFS class. While not graded, your performance at your internship will still be evaluated by your employer. The number of hours you are required to intern increases with each unit of credit. CFS classes typically count as general credits toward graduation but may count towards majors or minors. We encourage you to talk with your academic advisors prior to applying for CFS. More information on CFS credit…
If you would like to do CFS, you should:
- Determine which quarter you have ample time to dedicate to a course + internship experience
- Select a CFS course that connects with the type or types of internships you would like to explore
- Ensure you are able to attend the Orientation, be at the first class, and participate for the full length of the quarter
- Attend an information session
- Apply to participate
course offerings
IMPORTANT DATES
Applying to CFS
You are required to attend or complete an information session prior to applying.
More about information sessions...
What to expect if you are accepted…
Costs and Financial aid
Tuition and financial aid follow the same rules for credits earned from CFS as normal course credits. You should expect transportation costs into the city to be $200-$400 if you are taking either the CTA or Metra to your internship. More information on costs and aid…
Student Experiences
Find out about the CFS experience by reading our Blog! These stories are written by CFS students while they are in their internships and classes and you can search for entries by tags such as class and internship type. You can also read stories of featured alumni of the program and how doing CFS has helped them.
Questions? Contact cfs@northwestern.edu or call 847-467-0605 during business hours