Emergent Metric: Career-Aligned Learning Experiences

In an increasingly competitive job market where a college degree does not guarantee post-graduation success, career-aligned learning experiences are increasingly important. These opportunities help students learn to apply what they’re learning in a professional context, develop new technical and durable skills, gain professional experience, and prepare for successful careers. Students who participate in career-aligned learning experiences such as internships, co-ops, and applied projects earn significantly more, report higher career satisfaction, and are more likely to secure employment that requires a college degree. By expanding access to quality career-aligned learning opportunities, we can better fulfill our mission to prepare students for successful careers and lives of purpose and meaning, while strengthening our region’s talent pipeline to meet critical workforce needs.

UNT is one of eight institutions across the country, and the only one in Texas, selected to participate in the National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator supported by the Strada Education Foundation and JPMorgan Chase. This recognition reflects UNT’s commitment to advancing career-aligned learning and positions the university as a leader in developing innovative approaches to connect education with career outcomes. As part of this work, UNT is piloting new career-aligned learning experiences in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences beginning in spring 2026, with insights and high-impact practices that will inform university-wide expansion.

In August 2025, UNT fielded its first campuswide inventory to better understand the kinds of career-aligned learning experiences embedded into courses across the university. The survey asked faculty to report on courses where experiential learning components are integrated with the curriculum, including the types of experiences involved such as internships, projects for industry partners, clinical experiences, volunteering, and creative exhibitions or performances. While the survey was optional and represents a starting point rather than a comprehensive assessment, it provides initial insights into the universe of experiences and opportunities available to UNT students. 

This dashboard highlights the broad range of career-aligned experiences integrated into UNT’s academic courses, ranging from traditional internships and clinical placements to creative exhibitions, industry-sponsored projects, and community-based learning. Some academic programs have well-established, structured approaches to embedding these experiences into their curricula, particularly in fields where professional practice or clinical training are standard requirements. 

These preliminary findings highlight both the foundation UNT has built and the opportunities ahead. Many programs have established relationships with industry partners that provide students with professional experiences before graduation, such as the Amazon Career Choice program. Capstone courses offer students opportunities for deep, applied learning to hone specialized skills. Through research institutes, department-level partnerships, and collaboration with prominent companies in North Texas, UNT also provides direct resources, training, and professional development opportunities for students.

As an emergent metric, these data have important limitations. The voluntary nature of the survey means some programs and experiences may not be reflected in these initial results. More comprehensive data collection related to career-aligned learning will enable better assessment of program quality, increased access to career-aligned learning opportunities, and stronger connections between these experiences and long-term career success.