Graduate School

Learning Intensives

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Learning Intensives

Learning intensives enable PhD students to advance their career goals through short-term professional development opportunities. With one-day to one-week durations, these intensives address timely needs in a format that enables concise, flexible, and high-impact learning.

Learning intensives are designed to fit the needs of graduate student schedules, primarily through limited-duration commitments, online and in-person modes, and a variety of formats in order to maximize the possibility of participation. Students in learning intensives gain knowledge, learn skills, and explore career pathways. 

Each year, the menu of offerings changes, in order to adapt to the ever-changing needs of PhD education. Please see our current list below, and check back for updates, as new opportunities will be added.

2024-2025 Learning Intensives

Effective performance helps students improve communication skills through five interactive workshops with professional actors 

  • Modality: In-Person Only
  • Schedule: Sept. 27-29, 2024
    • Friday 1-3 pm 
    • Saturday 9 am-12 pm and 1-4 pm 
    • Sunday 9 am-12 pm and 1-4 pm

Learn more and apply.

A free regional conference (sponsored by Brown Graduate School) on rewarding careers at colleges and universities that primarily emphasize teaching, including liberal arts colleges, community colleges, and regional comprehensive universities

  • Modality: In-Person at Worcester State University
  • Schedule: September 27, 2024, 9:00 am-3:00 pm 

Learn more and apply.

This program helps students gain familiarity with areas of higher education administration, including discussion and guests with recent PhDs who work in staff roles at Brown

  • Modality: Online, Three Sessions via Zoom
  • Schedule: October 2, 4, and 7 (1-3 pm on all three days) 
  • Deadline: Applications due September 23

Learn more and apply

In this in-person workshop, author and independent scholar Sheryl Kaskowitz will talk about her experience conducting research and writing outside of academia. She will share her career path in editing, research & evaluation, and writing, and discuss how she secured grants to research and write her recent nonfiction book. She will also discuss what's involved in deciding between an academic and trade publisher. 

  • Modality: In-person, single session
  • Schedule: October 15, 3:30 to 5 pm, location TBD
  • Deadline: October 7

Learn more and apply

This workshop, offered by English Language Support in the Sheridan Center, will unpack speaking scenarios students may encounter at conferences, such as Q&A sessions and networking conversations. The session is primarily designed for multilingual and international-identifying graduate students, though all are welcome to attend. 

Two sessions will be offered: 

  • In-person: Friday, October 4, 2024, 12:00 - 3:00 pm (Sciences Library, Room 520)
  • Online: Friday, October 11, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (Zoom)
  • Deadline: September 27


Learn more and apply

Organized by the Swearer Center, the series will provide participants with the space to engage -- across disciplines, programs, and backgrounds -- in conversations about community engagement in their scholarship, learning, and action. Sessions will include group discussions, guest conversations with community-engaged scholars and practitioners, and dedicated time for reflection and questions. 

  • Modality: In-person, three sessions (lunch is provided)
  • Schedule: December 2, 4, 6, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm pm, location TBD
  • Deadline: November 1

Learn more and apply

Designed for humanities and social sciences students, this panel offers an opportunity to learn about careers and professional development in higher education beyond faculty roles. 

  • Modality: Hybrid (Online and In-Person) 

  • Schedule: November 13, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30 pm (lunch is provided) in the Patrick Ma Digital Scholarship Lab (Room 137) in the Rockefeller Library

  • Register via Handshake. 

Organized by Brown University Digital Publications, this workshop series serves as an introduction to scholarly publishing. Sessions will address topics such as university press structures and workflows, open access and the many flavors of digital publishing, dissertation-to-monograph, public scholarship, pitches and proposals, peer review, and much more. Sessions will include group exercises and discussions, guest speakers from the publishing industry, and dedicated time for reflection and questions. 

  • Modality: In-person, three sessions 
  • Schedule: March 3, 5, 7 (M, W, F) – 2:00 - 5:00 pm (coffee, tea, and snack provided)
  • Location: Rockefeller Library Digital Scholarship Lab (Room 137)
  • Deadline: February 1 

Application link will be available later in the fall semester.

Propose an Intensive

Do you have an idea that would make for a good learning intensive? Staff and faculty are encouraged to submit ideas for learning intensives. Students with ideas are welcome to reach out to Byrd McDaniel directly to discuss ideas.