Professional Development and Leadership

The Professional Development and Leadership (PDL) program educates students to maximize performance and achieve their full potential to become engineering leaders. Core sessions focus on development of skills and perspectives needed to compete and succeed in a fast-changing technical climate. Topics include professional portfolio (resume, cover letter, business writing, social media presence), communication skills, leadership, ethics, life management (stress, sleep, and time management) and more. Elective sessions include effective presentations, emotional intelligence, data visualization, and interview preparation.

M.S. students must complete the professional development and leadership course, ENGI E4000 PROF DEVELOPMENT&LEADERSHIP, as a graduation requirement. Doctoral students will be enrolled in ENGI E6001 Professional development and leadership for first year doctoral studentsENGI E6004 Professional development and leadership for fourth year doctoral students and should consult their program for specific PDL requirements. Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the professional development and leadership program.

Professional Development and Leadership Staff

Kaitlynn Liriano
Jenny Mak
April Neal
Elizabeth Strauss
seas-pdl@columbia.edu
pdl.engineering.columbia.edu

Professional Development and Leadership Core Faculty

Chuck Garcia: Communication
Helio Fred Garcia: Ethics and Integrity
Sophia Hyoseon Lee: English Communication
Jenny Mak: Resume
Elizabeth Strauss: Business Writing

Professional Development and Leadership Courses

M.S. Course

ENGI E4000 PROF DEVELOPMENT&LEADERSHIP. 0.00 points.

The PDL course aims to enhance and expand Columbia Engineering graduate students' interpersonal, professional, and leadership skills, through five core sessions, covering (1) in-person communication skills; (2) resume; (3) business writing; (4) social media and the job search; and (5) academic and professional ethics and integrity. ENGI E4000 also requires 5 elective sessions to further students' development based on their personal interests. Students must select at least one life management elective and one interview elective. This course is offered at the Pass/D/Fail grading option

Fall 2024: ENGI E4000
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
ENGI 4000 001/14773  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/100
ENGI 4000 002/14774  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/125
ENGI 4000 003/14775  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/150
ENGI 4000 004/14776  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/100
ENGI 4000 005/14777  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/550
ENGI 4000 006/14778  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/275
ENGI 4000 007/14779  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/60
ENGI 4000 008/14780  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/40
ENGI 4000 009/14781  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/400
ENGI 4000 010/14785 F 12:45pm - 2:45pm
428 Pupin Laboratories
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/250
ENGI 4000 010/14785 F 3:00pm - 5:00pm
428 Pupin Laboratories
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/250
ENGI 4000 011/14786 F 12:50pm - 2:50pm
501 Northwest Corner
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/200
ENGI 4000 011/14786 F 3:00pm - 5:00pm
501 Northwest Corner
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/200
ENGI 4000 012/14787 M W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
Room TBA
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/125
ENGI 4000 013/14788 M W 2:40pm - 3:55pm
Room TBA
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/300
ENGI 4000 014/14782  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/200
ENGI 4000 016/14783  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/30

Doctoral Courses

ENGI E6001 Professional development and leadership for first year doctoral students. 0.00 points.

For first year doctoral students, emphasizing the skills needed for success in orienting them to Columbia and doctoral studies, including teaching and presentation skills (i.e., Microteaching, how to grade, hold office hours, conduct recitations, etc.); cultivating relationships with mentors, faculty, and colleagues; inclusivity; managing your budget; wellness; research and academic integrity and ethics

Fall 2024: ENGI E6001
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
ENGI 6001 001/15544  
Jenny Mak, Elizabeth Strauss 0.00 0/175

ENGI E6002 Professional development and leadership for second year doctoral students. 0.00 points.

ENGI E6002 is designed for second year doctoral students, emphasizing the skills needed for continued success in the doctoral program, including presentation and communication skills; academic writing skills; academic conference preparation; resiliency and project management skills

ENGI E6003 Professional development and leadership for third year doctoral students. 0.00 points.

For third year doctoral students to facilitate career exploration including teaching, presentation and communication skills; public speaking and facilitation; CV and resume writing; and Getting Things Done

ENGI E6004 Professional development and leadership for fourth year doctoral students. 0.00 points.

For fourth year doctoral students supporting job search and degree completion, including searching for job opportunities (Academia, Industry); interview preparation; creating an academic portfolio; conducting a job talk; negotiation and mediation skills

Graduate Career Placement

Austin Cartagena, Assistant Director 
Ryan Day, Associate Director 
Jackie Tang, Career Placement & PDL Officer
seas-gcp@columbia.edu
careers.engineering.columbia.edu

While enrolled in a graduate program at Columbia Engineering you will also be coached by your dedicated Career Placement Officer. We look forward to working with you on your professional development and job search throughout your time at Columbia.

Applied Mathematics – Emily McCormack
Applied Physics – Emily McCormack
Biomedical Engineering – Jacqueline Kishel
Business Analytics – Lucy Mahbub (interim)
Carbon Management – Raina Ranaghan
Chemical Engineering – Raina Ranaghan
Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics – Emily McCormack
Computer Engineering – Jennifer Lee
Computer Science – Stephon Moulterie
Data Science – Austin Cartagena, Jackie Tang 
Earth and Environmental Engineering – Raina Ranaghan
Electrical Engineering – Jennifer Lee, Jackie Tang
Executive Masters in Engineering and Applied Science – Austin Cartagena
Financial Engineering – David Fitzgerald
Industrial Engineering – Sara Yllescas
Management Science and Engineering – Sara Yllescas
Materials Science – Emily McCormack
Medical Physics – Emily McCormack
Mechanical Engineering – Hannah Hyat
Operations Research – Cindy Mejia

English Communication Courses

M.S. Courses

ENGI E5000WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH (x, y, and s)
ENGI E5001PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION (x, y, and s)
ENGI E5002PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH (x, y, and s)
ENGI E5003ACADEMIC WRITING (x, y, and s)
ENGI E5009INDEPENDENT STUDY (x, y, and s)

0 pts. Lect: 1.7. Professor Lee.

English communication proficiency is important for academic achievement and career success. In small group settings, interactions with instructor and fellow students to improve communication and writing skills. Individual tutoring sessions offered. Note: open only to Columbia Engineering master's students. Grading is Pass/D/Fail.

Doctoral Courses

ENGI E7000ACADEMIC COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH (x, y, and s)
ENGI E7001PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION (x, y, and s)
ENGI E7002ENGLISH COMMUNICATION (x, y, and s)
ENGI E7009INDEPENDENT STUDY (x, y, and s)

0 pts. Lect: 1.7. Professor Lee.

English communication proficiency is important for academic achievement and career success. In small group settings, interactions with instructor and fellow students to improve communication and writing skills. Individual tutoring sessions offered. Note: open only to Columbia Engineering Ph.D. and M.S. to Ph.D.-track students. Grading is Pass/D/Fail.