2025-2026 Programs
Semester: Fall 2025
JD-Next is an innovative online law school prep course program and entrance exam that provides a cost-effective and realistic preview of what law school will be like, prepares applicants for the rigors of law school, and offers a fair and accurate assessment of an applicant’s academic readiness for law school!
Semester: Fall 2025
This intensive workshop and certificate program aim to provide students across many disciplines with hands-on practice, practical instruction, and expertise in recognizing, innovating, and applying physically inclusive and socio-culturally sensitive programs to foster active bodies across a wide range of career fields.
Semester: January 2026
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification is a credential designed to prepare candidates for entry-level project management positions.
Semester: January 2026
Learn fundamental concepts, analyze and dissect case studies, develop your own personal project, and strategize a real marketing campaign with St. Olaf’s Marketing and Communications department.
Semester: January 2026
This online, self-paced training program is especially suited for students who are seeking to develop Excel skills to take their careers to the next level.
Semester: January 2026
This workshop series and certificate program aims to provides students with a hands-on opportunity to learn about these key topics and skills necessary to start your career in art conservation.
Semester: January 2026
LeetCode is a technical skills and interview preparation platform students, professional programmers, and employers use to learn, practice, and assess coding and programming skills.
Semester: January 2026
This program provides students with the opportunity to design and fabricate a wide variety of projects using a broadly available range of materials, including: wood, metal, and plastics.
Semester: January 2026
Students will apply their learning to a hands-on personal design project, allowing them to create a real-world UX design project from concept to prototype.
Semester: January 2026
Theory and skills practice, including a clinical experience at a skilled nursing facility, is conducted under nursing supervision, and course content focused on critical thinking, decision-making and team concepts while incorporating elements of care and communication/interpersonal skills.
Semester: Spring 2026
The certificate will provide foundational skills in copyediting, as well as more detailed information related to parts of speech and sentence construction to ensure you have a range of skills to make your writing stand out.
Semester: Spring 2026
Students will generate an investigative journalism project, learning to apply critical thinking to identify a significant and suitable topic; dig for information, sources and documents; pursue best practices in interviewing, research and fact-checking; be fair and accurate.
Semester: Spring 2026
Language Testing International® delivers the ACTFL OPIc (Oral Proficiency Interview-computer) to help individuals gain a better understanding of their ability to use language effectively and appropriately in real-life situations. Advanced Japanese, Chinese, and Russian language students should reach out to Professor Ying Zhou for further information on testing.
Semester: Summer 2026
Financeable provides a learning platform that combines in-depth knowledge with practical skills and confidence-building techniques to help individuals excel in the world of finance.
Semester: Summer 2026
This certificate program would be a great fit for students interested in urban planning, sustainable urban development, commercial real estate, and public policy.
a liberal arts degree helps Oles develop The skills that can take them far in life. The Piper Center’s Ole Career Launcher is designed to accelerate that trajectory.
of employers say that employment no longer depends solely on degree or academic major, but rather includes a candidate’s experience, practical sense, and ability to do the job.
of students say employability was their primary or sole motivation for going to college.
Skill Development
Experiential Component
Network Connection
Innovation Mindset
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ole Career Launcher provides hands-on, skill-building opportunities for St. Olaf students to connect, learn, and accelerate their careers. The program offers different tracks which are designed to last anywhere from a few weeks to an entire semester. Each program provides students with a mix of practical skills for specific careers, useful work mindsets, and powerful networking opportunities with experts that often include accomplished alumni.
Students from all majors in good standing with the college are welcome to participate. Each program lists specific qualifications a student must meet to be considered for participation. Seniors are not eligible to participate in a program scheduled for the summer following graduation.
Note: Students may only participate in one Ole Career Launcher program per academic year.
Unless otherwise noted on the specific program’s page, students will not earn any academic credit from St. Olaf College for participating in an Ole Career Launcher program.
Students are only allowed to apply to one program during the 2025-26 application cycle.
Students will submit an application via Handshake (as well as a form via Google Forms) that indicates their interest in a specific program. Each program (fall, j-term, spring, summer) will host a unique enrollment period. Students must apply no later than 11:59pm CST on the deadline outlined on the specific program page to be considered.
Following the application deadline, the Piper Center will review and score all applications based on an evaluation rubric. Program enrollment decisions will be determined by various criteria including class year, academic standing, resume, short essay responses, and several other factors. Notifications will be sent within one week following the application deadline for that cycle. At that point, a waitlist will form.
Once a student has been invited to participate, they will be asked to confirm or withdraw their enrollment within one week of their acceptance. Students who choose not to accept their spot on time will not be added to the program; their spot will be offered to a waitlisted student.
If you are accepted into an Ole Career Launcher program, you will be required to pay a $20 program fee at the required Ole Career Launcher Program Kick-Off Meeting. Payment can be made via cash or check (Made Payable to St. Olaf College). You will not be allowed to charge your student account.
The Piper Center will cover the remaining cost of the program which may range from $100-$1,500 per student.
The Ole Career Launcher programs will not appear on your transcript since they are not credit-bearing courses.
Campus Partners
The Ole Career Launcher is part of the Piper Center for Vocation and Career. We partner with offices such as the Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion, the Digital Scholarship Center, Alumni and Parent Relations and the college’s Entrepreneurship team, bringing together best practices from all focus areas.
How to Launch a Career in 10 Easy Steps
Ole Career Launcher Student Success Profile: Aya Kamil ’22
Ole Career Launcher Student Success Profile: Kristian Noll ’21
Ole Career Launcher Student Success Profile: Matthew Myers ’22
Questions?
Meghan Anderson (she, her, hers)
Associate Director, Ole Career Launcher, Innovation and the Arts
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