Building Case Studies for Grad Career Development (opinion)

"When I was a faculty member, case studies were one of my favorite tools in the classroom. They invited students to wrestle with real-world problems, practice decision-making and see how abstract ideas translated into concrete challenges. Case studies made learning active, collaborative and, in many cases, more enjoyable. Years later, when I transitioned into directing professional development for graduate students, I found myself coming back to this same teaching tool."

"During my Accelerate to Industry (A2i) training, I saw how Rhonda Sutton at North Carolina State University had built case studies directly into her program. She used them to help students practice skills that industry employers care about most: teamwork, communication, problem-solving and the ability to apply disciplinary expertise in new contexts."

"In graduate education, we take pride in our depth. Students are trained to become experts, and case studies that are too general risk flattening that expertise or giving the impression of devaluing true expertise in a field. A generic problem might allow for some creativity, but it also puts students in situations too far removed from reality. A biochemist might end up working through a case about supply chain logistics, or a historian might be asked to solve a lab-management challenge. While there can be value in stretching beyond one's comfort zone, it felt counterproductive to remove the disciplinary anchor that defines graduate study."

Case studies engage graduate students with real-world problems and promote decision-making, teamwork, communication and application of disciplinary expertise. Integration of case studies into professional-development training supports practice of industry-valued skills. Programs that model case-based learning demonstrate how students can practice skills employers prioritize. A cohort spanning engineering, life sciences, social sciences and humanities creates challenges for case design because disciplinary specificity matters for authenticity. Generic problems risk flattening expertise, misaligning tasks with training and distancing scenarios from reality. Partnering with experienced practitioners can inform case design across diverse disciplines.

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