Illinois Tech × Braven · BRVN 200 · Fall 2026
Braven Career Success
A three-credit course that builds the skills, confidence, and connections to land a strong first job — anywhere in the world.
Illinois Tech students collaborating in a Career Services session.
At Illinois Tech, students learn through hands-on experiences that prepare them to solve real-world challenges. BRVN 200: Braven Career Success builds on that learning approach to help students strengthen the professional skills and networks needed to launch strong careers — through a structured curriculum that blends online learning, hands-on assignments, weekly small-group mentorship, and a real-world Capstone Challenge with an employer partner.
Launching in Fall 2026, BRVN 200 is designed especially for sophomores, juniors, and transfer students. Fellows complete the course more confident, more connected, and ready for the early-career job market.
Ready to enroll? Registration is open through your student portal for Fall 2026.
Register TodayWhat You’ll Build
Career-Ready Skills, Backed by Real Outcomes
During the Braven Career Accelerator, fellows will:
Build application materials — resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter ready for real applications.
Learn and grow in small, interactive cohorts led by a Leadership Coach — a trained working professional who facilitates discussion, offers feedback, and supports your growth as a leader.
Collaborate on a real-world Capstone Challenge to solve a problem posed by an employer partner, building teamwork, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
Practice interview skills during mock interviews with real-world professionals from partner organizations and employers.
Earn credit that counts toward graduation — three credits, factored into GPA.
Proven Outcomes
Join 15,500+ Braven Fellows Nationally
57%
of Braven Fellows from the Class of 2025 secured strong first jobs within six months of graduation — 12 percentage points ahead of peers nationally.
+22pts
Braven 2024 graduates were 22 percentage points more likely to have completed at least one internship compared to graduates nationally.
92%
six-year on-time graduation rate among Braven Fellows nationally — a meaningful margin above peer institutions.
Source: Braven Jobs Report (National), 2025.
“Braven taught me that my identity is not a liability to be managed, but a cornerstone of my professional brand.”
BRANDON POPLAR · SPRING 2024 BRAVEN FELLOW · VANGUARD
How the Course Works
Three Phases Across One Semester
The course is structured in three progressive phases. Throughout, fellows work in small cross-disciplinary cohorts — engineering majors alongside business, design, computing, and humanities students — building the kind of teamwork that mirrors real workplaces.
The Braven Career Accelerator
I.
Design Your Career
Fellows bond with their cohort through shared core-value stories, explore leadership, values, and career interests, and build a personal career project plan. Includes the “Find My Ikigai” exercise — a framework for identifying the intersection of what you enjoy, what you are good at, and what careers align with both.
II.
Launch Your Career
Fellows build and refine their resumes, develop interview skills through mock interviews with working professionals, conduct informational interviews, and learn to communicate their story and strengths clearly and concisely. Detailed feedback on cover letters and mock interviews, plus practice at networking events.
III.
Capstone Challenge
Each semester, Braven partners with a local employer for a five-week capstone project. Fellows use design thinking to solve a real-world problem proposed by the employer, then present their solutions to a panel of professionals — developing teamwork, leadership, project planning, and public speaking skills along the way.
How It Fits Elevate
A Single Course That Checks Multiple Boxes
BRVN 200 qualifies as a required or optional Elevate experience and satisfies the career component for students in the Chicago Difference and Hope Chicago scholarship programs. If you are looking for one experience that checks multiple boxes on your Elevate checklist, this is it.
Ask your Illinois Tech Career Coach about how Braven fits your specific requirements.
Course Details
What to Expect
Course: BRVN 200 — Braven Career Success
Credits: 3 credits (counts toward your undergraduate degree and GPA)
Format: Hybrid — primarily virtual with three in-person sessions
Semester: Fall 2026 only
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors (no declared major required); recommended for transfer students
Section 1: Wednesdays, 5:00–7:00 PM
Section 2: Thursdays, 3:15–5:15 PM
Weekly commitment includes a 2-hour synchronous Learning Lab, 90–120 minutes of online modules, weekly portfolio submissions, and one 1:1 conversation with your Leadership Coach.
Student Voices
What Fellows Are Saying
“My leadership coach reminded me not to lose confidence during my job search. Their support helped me stay focused, keep applying, and believe in my potential until I landed the job I have today.”
Jesika Pabello · Fall 2022 Fellow · Registrar Associate at Covista
“Braven pushed me out of my comfort zone to attend networking events and solidify my pitch. Having this as a backbone gave me real confidence when applying for internships, fellowships, and jobs.”
Alanis Omar · Spring 2024 Braven Fellow
“My Braven leadership coach reminded me that patience and consistency matter. When I was overwhelmed about my future, she shared her own story and helped me see I wasn’t alone — and that perspective gave me the confidence to land my first role in HR.”
Angela Vertiz · Spring 2023 Fellow · HR Compliance Coordinator, White Glove Community Care
Featured Stories
Real Fellows. Real Outcomes.
Two short films from the Braven national community highlight the kinds of journeys current and former fellows have taken — from first generation college students to senior associates at Fortune 500 employers.
Opening Doors to the American Dream
Robneek and Jill’s Journey with Prudential
A short film tracing how the Braven experience helped two fellows connect with Prudential and launch professional careers grounded in their own lived experience.
Braven: The Next Generation of Leaders
Crystal’s Braven Story
Crystal’s story — how the Braven Leadership Coach model, the small-cohort discussions, and the capstone challenge translated into the confidence she carried into her first professional role.
After the Course
It Doesn’t End When the Course Does
After completing BRVN 200, fellows gain continued access to a national community of peers, leadership coaches, and professional opportunities — including:
MyBraven — Braven’s digital platform for resources, career tools, and ongoing communication.
Career Communities — industry-specific pathways across STEM, Health & Wellness, Business, Arts & Media, Public Service, and Explorers, with access to up to two communities.
Biweekly opportunities newsletter — referrals to internships and jobs in your field.
Ready-to-Launch bootcamp — senior-year intensive for hands-on job application support.
Optional 12-week 1:1 Professional Mentoring Program — paired support from a working professional in your target field.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible?
Sophomores and juniors. Transfer students at equivalent standing are also recommended. No declared major required.
When is it offered?
Fall semesters only. If you have scheduling conflicts with one section, consider registering for the other day.
Does it affect my GPA?
Yes. BRVN 200 is a 3-credit course that factors into your GPA. Due to the cohort model, full attendance and participation are expected. The course can only be taken once.
Will Braven place me in a job or internship?
Braven is not a placement organization. It ensures fellows have the confidence, skills, experiences, and networks to apply and succeed on their own — and provides ongoing access to an opportunities newsletter and Braven’s exclusive Talent Directory.
How is this different from other courses?
You will not be sitting passively taking notes. You will be in a small group with a professional Leadership Coach, practicing the skills employers care about — communication, teamwork, problem-solving — in a setting where you get real feedback and improve quickly.
What’s expected in the virtual sessions?
Camera on, active participation, and full engagement — just as you would in person. Minimizing distractions helps you get the most from your Leadership Coach and peers.
Curated Resources
Where to Go Next
Illinois Tech & Braven
Illinois Tech Braven Career Success · Elevate Braven Partnership Channel · braven.org · Braven Jobs Report 2025
