Academics and Career Paths for DREAMers

Licenses and Certifications

Marquette University is comprised of seven colleges, each with their own major and minor programs. While Dreamers are not prohibited from studying in any area, it is important to be well-informed regarding career paths that may be restricted for Dreamers due to inability to obtain certification or licensure in their field of study. Here is the most recent information we can offer regarding these restrictions:

  • The Opus College of Engineering: While Dreamers cannot become licensed engineers, a license is not required for many jobs in a variety of Engineering disciplines. For questions, please contact:
    • Dr. Mark Federle, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering at 414-288-4531 or mark.federle@marquette.edu.

Graduate School

In 2018, Santa Clara University Law School published this resource guide for Dreamers in Navigating Graduate School

Immigrants Rising also offers Life After College: A Guide For Undocumented Students, which has tips for navigating graduate and professional school.

For students without work authorization, there may be opportunities for "inclusive" or "non-work" fellowships that carry a stipend, as long as the fellowship is not set up as payment in exchange for work completed and the primary beneficiary of the arrangement is the student. Marquette's Graduate School sponsors a Diversity Fellowship that Dreamers seeking both Masters and PhDs are eligible to apply for, and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion also sponsors an Inclusive Excellence Graduate Fellowship. Some academic departments may also offer inclusive fellowships; we encourage you to reach out to the program chair to which you are applying and inquire as to whether they offer fellowships that undocumented students are eligible for.

If you chair a graduate program and are interested in learning more about how to set up an inclusive fellowship, please see this resource for more information Creating Fellowship Programs: For Higher Ed (Immigrants Rising). You may also reference the Graduate School's fellowship guidelines

Entrepreneurship and Other Career Opportunities

The following resources may be useful to Dreamers, especially those who do not have work authorization:

Marquette's Career Services Center also has a resource page for Dreamers with tips for choosing a major and navigating life after college.

For other questions regarding career pathways or preparation, contact Courtney Hanson, director of the Career Services Center, at courtney.hanson@marquette.edu.