Foundations of Career Choice - PERS 71 (1 unit)

Online Syllabus

Instructor: Susan Walter                                         

Phone: (831) 646-4020 (Counseling Center)/645-1329 (Direct Line)                                  

FAX: (831) 646-4015

This course was designed for students interested in learning more about themselves and the world of work before making a career choice. It includes self-assessments, career exploration, career trends and workplace issues, decision-making, and college and career planning.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify their interests, values, skills and personality type as they relate to careers.

• Relate self-assessment data to specific occupations and/or career fields.

• Examine information regarding specific occupations by researching job descriptions, job requirements and other pertinent data.

• Describe additional resources to assist in goal setting.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the various techniques and aspects of informed decision-making.

• Evaluate information to determine relevance to their objectives.

• Synthesize information to develop a plan to attain a targeted career goal.

Course Summary

Personal Development 71, on-line version, was created to provide you with information about yourself and careers using links to Internet accessible information. A textbook is NOT required, although several texts are recommended. During the next few weeks, you will take a variety of career assessments, explore career and educational information, engage in informed decision-making, and establish a viable career goal. Please complete all assignments during the week they are due.

PERS 71 follows a 5-step decision-making model:

Define goal

Assess alternatives

Gather information

Assess outcomes or consequences

Establish a plan of action

Suggested Readings

The following books are recommended for students who would like additional exercises and information about the career development process.

Do What You Are, Tieger and Barron (This book is an exploration of your personality type based on the Myers-Briggs theory.  It helps you determine your four-letter type and then associates it with career opportunities.)

It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now, Sher (Barbara Sher directs this book to people in transition.  If you're a mid-life career-changer, this is a guide to making your formerly discarded career dreams come true.)

What Color Is Your Parachute? Bolles (This is the Bible of job search books.  Richard Boles has revised and updated this guide many times since he first introduced it in the 1970s.)

Please Understand Me, Keirsey, Bates (This book explains personality type as well as temperament and relates both to careers, relationships, and lifestyles.)

Luck Is No Accident, Krumboltz, Levin (The saying, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans" is the premise of this book.  Our lives often veer off in unexpected directions.  This book helps you learn how to make the most of our seemingly random "happenstances.")

Is Your Genius At Work? Richards (This book helps you discover your "genius" -- or your purpose in life.  Through a series of exercises, you can define your genius and give it life.)

CLASS SCHEDULE

Week #1 (Sept. 8-Sept 12) Orientation: We will meet Tuesday, Sept. 8 (LTC 203/204, 5:30 pm) for an overview of the course and an introduction to Moodle. You will be asked to submit an autobiography to me this week.

Week #2 (Sept. 14-Sept. 19) Career Assessment: Links to a variety of on-line career assessments will provide you with information about your personality type, interests, values and skills.

Week #3 (Sept. 21-Sept. 26)  Career Exploration: This week you will research compatible careers using current on-line information provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, the California Employment Development Department and other sources.

Week #4 (Sept. 28-Oct. 3)  Educational Resources: This week's links will provide you with information to assist you in researching and selecting educational programs.

 Week #5 (Oct. 5-Oct. 10)  Additional Resources: Links to financial aid, internships and scholarship information will be provided this week.

Week #6 (Oct. 12-Oct. 17)  Decision-Making: This week’s assignment will assist you in coordinating the information you have gathered. You will be required to follow the decision-making model to arrive at a career decision.

Week #7 (Oct. 19-Oct. 24)  Goal Setting: This assignment will help you visualize your future career and educational goals. A list of 10 questions will provide an outline for your final paper.

 Week #8 (Oct. 26-Oct. 31) Class Evaluation

There are 200 points possible. The grading is distributed as follows:

100 points for the Homework Questions (weeks 2 through 6; 20 points each)

                    30 points for the Goal Setting Assignment

50 points for contributing to the Discussion Board prompts

20 points for the autobiography

200 to 180 = A

179 to 160 = B

159 to 140 = C

139 to 120 = D

119 to 0 = F

Points will be deducted for late assignments. Each week's lesson begins on Monday and ends on Saturday. The assignment for the current week is due by Saturday of that week. (If there are extenuating circumstances and you cannot meet the assignment due date, please let me know.)

Each week you will be required to complete homework assignments pertaining to the links as well as contribute to a class discussion site. Please make a copy of your homework responses for your records. This file will become your Career Portfolio.

 

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Syllabus    Career Assessment    Career Exploration    Educational Resources

Additional Resources    Decision-Making    Goal Setting

swalter@mpc.edu