Course Description
This course explores realistic goals for implementation of psychological knowledge, skills, abilities, and values in occupational, and/or educational pursuits in a variety of settings that meet personal goals. Also includes how those goals may meet societal needs. (Requirement: fourth-year standing in Florida Tech University Online.)
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to
- Explore personal, sociocultural, and professional values
- Explore the application of psychological principles to promote personal development
- Examine the value in self-assessment and feedback
- Examine metacognition
- Discuss the value of self-management strategies that maximize healthy outcomes
- Explore the applications of psychology when formulating career choices
- Identify the types of academic experience and performance in psychology and liberal arts that will facilitate entry into the workforce, post-baccalaureate education, or both
- Describe preferred career paths based on accurate self-assessment of abilities, achievement, motivation, and work habits
- Identify and develop skills and experiences relevant to achieving selected career goals
- Articulate how changing societal needs can influence career opportunities and foster flexibility about managing changing conditions
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of lifelong learning and personal flexibility to sustain personal and professional development as the nature of work evolves
Week 1
Lecture: Course Introduction
Lecture: Career Decisions: Incorporating Values and Interests
Outcomes
- Differentiate between different theoretical explanations of career values
- Identify values considered when selecting a career
- Identify life values, according to Super’s theory
- Identify the six domains of career interest
- Distinguish between life and career interests
- Identify components of the information processing pyramid and apply to your career decision-making process
Week 2
Lecture: Assessing Skills and Career Decisions
Outcomes
- Differentiate between interest and skill
- Use the Holland codes to link interests, skills, and values to careers
- Implement the Information Processing Pyramid to weigh careers against interests, skills, and values
- Enhance self-knowledge of skills on national tests
Week 3
Lecture: Exploring the World of Work: Path to Degrees and Employment Requirements
Outcomes
- Identify state educational and licensure requirements associated with professions being considered
- Weigh important factors in programs providing required training for the profession
- Describe job satisfaction theory
- Contrast work activities in the profession with personal work values
- Enhance self-knowledge in the relevance of your chosen career goal to their Holland Codes for interests, skills, and values
Week 4
Lecture: Résumé Building Activities to Demonstrate Skills or Abilities
Outcomes
- Identify deficits in their experience in preparation for their career goal
- Evaluate prior positions for work performance skills that could be emphasized on the résumé
- Identify alternate work opportunities to demonstrate readiness for their career goals
- Develop a plan to improve scores on admissions exams
Week 5
Lecture: Decision Making and Developing a Career Plan
Outcomes
- Develop a personalized career plan following the CASVE cycle
- Describe deficits in their knowledge about their chosen career goal
- Evaluate their resume for areas needing emphasis as a candidate for that career
Week 6
Lecture: Résumé and Cover Letter Writing
Outcomes
- Identify ways to represent themselves as the ideal candidate for their chosen career on paper
- Identify skills to emphasize on their resume
- Compose a cover letter that explains why they are a match to the needs of the position
- Evaluate all forms of social contact for professionalism and image management
Week 7
Lecture: Interviewing and Professionalism
Outcomes
- Identify the optimal plan for interview preparation
- Describe appropriate interview attire and etiquette
- Identify interview questions to prepare responses to in advance
- Describe appropriate post-interview etiquette
Week 8
Lecture: Work Ethic and Professional Networking
Outcomes
- Identify factors to consider in negotiating a job offer
- Identify adjustment issues common in new workplaces
- Develop a plan to strive for promotion
- Utilize networking opportunities to enhance job growth
The course description, objectives and learning outcomes are subject to change without notice based on enhancements made to the course. May 2012
