University 100 Syllabus (Sample)

Academic/career planning is an aspect of lifelong career development and represents an integration of personal self-knowledge, information about career opportunities, decision-making skills, and developing strategies for educational/career success. Career development as an area of study is interdisciplinary and draws from psychology, sociology, education, economics, and related social sciences such as women studies and multicultural studies. This course incorporates theories, research, testing and assessment, and current practice in the field of career development.

Purpose: The primary objective for this course is for students, by incorporating career development principles, to develop an individualized plan for choosing a major/career. This plan will which include steps for continued evaluation of progress toward goals following the completion of the course.

Course learning activities will include:

  • self-assessment of interests, skills, and values (includes vocational inventories)
  • identifying and researching educational (academic majors/minors) and career opportunities
  • understanding the role of labor market trends and the changing work environment
  • using the Internet to access career information
  • applying self-assessment, decision-making, and goal setting toward a career plan

Course Schedule

Week Topic(s)
Week 1 Introduction to Career/Life Planning
Week 2 Meaning of Career, Changing Labor Market
Week 3 Begin Self-Assessment--Skills
Week 4 Self-Assessment--Skills (cont.)
Week 5 Self-Assessment--Interests
Week 6 Self-Assessment--Interests (cont.) * (SII Interpretation)
Week 7 Self-Assessment--Values
Week 8 Integrating skills, values, interests
Week 9 Career Planning--Knowing and Using Resources
Week 10 Career/Major Research
Week 11 Career/Major Research--Next Steps
Week 12 Decision Making/Goal Setting
Week 13 Internships/Preparing for the World of Work --Guest Speakers
Week 14 Final Paper (In Class)
Week 15 Review and Evaluations

Grading Criteria

Assignments To Be Handed In: Possible Points   Percentage Grade
Skills Assessment Summary 10   95-100% A
Interest Assessment Summary 10   90-94% A-
Values Assessment Summary 10   87-89% B+
Major Profile 10   83-86% B
Career Research Assignment (Includes SIGI+ and Informational Interview) 30   80-82% B-
Final Paper 20   77-79% C+
Class Participation 10   73-76% C
Total 100   70-72% C-
      60-69% D
      59% and below F

Extra Credit:

Opportunities for extra credit may be available this semester. Your instructors will discuss options in class sessions. Student proposed options will be considered. For example, attendance at one employer group information meeting will be encouraged.

Attendance:

Perfect Attendance = 3 Points

Four or more unexcused absences* may result in a failing grade. (*Excused absences require contact with the instructor prior to the absence.)

Disability Resource Center Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability.  Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course.  Late notification may mean that requested accommodations might not be available.  All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center located in the Administration Annex Room 205, 509-335-1566.