COLUMBIA COLLEGE
GUIDANCE 101: OCCUPATIONAL EXPLORATION
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor: Jeff Fitzwater, 588-5028
OVERVIEW:
Thousands of individuals
enter into (and many also graduate from) college each and every year
without any real idea as to what they want to do for future employment,
or how they will fit their education into the world of work. Even for those who
do think that they have an idea of where they want to go with their
education and career, many may later find themselves wishing that they had
explored other options and made different choices. Personal knowledge
(self awareness) and occupational exploration (information
gathering) are necessary to develop clearer educational and career vision. Goal setting (action planning)
and utilization of effective decision making strategies provide a
pathway upon which we may travel to accomplish our vision. Based on the four factors listed above, the
intent of this course is to assist you with developing a systematic and
realistic process for gathering information, researching options, making
choices, and setting and achieving your educational/career goals.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Campbell, David, If You
Don’t Know Where You’re Going You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else, Argus
Communications, Niles, Ill
GRADING:
The class is offered on a
credit (CR) no credit (NC) basis. The
final grade will be based on all of the course requirements
listed in the section below.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Participation: Student questions and classroom discussion are strongly encouraged! Participation is important and is possible only if you are in attendance. Attendance and punctuality for ALL class meetings is expected.
2. Reading: A total of four reading reflections must be turned in. One for each of the four chapters of Campbell. Use the form provided. See due dates as outlined in the course calendar.
3. Completion of Assessment Instruments: Each student will complete all assessment instruments (interests, abilities and work values) and submit a copy of their results.
4. Completion of Research Summary/Short In-Class Presentation: Each student will pick an occupation of interest and complete and submit a five page, double-spaced written vocational research summary utilizing Career Center research resources. See assignment sheet for details. Also, students will give an informal short presentation
(5-10 minutes) to the class about
the findings of their career research.
5. Final: To demonstrate integration of course material, each student will summarize in writing what they have personally gained from this course and how they plan to utilize course information towards the development of their individual career/education plans.
GUIDANCE 101, COURSE CALENDAR
Class
Meeting Dates and Times: See the Columbia College Class Schedule.
Mtg.
1 Lecture:
A. Course
overview and purpose: Why this course is both practical and meaningful. Review of course syllabus, books and course
expectations.
B. Ask questions! Seek information! Find answers!
C. Intelligent career decisions and what
they are based upon.
D. Career planning process and theory.
E Career planning classes/resources at Columbia College.
F. Introduction and explanation of
assessment instruments (COPSystem), Comprehensive Career Guide and related
occupational clusters.
G. Occupational interests.
H. Interpretation of occupational interest inventory scores and use of the COPS Comprehensive Career Guide.
Activities:
Review Comprehensive Career Guide and course
books. Administration and scoring of
occupational interest assessment (COPS interest inventory).
Assignment:
* Read Campbell:
Chapters 1 & 2.
Mtg.
2: Lecture:
A. Work Values.
B. Interpretation of work values inventory scores.
C. Skills and abilities.
D. Interpretation of career abilities inventory scores.
Activities:
Administration and
scoring of COPES inventory of work values.
Administration of CAPS
abilities inventory.
Assignment:
* Read and finish
Campbell: Chapters 3 & 4.
DUE: Two
Campbell Reading Reflections, Chapters 1 & 2
Mtg. 3 Lecture:
A Using assessment results in career
planning activities.
B. Demographics and occupational trends.
C. Information seeking and research.
D. Columbia College Career Center.
E. Individual sources of occupational information.
F. Informational interviewing and networking.
G. Gathering and utilizing occupational information from various written, personal and computer-based sources to clarify vocational choices.
Activities:
Complete COPS Career Guide activities and discuss
Career Center Research Summary assignment.
Class visits the Career Center and uses resources for exploration.
GUIDANCE
101, COURSE CALENDAR (Continued):
(Cont’d) Assignments:
Career Center investigation and work on research
assignment. Share/discuss your
assessment results with someone close to you.
Mtg.
4: Lecture:
Gathering and utilizing occupational information from various written, personal and computer-based sources to clarify vocational choices.
Activities:
Complete COPS Career Guide activities and discuss
Career Center Research Summary assignment.
Class visits the Career Center and uses resources for exploration.
Assignments:
Career Center investigation and work on research
assignment.
DUE: Two Campbell Reading Reflections, Chapters 3
& 4
Turn in a
copy of your Assessment Results.
Mtg 5: Lecture:
A. Goal Setting/Action Planning (Definitions
and steps).
B. Goal Setting (Specifics: setting educational
and occupational goals).
C. Decision making and educational planning.
Activities:
View goal
setting video tape and work on goal setting/action planning and Ed Plan
materials. Complete decision making model.
Mtg. 6: Lecture:
A. Dealing with change, success and unemployment.
B. Life long learning.
C. Course summary, review Research Summary, other.
Activities:
Review and discuss concepts presented in Campbell.
Student Presentations. Final -
writing exercise regarding what you have personally gained from the course and how you plan to
utilize course information in your life.
Assignments: Remember this course and what you have
learned here. Put the knowledge you have
gained to ongoing use in your life.
Share it with others.
DUE: Research
Summary.
BEST WISHES TO YOU FOR A PROSPEROUS AND FULFILLING
FUTURE!
Note: The instructor reserves the right to modify this
syllabus as needed.
Columbia College,
Occupational Exploration, Guidance 101
Jeff Fitzwater,
Instructor
RESEARCH SUMMARY WRITTEN
ASSIGNMENT,
AND SHORT VERBAL
PRESENTATION
“Intelligent career decisions are based on information
about YOU, and
information about OCCUPATIONS.”
The beginning portion of this course involves an
assessment of your career interests, abilities and work values, using the
Career Occupational Preference System (COPS).
Your personal scores will be linked to fourteen different career areas,
and will show the degree to which your interests, abilities and work values
match workers who are currently employed in these career areas.
Taking this information about yourself, and
utilizing your COPS Career Guide Booklet, pick one occupation or career area
which reflects your interests, abilities and work values. Next, you are to research and write about
this occupation. Use the questions on
the Career Research Guide handout as a guide to assist you. Make your written report an interesting five
page, double-spaced document. Don’t just
copy and recite information. Your paper
should reflect your own thoughts: WHY you chose to research this
occupation, HOW the occupation relates to your own assessment scores, WHAT it’s
all about, WHERE it’s going (future trends), and an analysis of whether or not
this occupation would make a viable educational/career choice for you. Sum things up by describing what you have
learned through your research and how it made a difference in your career
outlook. See the course syllabus for the
due date of this assignment.
During the class we will visit the Columbia
College Career Center and you will have an opportunity to become familiar with
the various career research resources which are available to help you with
gathering information for your report.
You are also encouraged to visit the Career Center outside of class time
to continue your information gathering efforts.
Remember, make this a meaningful assignment by picking an occupation
which interests you — one which you truly wish you knew more about!
During the last few days of this course you will
be required to give an informal five minute “run-down” to the class on the
occupation you have researched. This is
simply a “show and tell” type talk. Be
prepared to share what you have discovered about this job or career with your
classmates, and be willing to answer their questions.
Columbia College
Guidance 101, Occupational
Exploration
Jeff Fitzwater, Instructor
Course Grading Criteria
Course Assignments And Their
Values:
1.
Complete And Turn
In Your Assessment Results (Interests, Abilities and Work
Values): 10 points
2.
Complete And Turn
In Reading Reflections Of Each Chapter In David Campbell's Book:
4 chapters x 5 points each = 20 points
3.
Complete And Turn
In The Written Research Assignment:
30 points
4.
Present An In-Class
Oral Presentation: 30 points
5.
Complete And Turn
In The Written Final: 10
points
Total Possible Points =
100
Refer To The Course Syllabus
For Details On These Assignments And Their Due Dates
This Class Is Offered On A
Credit (CR) No-Credit Basis Only.
You Must Receive 85 Or
More Total Points To Receive Credit For This Course