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  • Michigan Technological University
  • Career Center
  • 107 Harold Meese Center
  • 1400 Townsend Drive
  • Houghton, MI 49931-1295
  • career@mtu.edu
  • Tel. 906-487-2313
  • Fax 906-487-3317
  • Hours: Mon - Fri, 8-5pm
Career Development Foundations
Course Syllabus Spring 2008
Michigan Technological University

Time: 4:05-4:55
Location: ME-EM 303
Instructor: Jeff Kangas
University Career Center, Room 111
487-2313
jakangas@mtu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Course Description: In this one credit course, students will learn about the process of career development and planning, which includes self-assessment, job search strategies, awareness of workplace issues, and decision-making. Students will develop skills that, along with their education, can lead to achieving personal goals and career success.
Key Learning Outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will
  • Actively engage in vital job searching skills
  • Identify competencies sought by employers
  • Become aware of theories regarding career development
  • Assess personal interests, values, and skills
  • Realize how personal interests, values, and skills influence career development
  • Utilize a variety of resources to explore occupational options
  • Acquire knowledge of current workplace issues and expectations
  • Recognize decision-making skills for effective career/life planning and management
Required Textbook: The Career Fitness Program: Exercising Your Options, (Sukiennik, Bendat, Raufman), Eighth Edition 2007, ISBN 0131702947
Course Duties: Inasmuch as duties are synonymous with obligatory tasks and/or requirements, the following duties will need to be completed successfully in order to obtain the aforementioned key learning outcomes
  • Attend class regularly and promptly
  • Complete and submit assignments
  • Participate in class, with positive action
  • Exercise mutual respect
  • Demonstrate initiative by going above and beyond the call of duty
Course Design: This course will be presented in three phases. The first phase will focus on preparing students for the Winter Job Fair. Job search strategies, resumes, cover letters, infomercials, and interviewing skills will be emphasized. The second phase will attend to issues pertaining to self-assessment. Students will engage in a process of personal assessment, including completing an interest inventory, values assessment and skills assessment. The third phase will concentrate on contemporary world of work and workplace issues.
Teaching Techniques: The instructor and students will engage in a variety of techniques and resources intended to create an active, meaningful and lasting learning experience. Techniques utilized will include lecture, group discussion, guest speakers, a field trip (Job Fair), sound bytes, oral presentations, online submissions, and textbook readings. Key to the success of any of these techniques is the commitment by students to complete the assigned readings prior to each class session. With reading comes familiarity; with familiarity comes increased willingness to participate; and active participation supports retention of knowledge.
Assignments and Grading Procedures: Final grades are based on attending class, performance on weekly assignments, quizzes, attendance at the Winter Job Fair and a company Information Session, and a final project.


UN2525 Spring 2008
ASSIGNMENTS TO BE COMPLETED for, and READING TO BE COMPLETED by...
...Week Two are:
(1/22)		 -Exercise 9.1**
Chapter 9 Supplementary Exercise^^ 		(10pts.)
(10pts.) 		Read Chapter 9
...Week Three are:
(1/29)		 ~Infomercial (10pts.) Read Chapter 10
...Week Four are:
(2/5)		 ~Resume
~Cover Letter 		(25pts.)
(15pts.)
 Read Chapter 11
...Week Five are:
(2/12)		 ~Mock Interview/Interview Stream
~Thank-You Letter 		(30pts.)
(10pts.) 		Practice Interview
This Week!!
...Week six are:
(2/19)		 ~Attend Job Fair
~Attend an Informational Session ++ 		(20pts.)
(10pts.) 		No Class!!
...Week Seven are:
(2/26)		 ~Write a one page paper summarizing experience at Career Day
~Write a half page paper summarizing experience at Information Session ++
 -Exercise 1.1** 		(20pts.)

(10pts.)

(10pts.) 		Read Chapter 1
...Week Eight are:
(3/4)		 -Exercise 2.1**
-Exercise 2.3** 		(10pts.)
(10pts.)
 Read Chapter 2
-------Spring break: March 8-16 --------
...Week Nine are:
(3/18)		 ~MyPlan Values Assessment
Choice of A) or B)
A) Retirement Newsletter Article^^
B) Reflection Paper on top five core values^^ 		(15pts.)
(20pts.) 		Read Chapter 3
...Week Ten are:
(3/25)		 ~MyPlan Interest Assessment
~MyPlan Personality Assessment
 		(15pts.)
(15pts.)
 Read Chapter 4
...Week Eleven are:
(4/1)		 ~MyPlan Skills Assessment
 Chapter 5 Supplementary Exercise^^ 		(15pts.)
(10pts.) 		Read Chapter 5
...Week Twelve are:
(4/8)		 None   Read Chapter 6
...Week Thirteen are:
(4/15)		 ~Complete Exercise 7.6 for TWO careers**
(Use O*NET, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, or MyPlan.com as resources to complete this assignment) 		(30pts.)
 Read Chapter 7
...Week Fourteen are:
(4/22)		 None   Read Chapter 8
...Week Fifteen are: ~Final Project (see options) (50pts.)

The grading scale will be as follows:
Based on 420 points:

A100-95%(399 pts.)
AB94-90%(378 pts.)
B89-85%(357 pts.)
BC84-80%(336 pts.)
C79-75%(315 pts.)
CD74-70%(294 pts.)
D69-60%(252 pts.)
F<60%(< 252 pts.)
Subtotal370 pts.
Quizzes20 pts.
Attendance70 pts.
Total Points Possible 460
** Complete assignments on Companion Website and submit to instructor via email

^^ Instructions for completing assignment are on the UN2525 website. Completed assignment will be submitted to instructor via email as a word file attachment.

++ Must be completed by April 15 to receive points

NOTICE: Complete all 15 assignments that are "~bold and italicized" and receive 50 Bonus Points!!
UN2525 Career Development Foundations
Spring 2008
  • Options for Final Project
  • Policy on Late Assignments

Options for Final Project:

Review the options below
Choose the option you prefer and inform the instructor by Week 10 (March 25)
  • Write a 3-4 page paper that addresses at least three of the following aspects of career development:
    1. How does understanding your MBTI code give you career direction and guide your decision making?
    2. Describe one short and one long-term goal that you are pursuing. Review the directions on page 209 (Activity 8.3) for assistance.
    3. Does your major fit your personality preferences, career interests, skills and values? Why is this major a good fit for you?
    4. What job search strategies will you implement in your next job search?
    5. Since taking this course, has your idea of a dream job changed? Are your career aspirations different? Explain.
  • Write a 3-4 page letter to a younger sibling, relative, or friend offering career advice, based on at least three career development concepts you want them to be sure to know about.
  • Conduct an Information Interview.
    Follow directions p. 249 of textbook.
  • Present the instructor with an actual job offer in writing and you will receive full credit for completing the final project!
  • Propose and option of your own design

POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Assignments submitted with a date stamp after the due date will be evaluated as if turned in on time, but will receive half the points it would have received if it had been date stamped on or before the due date.
  • No late assignments will be accepted after April 25th