PSYC 601 -- Psychological Theories and Practices

In Career Development

Instructor: E. Sands

Welcome to Career Development: An Online Course

Welcome to online Psychological Theories and Practices in Career Development. On these pages you will find things you will need to know in order to be successful in this class.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone -- (413) 572-5700

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will introduce students to the dynamic process involved in making educational and vocational choices. Special attention is given to career information, theory, testing and organizational procedures needed for career guidance and programming. Class activities will include discussions, group work, quizzes, presentations and additional assignments

TEXTS:

Required: Spencer G. Niles P. and JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Career Development Interventions in the 21st Century, (2nd Edition), Prentice-Hall.

Optional: Richard Nelson Bolles, What Color is Your Parachute 2008: A Practical Guide for Job-Hunters, etc.

Delight Champagne, etal. The Athlete’s Guide to Career Planning

The required text, ISBN 0-13-113781-6, is available at the WSC Bookstore, and at Amazon.com. The optional texts are available at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. A link to the Book Store is: http://www.bkstr.com

ONLINE INTERACTION AND COURSE ACTIVITIES:

1. OVERVIEW/INFORMATION PAGE:

Two things are found here --

A) An overview of the class and

B) The syllabus which outlines what you need to do and when the requirements are due

2. WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS AND CALENDAR -- The weekly assignments and activities folders icons describe all the weekly assignments. The weekly folder for each week contains all links to various weekly assignments. The calendar tool describes in summary form which assignment is due on any particular date. Further details can be found by clicking on the number of the day or an underlined entry for web links

3. FORUM CLASS DISCUSSION -- This is an online tool that provides the real backbone of the course. This is a bulletin board which posts discussions in which you can participate, and in which you often will be expected to post assignments.

4. CHAT -- A chat room is a synchronous live discussion forum, in which students can sign on at the same time. Some of you may want to set up a chat room to communicate. If I find it necessary to enhance a concept, I will post a chat, which will be voluntary, and a copy of the subject chat will be posted in a forum for those who are unable to participate.

5. ONLINE CHAPTER QUIZZES -- After the chapter reading has been assigned, students will take an online quiz. This is not timed and students can take the quiz as many times as they wish, until they achieve the grade with which they are satisfied. These quiz grades are included in the final grade, but are used more as a reading check than anything else.

6. CAREER CENTER VISIT -- You will be expected to visit a career center and report on your observations, both orally and in writing

7. ASSESSMENT REVIEW -- You will be expected to explore and discuss several career assessments both in writing and in the discussion forum

8. FIELD EXPERIENCE -- Depends upon whether the student is in the School Guidance Counselor Track or another track.

9. PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT -- You will have a choice of two out of four topics about which you may create a Power Point Presentation to be presented to the class

 STUDENT RECORDS -- Student grades will be posted online when work is submitted, in addition to the standard college grade report sent by the college.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students are expected to read assigned material. Please not discussion forum postings/exercises and readings complement each other. In order to successfully complete the course, students will be required to read the assigned material and take the quizzes for each chapter assigned by the instructor

2. Students will be expected to check the calendar and weekly folders for assignments and activities on a regular basis for course readings and do all work posted here.

3. Students will be expected to participate in general and group discussion online. This will clarify and increase one’s understanding of sociology. Students will receive grades for their participating and assignments posted in the forum. Exceptional participation and assignment postings going beyond the basics of the assignment will result in a grade of “A”. A reasonable effort to participate regularly at the appropriate times will result in a grade of “B”. Lesser participation will result in lower grades. It will be my responsibility to maintain a record of the discussions and to check on whether you are participating on a regular basis.

4. Students will be expected to do weekly assignments posted in the weekly folders and calendar .

5. Students will be expected to take online weekly quizzes.

6. Students will be expected to take a Midterm and Final Examination

7. Students will be expected to complete all the projects and expectations assigned

8. Students will be expect to adhere to APA Format in writing projects and papers. The standards will be relaxed in discussions.

9. Students will be expected to adhere to the Academic Honesty standards established by Westfield State College. If there is flagrant disregard for these policies the student risks being eliminated from the class.

PLEASE NOTE: By enrolling in this class, the student is agreeing to all of the policies listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the course policies and to ask questions using the main forum and e-mail feature of Plato/Vista. Students may also call me at home for problematic situations and/or clarifications of an emergency nature

DISABILITY NOTICE If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodations to enable you to participate in this course, please contact me during the first week of class.