PY 615 01 Fall 2017

Avila University
Department of Psychology
Graduate Psychology

PY 615 01 Career Development 3 Credit Hours

Mondays 6:00pm 8:40 pm

Classroom: Foyle Hall 900

Instructor: Jessica Ross, M.A.

Office Hours: By appointment only
Phone: (816) 501-3661 (Psychology Admin Assistant)
Email: [email protected]

Textbook
Zunker, V. G. (2015). Career counseling: A holistic approach. (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage
Learning.

Bolles, R. N. (2016). What color is your parachute? A practical manual for job-hunters and
career changers. (2017 ed.). Berkely, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Prerequisites
No prerequisite courses are required.

Course Description
This course investigates historical foundations of the career development movement, and explores
major career development theories and their applications in a counseling setting. Topics include
vocational choice theory, career decision-making processes, career development exploration
techniques, and assessment.

Graduate Psychology Educational Outcomes (as outlined in the Graduate Psychology Handbook)
Upon graduation, an Avila University student in a graduate psychology program will have
demonstrated competence in each of the following areas:

1. Scholarship: The MSCP program prepares students to acquire, critically evaluate, and
communicate a wide array of information using the scientist-practitioner model within the
counseling field.

2. Professional Attitude and Behavior: The MSCP program prepares students to comport
themselves professionally within a counseling context, as indicated by the ethical standards for
professional counselors, including the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, accept and
implement feedback, and demonstrate interpersonal and intrapersonal awareness.

3. Cultural Competence and Advocacy: The MSCP program will provide training to increase
awareness, knowledge, and skills related to culturally competent professional behavior in the field
of counseling psychology. In addition, the MSCP program will challenge students to become
advocates for social justice in the global community.

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4. Professional Practice: The MSCP program will provide training in the use of appropriate
counseling and appraisal skills with an emphasis in counseling settings; students will also be
exposed to skills related to professional consultation, presentation, and evaluation.

Course Objectives
1. Students will employ skeptical, evaluative and logical approaches in processing information
and drawing conclusions. (Assessed through class discussion, activities and written
assignments),
2. Students will analyze ones own thinking processes, including how ones experiences,
feelings, ideas, and intuition affect thinking. (Assessed through class activities, and written
assignments)
3. Students will employ active listening techniques, including summarizing, paraphrasing,
questioning and nonverbal responses. (Assessed through class activities and participation)
4. Students will review the text and other documents regarding aspects of career development
and reply in written assignments. (Assessed through written assignments and verbal response
in class)
5. Students will demonstrate an awareness and understanding of key career development terms,
concepts, theories, practices, principles and perspectives. (Assessed through class activities,
written assignments, and examinations)
6. Students will gain a perspective and understanding of how persons form and develop a career
path. (Assessed through class activities, class participation, and course assignments)
7. Students will interact with peers demonstrating intellectual curiosity and openness to
differing perspectives. (Assessed through class interactions, discussions, and activities)

Methods of Teaching
This course will include didactic lecture, in class activities, and group interaction/discussion.

Grading Scale
A = 90 100% (360 400 points)
B = 80 89% (320 359 points)
C = 70 -- 79% (280 319 points)
D = 60 69% (240 279 points)
F = 59% and below (0 239 points)
Assignments and Assessment

Completed Parachute Flower 25 points

Completed SDS 25 points
Completed MBTI 25 points
Self-Evaluation Paper 50 points
Partner SDS 25 points
Partner MBTI 25 points
Partner Assessment Report & Feedback 50 points
Mid-Term Exam 50 points
Final Exam 50 points
Special Population Presentation 50 points
Participation 25 points
___________________________________________________
Total Points 400 points

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Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions. Excessive absences will result in a
deduction of your Participation grade. If you must miss class and believe that your absence meets
the definition of an excused absence, let me know so that I will not apply your absence against
your Participation points. Excused absences may include absences due to illness of the student,
illness of an immediate family member for whom the student must care, death of a family member
or close friend, religious observance (where the nature of the observance prevents the student from
being present during class), representation of Avila University in an official capacity, and other
compelling circumstances beyond the student's control. Students should notify the instructor of
their request for an excused absence in advance, and when possible, provide the documentation
upon request to substantiate the excuse. Students who are absent for any reason are expected to
and are responsible for clarifying missed assignments with classmates prior to the next class and
to consult with the instructor if necessary. Please keep in mind that in-class assessments,
interviews, etc. are integral to your success in this course and missing these class sessions may
preclude you from finishing these assignments in a timely manner.

Expectations for assignments: Submitted work will be typed and submitted in class unless
otherwise requested. Written work must adhere to APA style and formatting. The Purdue Online
Writing Lab provides a free resource for learning APA formatting and style at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. Written work will be evaluated for
composition, grammar, clarity of expression, and formatting/style.

Late assignments: Assignments are due by 6:00pm (class time) on their listed due dates, unless
otherwise specified. Late work will be deducted by 10% each day it is late. For example, any
work submitted after 6:00pm on the due date until 6:00pm on the following day will be deducted
by 10%; 20% if submitted after that time, etc.

Guidelines for Course Requirements:

Participation/Discussion
Professionalism is required from all students in this course to foster a respectful learning
community. I expect that class members will demonstrate intellectual maturity, democratic
values, and attitudes (respect, sensitivity, responsibility, and cooperation). Please know that
display of unprofessional dispositions will affect your course grade. I reserve the right to manage
a positive learning environment and thus will not condone inappropriate conduct in the course.
Generally, academic/professional misconduct by a student shall include, but not be limited to:
disruption of class (side bar conversation, use of cell phones, etc.), rudeness toward the instructor
or other class members, insensitivity, misrepresenting information presented in class,
manipulative and negative behavior, etc.

Assessments
There will be two self-assessment measures (Self Directed Search and Myers Briggs Type
Indicator) administered, scored, and interpreted within class, and there will also be two partner
assessment measures (SDS and MBTI) administered, scored, and interpreted within class.

Self-Evaluation Paper

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Students will complete a self-evaluation to conceptualize ones overall career development
process, which will integrate a career development theory of the students choice, ones personal
assessment results (SDS, MBTI, and the Parachute Flower), and ones personal history of the
career development process. In this self-evaluation, students should also highlight early
experiences of career goals (elementary school, middle school, high school, and college). These
early experiences may include those who influenced you or specific incidents that influenced
your aspirations. This paper should be no more than 3 pages in length and should be in APA
format.

Partner Assessment Report and Feedback

Students will complete a career report for a partner in the class. This report will incorporate the
partners assessment interpretations. Specific formatting for the report will be provided in class.
Following the completion of the report, the student will provide feedback regarding the results and
recommendations to his/her partner.

Mid-Term and Final Exam

The mid-term and final exam will be completed in class. The exams will include multiple choice,
true/false, and/or short answer questions.

Special Population Presentation

Students will present a 20-30 minute lecture and discussion on a special population in career
counseling. To coordinate with topics covered in class, students will select an area of focus to
include multicultural groups, gender, LGBT population, disabilities, or any other area relevant to
what is covered in class.

Cheating and Plagiarism

The policy of Avila University concerning cheating and plagiarism will be strictly followed in this
class. For more information on the Universitys policy on Academic Honesty, please see the Graduate
Catalog.

Disability Statement
If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the office of Disability
Services early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need
to provide documentation of your disability to Disability Services before any accommodations are
arranged. The office, which is in lower Blasco Hall, is in the Learning Center. Call 816-501-3666
(telephone and TTY) for more information.

Disclaimer: Any part of this syllabus including the course topics and outline are subject to
change at the discretion of the instructor.

TENTATIVE TOPIC SCHEDULE AND DUE DATES

DATE TOPIC ACTIVITY WHATS DUE

August 28 Syllabus Review
Chp. 1: Historical Dev

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September LABOR DAYNO
4 CLASS

September Chp. 2: Theories From Bolles:

11 Intro SDS People p. 129
Workplace p. 137
September Chp. 3: Models Complete SDS From Bolles:
18 Skills p. 141
Purpose p. 162
September Chp. 4: Integrating From Bolles:
25 Career & Personal Knowledges p. 168
Intro MBTI

October 2 Chp. 5: Intake Interview Complete MBTI From Bolles:

Salary p. 178
Geography p. 185

October 9 Chp. 6: Standardized & From Bolles:

Self Assessment Completed Flower
Review for Mid Term

October 16 MID TERM EXAM

October 23 Chp. 9: Multicultural Partner Interview Self-Evaluation Paper
Groups Student Presentations
October 30 Chp.10: Gender Partner SDS & MBTI
Student Presentation
November Chp. 11: LGBT Student Presentation
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November Chp. 12: Individuals Partner Feedback Partner Assessment Report
13 with Disabilities Student Presentation

November TBD
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November Chp. 13: Transitions &
27 Job Loss

December Chp. 14: Adult Dev

4 Flow - Csikszentmihalyi
Review for Final

December FINAL EXAM

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