Spring 2014 PSYC 202: Careers in Psychology/UCOL 101-P

Transcription

1 Spring 2014 PSYC 202: Careers in /UCOL 101-P Lectures: Mondays, 3:00-3:50 pm in Wham, Room 105 Discussion Sections: Section 1: Agriculture 166, Wed, Fri, 3:00-3:50 pm Section 2: Agriculture 168, Wed, Fri, 3:00-3:50 pm Section 4: Pulliam 118, Wed, Fri, 1:00-1:50 pm Section 5: Wham 306, Wed, Fri, 1:00-1:50 pm Instructor: Meera Komarraju, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Office: Life Science II, Room 229D Office Phone: Office Hours: Wednesday: 8:00-9:00; Thursday 10:00-12:00; 2:00-3:00 & by appointment Teaching Assistants (TA): Courtney Payne 2 nd Year Graduate Student, Counseling Jessica Zvonkovic 2 nd Year Graduate Student, Counseling TAs Office: Life Science II, Room 233D Office Hours: To be announced Undergraduate Advisement UG Office Life Science II, Room 229C UG Office No UG Office open: 8:00-4:30, Monday-Friday UG Records Manager Stacia Weinhoffer, UG Career Advisors: Life Science II, Room 233 Danielle Jack-James 2 nd Year Graduate Student, Clinical Kimberly Stevens 2 nd Year Graduate Student, Clinical CoLA Advisor Susan King, Course Description This three-credit course provides a survey of the various fields of psychology from the perspective of available career options. Activities, required skills, rewards, and external constraints that characterize different career paths are examined and discussed in relation to students' abilities and interests. This is a required course for psychology majors but is open to any interested student. Learning Objectives 1) Learn about the benefits of an education at a research university

2 2) Learn about your interests, skills and values as they relate to your career choice 3) Learn about various resources available at SIUC that could assist you with your educational and professional development (writing center, library, career development and resource clinic, career services, job fairs, research labs, internship experience, and externship opportunities) 4) Learn how to plan an individualized curriculum for your undergraduate education 5) Learn skills for academic success: deconstructing the syllabus, improving writing and study skills, using instructor office hours, etiquette, calculating a grade point average, and problem solving skills 6) Learn how to do a job search, how to write a cover letter, and a resume 7) Learn about the course requirements and course offerings for a psychology or related major 8) Learn about psychology as a discipline and about its subspecialties 9) Learn about career opportunities that exist in psychology and related fields for students completing a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree in psychology 10) Learn about the steps involved in applying to graduate school in psychology 11) Learn basic knowledge of writing according to the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines, required of students and professionals in the field of psychology 12) Learn how to apply critical thinking and multiple perspectives in understanding issues related to topics in psychology Required Text/Books 1. Landrum, R.E., & Davis, S.F. (2013). The psychology major: Career options and strategies for success (5 th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 2. Careers in : Psyc202 Workbook, Fall [Course Packet available only at the University Book Store, located in SIUC s Student Center] 3. Poster Board [Trifold: half or full size] Suggested References 1. Morgan, B. L., & Korschgen, A. J. (2006). Majoring in : Career Options for Undergraduates (3 rd Ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. 2. Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2010). Careers in : Opportunities in a Changing World (3 rd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Course Format This course will consist of a variety of experiences including lectures, class discussions, watching DVD clips, small-group activities, in-class experiential demonstrations, and panel discussions. During some of the class periods we will have guest lecturers making presentations related to textbook material and various specializations in psychology. Attendance may be taken on those days through in-class quizzes. Material covered by guest speakers will be included on tests. Students are expected to attend class regularly and participate in all activities.

3 Course Requirements Course Requirements Points 3 tests [20 points each] 60 = ~23% 10 Quizzes: During Monday lectures [5 points each] 50 = ~19% 10 Section Papers: During discussion sections [5 points each] 50 = ~19% Meet with Your TA (at least once during the semester) 10 = ~ 4% Mandatory Career Assignments (see the 8 lines below) 80 = ~31% 1- Self-Exploration Paper Researching the Occupational Network Information Plan for Next Semester Practice Resume (part one and two) Time Management/Behavior Modification Exploring Subfields in Interview a Professional Applying to a Graduate Program 10 Career Poster presentation 10 = ~ 4% Total 260 Extra Credit 15 = ~6% Grading Scale: A: (~90%) B: (~80%) C: (~70%) D: (~60%) F: 155 & below (~59%)

4 Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays [Tentative Course Schedule*] * Due to unforeseen circumstances, any changes to this schedule will be announced in class. Dates Monday Wednesday Friday Chapter Introductions, Community Building: Community Building: Syllabus, Icebreakers, Lifelines Icebreakers, Lifelines Why College? Research University? Week 1, Jan. 13, 15, 17 Week 2, Jan. 20, 22, 24 Week 3, Jan. 27, 29, 31 HOLIDAY Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Why? Subfields of Meaning of a College Education to Society and to You Values Affirmation, Developing Conscientiousness, Self-efficacy, Study strategies UG catalog, College, Core, Major requirements, Plan for next semester (preview CA3 with students) (CA1: Self-exploration Paper due) Deconstructing the Syllabus, Goal setting, Time Mgmt. Strategies for Academic Success: Solving problems commonly faced in college. Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Week 4, 3, 5, 7 Week 5, 10, 12, 14 Career Development Careers with a BA in Holland s Hexagon, Holland s Party Game Test 1 over Chapters 1, 2, 3, Subfields notes, CDRC Career Genogram, Three circles, Career Myths [Section Paper 5] (CA2: Researching the O*NET due) Group Scavenger Hunt to discover Department Resources Ch. 3 Week 6, 17, 19, 21 Campus Resources Financial Aid, Career Services, CoLA Advisors Small groups go from class to explore assigned campus resources Student presentations on Campus Resources (CA3: Plan for Next Semester due) Ch. 4 Week 7, 24, 26, 28 How do I search for a job? Networking, Mock Interviews, Finding a Mentor, Professional Etiquette Diversity in the Classroom and in the Workplace. (Finalize Person for Interviewing a Professional ) (CA4: First Resume Draft) APA resources at the end of the Workbook

5 Date Monday Wednesday Friday Chapter Week 8 3, 5, 7 Different Areas in Student presentations on Behavior Observation: (CA5: Behavior Student presentations on Behavior Observation s Week 9 10, 12, 14 Week 10, 17, 19, 21 Week 11, 24, 26, 28 Week 12, 30 2, 4 Week 13, 7, 9, 11 Different Areas in Different Areas in Undergraduate Panel: Successful Majors Graduate Students Panel Observation due) Student presentations on various Subfields of (CA6: Subfields of due) Small groups go to visit Research Labs Student s on Interviewing a Professional (CA7: Interviewing a Professional due) Test 2: Chapters 4, 7, 8, presentations, Undergraduate Panel, and APA resources Workbook Student presentations on various Subfields of Student s on Research Labs, How to join, Why? (CA4: Resume Revisions due) Student s on Interviewing a Professional Pros & Cons of going to Graduate School? Going for a Master s or Ph.D. program? APA resources at the end of the Workbook APA resources in Workbook Ch. 7, 8 Week 14, 14, 16, 18 Week 15, 21, 23, 25 Week 16, 28, 30, May 2 Week 17, May 5, 7, 9 Counseling Center, Wellness Center Panel: Internship Sites Course Wrap Up, etc. FINALS Test 3 over Ch. 5, 6, 9, 10 Graduate programs, Masters, Ph.D., PsyD; Application process: personal statement, recommendation letters Getting an internship, top 5%, externships, undergraduate research Psyc102 TA opportunity, Student work on campus Strengths I See and Strengths Others See in Me; Career Poster Worksheet FINALS Test 3 over Ch. 5, 6, 9, 10 GRE details: GRE sample items, Personal essay, letters of recommendation (CA8: Graduate Program due) APA Format Review of a Journal Article (Meet your TA due) Career Posters/End of semester activity FINALS Test 3 over Ch. 5, 6, 9, 10 Ch. 5, 6 Ch. 9, 10

6 Attendance: This class meets three times a week, and it is mandatory for you to attend all class sessions. If you miss more than 3 classes (without an excused absence) you will not receive a passing grade in the course. If you must miss a class (for any medical, legal, or personal emergency situation), it is important that you provide some form of documentation. Contact the instructor as soon as you know that you will miss/missed class. Tests: There will be 3 multiple-choice tests during the semester, worth 20 points each. These tests will be held on the dates assigned in the Course Schedule and will include the material covered in class, in the text, and any notes on Desire2Learn (course webpage). Please make a note that the test will take ~30 minutes to complete after which we will use the rest of the class time to go over the answers and review course requirements. Quizzes: There will be 10 short quizzes during lectures on Mondays, worth 5 points each. These will take place either at the beginning, middle, or end of class. You will be asked questions related to the current lecture material and you will write your responses (about one paragraph) on one of the 10 blank sheets at the end of your Workbook. Be sure to put your name, date, and quiz number on the sheet that you submit in class. These quizzes are also a method of taking attendance. Section Papers: There will be 10 brief writing assignments worth 5 points each during your small group discussion section. These could take place at the beginning, middle, or end of class. You will be given instructions in the discussion section regarding what needs to be written and your submission is due at the end of your section meeting. Be sure to put your name, date, and paper number on the sheet that you submit. These papers are also a method of taking attendance. Career Related Assignments (CA): ALL these assignments must be typed. In addition, all these assignments are mandatory and must be completed. Throughout the course of the semester, a total of 8 career related assignments will need to be completed as homework. Each assignment is worth 10 points and needs to be submitted at the beginning of class on the dates indicated on the Course Schedule. If you are late to class you may not be allowed to submit your assignment. A brief description of each assignment is listed below and further details for each assignment are available in your Psyc202 Workbook. (CA1) Self-Exploration paper: Write a self-exploration paper that helps you examine your professional career development. It is similar to what you may write as part of the graduate school application process. Use a 12-pt font, 1-inch margins, and make it single-spaced. Your paper should be 2 pages (not shorter, not longer) and should be organized and well-written. Details regarding topics you need to include are in your Workbook. (CA2) Finding a Bachelor s Level Job using the Occupational Network: Search the O*Net to find information about three careers which you find to be interesting and then find 3 occupational descriptions that are relevant and appropriate for graduates with a bachelor s degree in psychology. For the second part of this assignment you should find a job advertisement that interests you and answer all required questions. See further details in the assignment sheet in the Workbook. (CA3) Plan for the Next Semester: Using the planner form (in your Workbook), list the courses you plan to enroll for the upcoming semester. This exercise gives you an opportunity to get the big picture, think ahead, and tailor your education to your personal interests. Complete the other questions in the assignment sheet in the Workbook. If you are graduating this semester complete the alternative option. (CA4) Practice Resume: Prepare a current, updated resume that you will use for a potential job application. If you have never created a resume before, Microsoft Word has some resume templates to get you started (there is also a template provided in this Workbook). For this assignment, please do not exceed 1 page; follow the guidelines in the Workbook. You will receive up to 5 points for the first draft and up to 5 additional points for turning in a revised copy, after looking over the TA s feedback. The revised resume must be submitted on the due date in the schedule.

7 (CA5) Exploring Subfields in : Use the information at the end of this Workbook (and from to learn more about the different subfields in psychology. You will identify an area that interests you the most and answer specific questions. Use this assignment to further explore your career interests within psychology. (CA6) Time Management/Behavior Modification: This assignment gives you an opportunity to identify, observe, and implement a change strategy for improving your time management skills or modifying a behavior that you currently would like to alter. You will spend about two and a half weeks on this assignment and follow the guidelines in the workbook. (CA7) Interview a Professional: Locate a person who is currently working in the field of psychology or an occupation of interest to you. Schedule a 30-minute interview with this person (ideally face-to-face but if this is not feasible, a telephone interview is acceptable). Try to interview someone you don t know so that you can have some experience in an interview situation. Remember that people are extremely busy and you may not be able to get an appointment until several weeks after you schedule it. So, you should start working on this assignment at the beginning of the semester in order to finish it by the due date. Review the questions on the Interview Form (in your Workbook) prior to the interview, and write in any additional questions that you would like to ask. Be sure to write down the answers to these questions during/right after the interview. (CA8) Applying to a Graduate Program: Select a graduate program at a university that might be of interest to you. Identify the subfield of the graduate program in which you might be interested. Identify a faculty member from the program with whom you might want to do research. Then, follow the guidelines in the Workbook. Career Poster: On the assigned due date, each student will bring a poster reflecting their future career plans. You will present your poster to your classmates and to students in the other PSYC202 discussion sections. This experience will mimic a psychology conference and give you a chance to network with students outside of your class. Details for preparing and presenting the poster are in the Workbook. Meet with your Teaching Assistant (TA): Plan to meet with your TA at least once during the semester. It is your responsibility to schedule this appointment. Use the forms provided in this Workbook to complete the assignment and to obtain a signature from your TA. This is your opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved in the department and explore your own career path in psychology. Extra Credit Points: You can accumulate 15 points by completing three different assignments from the list of seven assignments provided in the Workbook. You will receive five (5) points for each (different) assignment you select. All extra credit assignments must be typed. See the Workbook for details. Make-Up Policy. If you know before the test that you must miss it because of medical, legal, or contractual obligations, please inform the Teaching Assistant/Instructor. You will be allowed to make up the test if you submit a documented explanation for the absence. Permission to reschedule the test will be granted only in the case of documented contractual obligations that clearly prevent you from attending school on the day of the test. This policy will be strictly enforced. Make-up tests will be scheduled for the week of the final exams. If for a valid reason, you miss submitting your career related assignments [CAs], you must submit the CAs, at the latest, on the Friday before Finals Week. No CAs will be accepted past this day. If you know ahead of time that you will miss class or if an unexpected emergency arises and you miss class, please inform the Teaching Assistant/Instructor immediately and provide documentation to support the reason for your absence. If you have a documented reason for missing a class, you can make up quiz or section paper points by completing the Make-up assignment option listed in the Workbook. Top 5%: The Department of at SIUC values academic excellence and in recognition of the hard work and achievement of undergraduate students invites those scoring in the Top 5% of their class to a get-together in the department (during the following semester). This is an opportunity to meet with faculty members as well as students from other courses and to find out more about opportunities available in the department. Students who receive the letter of invitation appreciate the recognition this brings and are also able to use it while applying for jobs or admission to graduate school.