VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY & COUNSELING

SCHC/PSYC 7820: Career Counseling

3 Credit Hours

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

1.      Brown, D. (2003). Career information, career counseling, and career development.

(8th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

 

2.      Zunker, V. G., & Osborn, D. S. (2002). Using assessment results for career development.

(6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

 

3.      Career Assessment Instruments packet. All textbooks are located at the university bookstore.

 

RECOMMENDED TEXT

1.      Herring, R. D. (1998).  Career counseling in schools. Multicultural and developmental perspectives. Alexandria, VA:  ACA.

 

Course Description: An introduction to the theories and implementation of the career choice process. Emphasis is placed on the nature and use of educational-occupational information in assisting individuals to explore the world of work and develop meaningful career plans. The course includes lab experiences consisting of administering, scoring, and interpreting career inventories. Students also learn about computer assisted career development including the Georgia Career Information System.

 

M.S. Clinical Counseling Outcome Objectives

Students will:

1.      demonstrate an understanding of salient sociological aspects of career development. (COE-3)

2.      demonstrate knowledge of prominent theories of vocational development. (COE-2)

3.      apply theories of vocational development to counseling practice. (COE-2)

4.      demonstrate knowledge of occupational classification systems and trends in the world of work. (COE-2)

5.      become aware of several career-related inventories. (COE-3)

6.      explore and demonstrate some understanding of their own career development patterns. (COE-1)

 

M.Ed. School Counseling Outcome Objectives

Students will:

1.      apply theories of career development and decision-making models to counseling practice. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.a.)

2.      describe career, avocational, educational, occupational and labor market information resources, visual and print media, and computer-based career information systems and other electronic career information resources. ( SCCO-D, CACREP 4.b.)

3.      demonstrate career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration, and evaluation. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.c.)

4.      state the interrelationship among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors including diversity and gender issues as related to career development. ( SCCO-D, CACREP 4.d.)

5.      develop career development and educational placement, evaluation, and follow-up strategies. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.e.)

6.      utilize assessment instruments and techniques relevant to career planning and decision-making. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.f.)

7.      demonstrate computer career development applications and strategies, including computer-assisted career guidance and information systems and appropriate world-wide web sites. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.g.)

8.      demonstrate knowledge of career counseling processes, techniques, and resources including those applicable to specific populations. (SCCO-D, CACREP 4. h)

9.      apply ethical and legal considerations related to career development (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.i.)

 

ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Activities

A.     Case Studies

B.     Group Activities

C.     Videos

D.     Practice Testing & Assessments

E.      Computer-Assisted Career Activities and Assessments

F.      Practice Career Counseling Interviews

 

Requirements

a.       Career Counseling Center Project Presentation: Students will be assigned to work in small groups of 4 or 5 to develop and complete a career counseling center for a specific age group (elementary, middle/junior high, high school, or college and vocational/technical school). Each group will be asked to take 10 – 15 minutes during the class to share their project with the class. The format for the project is attached.

 

b.      Career Assessment Report: Students will conduct a career assessment on one person (SCHC students – K-12 school age student; PSYC student – any age), using one of the career instruments practiced in class then write a case report including the results of the test. A copy of the case and assessment report will be emailed to all class members. The instruction for the report format is attached. For SCHC students you are to also use the GCIS as a follow up.

 

c.       Career Counseling Issues for Special Populations Presentation: Students will be assigned to work in small groups of 4 or 5 to write and present a report on career counseling issues and techniques for interventions for a specific population group (girls, children of migrant workers, deviant youths, physically challenged, African American boys, learning disabled, etc.). The group will choose a career theory that would help to guide career counselors in working with this population and also any assessment instruments specific to or applicable for this particular population. The 7 to 10 page paper will be handed in on the day of the group presentation. An outline for the 30 minutes presentation is attached.

 

d.      Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling Program – Career Counseling Component (CDSCP): (For SCHC students only). Each group will complete the career counseling section of a Comprehensive School Counseling program. The section will include the following components: career goals, career objectives, career method/activities, and career evaluations for the School Counseling program. As the student progresses through the School Counseling program, he/she will add sections to this culminating in a portfolio that is submitted to the faculty prior to graduation. Please use the ASCA’s Vision into Action book to address the K-12 competencies.

 

f.    Career Genogram: (For PSYC students only). Each student will construct a personal career genogram to get a better understanding of self and families of origin, including grandparents. The genogram should provide you as well as the other class members with insights into careers, work, gender, and cultural socialization. The format for the career genogram will be provided by the instructor and discussed in class. The genogram along with a 4 to 5 page reaction paper is required on the due date.

 

g.   Field Experience: Each student will complete a field experience in a school setting with a school counselor (for SCHC students), and/or a career center with a career counselor or career specialist (for PSYC students). Assignments will be made before the fourth week of class. Students will keep a log (www.internetloggingsystem.com) that notes time spent, activities completed, and how activities or observations relate to the course objectives, discuss their experiences in class, and write a two-page reaction of the field experience. Evaluations will also be completed by the instructor and the site supervisor. A minimum of 30 hours must be completed. See guidelines for the field experience attached.

 

h.   Examinations I & II: Students will take two written examination on the dates assigned. The special population presentation will count as a final examination.

 

All PAPERS are to be written using APA 5th edition writing style and emailed to all class members.

       

COURSE EVALUATION

Schedule of Evaluation

            Exam I: February 17th

Exam II: March 30th

Group Project: March 23th

Group Presentation: April 13th  and 20th

Grading Scale

            Career Genogram or C.D.S.C.P.          15%                             90 – 100% = A

            Career Center Project                          15%                             80 – 89%   = B

            Career Assessment                               10%                             70 – 79%   = C

            Group Presentation                               20%                             60 – 69%   = D

            Field Experience                                   10%                         Below 60%   = F

            Exam I                                                 15%

            Exam II                                                15%

            ___________________________________

            TOTAL                                               100%

 

INSTRUCTOR

Karen D. Rowland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor 

Department of Psychology and Counseling

Office: Room 3 (POB) Psychology Building                 

Telephone: 333-5930 or 259-5078

Email: kathomps@valdosta.edu

Office Hours: Monday and Thursday 11:00 – 2:00PM, Tuesday and Wednesday 3 – 5PM

Friday by appointment only.

 

DATE AND TIME OF FINAL EXAMINATION

Group Presentation is the final

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Valdosta State University policy requires class attendance. A student who misses more than 20% of the scheduled classes of a course will be subject to receiving a failing grade in the course.

 

SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT

Valdosta State University, in accordance with the American Disabilities Act, will make arrangements for students who require special assistance due to a disability. If you require some assistance, do not hesitate to advise the instructor. Additionally, if you are not registered with Special Services Programs, you must contact the Special Services Office in Nevens Hall, or call 245-2498.

 

 

NOTE: Textbook reading assignment -  Brown ( B); Zunker & Osborn (Z & O)

 

Tentative Schedule

January 13                                Course Syllabus; Introduction to Career Information, Career

Lecture 1                                Counseling and Career Development – chapter 1 (B; Z & O)

 

January 20                                Career Theories – chapters 2 & 3 (B) chapter 2 (Z & O) – web Lecture 2 base class session.

 

January 27                                Career Counseling, Testing & Assessment – chapter 4 & 5 (B)

Lecture 3                                 chapter 6 (Z & O); Self-Directed Search (SDS) & My Vocational Situation (MVS) instruments

 

February 3                               Ethical and Legal Issues in CACGS – chapter 8 (B) chapter 10 &

Lecture 4                                 11 (Z & O) - web base class session.

 

February 10                             GCIS Assessment & GCIS Card Sorts

 

February 17                             Exam I

 

 

February 24                             Career Development Needs of Special Populations – chapter 6 (B)

Lectures 5 A & B                    chapters 7 (Z & O);\; Career Development Programming in the Elementary, Middle, High Schools, and College – chapter 9 – 11                                     (B) web base class session.

 

March 2                                   Using Interest Inventories – chapter 9 (Z & O) Career Maturity Inventory (CMI); Using Personality Inventories; Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) instrument; Using Values Inventory; Values Scale (VS); Using tests for special education students; Geist Picture Interest Inventory - Revised (GPII-R).

 

March 9                                   Job/Work Preparation, Placement, Outplacement and the Job

Lecture 6                                 Search Process– chapter 7, 9, 10 (B) chapter 8 (Z & O) web base class session.

 

March 16                                 The World of Work, & Classification Systems – chapters 14 & 15

Lecture 7                                 (B) chapter 13 (Z & O) Non-standardized self-assessment instruments; career genogram web base class session.

 

March 23                                 Career Counseling Center Project Presentation

 

March 30                                 Exam II

 

April 6                                      SPRING BREAK

 

April 13                                    Special Population Presentation

 

April 20                                    Special Population Presentation (C.D.S.C.P. – Career Component & Career Genogram due)

 

April 27                                    Career Assessment Report Computer disc with all assignments due, course evaluation.

 

 

 

Note: Group members will remain the same for all group assignments.

 

PSYC/SCHC 7820: CAREER COUNSELING Outcomes Matrix

 

M.S. Clinical Counseling
Outcome Objective

Students will:

Activity

Assessment

demonstrate an understanding of salient sociological aspects of career development. (COE-3)

Lecture

Discussion

Group Exercises

Video

Career Center Project

Exam II

Special Population Presentations

Career Genogram

demonstrate knowledge of prominent theories of vocational development. (COE-2)

Lecture

Discussion

Practice interviews

Case Studies

Exam I

Exam II

Career Assessment

Presentations

apply theories of vocational development to counseling practice. (COE-2)

 

Group Exercises

Lecture

Discussion

Case Studies

Exam I

Exam II

Career Assessment

Presentations

Field Experience

demonstrate knowledge of occupational classification systems and trends in the world of work. (COE-2)

Lecture

Discussion

Case Studies

Practice Assessments

Computer Assessments

Career Assessment

Exam II

Presentations

Career Center Project

become aware of several career-related inventories. (COE-3)

Lecture

Discussion

Group Exercises

Practice Assessments

Computer Assessments

Career Assessment

Exam II

Presentations

Career Center Project

explore and demonstrate some understanding of their own career development patterns. (COE-1)

Lecture

Discussion

Group Exercises

Career Assessment

Career Genogram

 

 

M.Ed. in School Counseling
Outcome Objective

Students will:

Activity

Assessment

apply theories of career development and decision-making models to counseling practice. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.a.)

Lecture

Discussion

Case Studies

Group Exercises

Exam I

Exam II

Career Assessment

Special Pop. Presentation

CDSCP Presentation

Field Experience

describe career, avocational, educational, occupational and labor market information resources, visual and print media, and computer-based career information systems and other electronic career information resources. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.b.)

Lecture

Discussion

Group Exercises

Exam II

Career Assessment

Career Center Project

CDSCP Presentation

demonstrate career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration, and evaluation. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.c.)

Lecture

Discussion

Group Activities

Exam II

Special Pop. Presentation

Career Center Project

CDSCP Presentation

state the interrelationship among and between work, family, and other life roles and factors including diversity and gender issues as related to career development. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.d.)

Lecture

Discussion

Video

Group Exercises

Exam I

Exam II

Special Pop. Presentation

Career Center Project

CDSCP Presentation

develop career development and educational placement, evaluation, and follow-up strategies. (COE-3, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.e.)

Lecture

Discussion

Case Studies

Career Assessment

Career Center Project

Special Pop. Presentation

CDSCP Presentation

utilize assessment instruments and techniques relevant to career planning and decision-making. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.f.)

Lecture

Practice Assessments

Computer Assessments

Career Assessment

Career Center Project

Special Pop. Presentation

CDSCP Presentation

Field Experience

demonstrate computer career development applications and strategies, including computer-assisted career guidance and information systems and appropriate world-wide web sites. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4.g.)

Computer Assessments

Career Assessment

Special Pop. Presentation

Field Experience

CDSCP Presentation

demonstrate knowledge of career counseling processes, techniques, and resources including those applicable to specific populations. (COE-2, SCCO-D, CACREP 4. h.)

Practice Assessments

Case Studies

Group Exercises

Exam I

Exam II

Career Assessment

Special Pop. Presentation

CDSCP Presentation

Field Experience

apply ethical and legal considerations related to career development (SCCO-D, CACREP 4.i.)

Case Studies

Group and Computer Exercises

Career Assessment

Special Pop. Presentation

CDSCP Presentation

Field Experience

 

 

Career Counseling Center Project Format

 

I.                    Page Title (including name of Career Center, names of members in the group, date, university name, course number and name)

 

II.         Center’s Description (setting, target population)

 

III.       Goals of the Center (include some behavioral objectives for each goal, methods used, and evaluations that goals have been met)

 

IV.       Equipment and Materials on hand at the center – much include Internet resources (rationale or how do these meet the center’s goals and objectives)

 

V.        Equipment and Materials to be purchased (rationale or how do these meet

            the center’s goals and objectives)

 

VI.       Grants available – at least three (description of each grant)

 

VII.      Budget – your total budget is $3000.00 prior to grant money (use a table format to show how money is/will be spent)

 

VIII.     List of local, state, and national resources available for the target population

 

IX.       Reference Page

 

 

Special Population Career Counseling Paper and Presentation Outline

Note: Use APA 5th ed style, however you do not need an abstract page

 

1.         Introduction

a.                   description (characteristics) of population

b.                  statistics about population (nationally)

c.                   stereotypes or misconceptions of population

d.                  relevant definitions of population

e.                   development issues of group

 

2.         Career Issues (you may include #3 in this section as long as it applies to career issues)

 

3.         Relevant Research

            a.         for specific population

            b.         on career issues related to specific population

 

4.         Role of Career Theory

            a.         explain selected theory

            b.         explain the theory’s applicability to the specific population

            c.         provide limitations (if any) of the selected theory for this population

 

5.         Role of Career Counselor

            a.         explain specific career techniques and interventions appropriate for this population

 

6.         Career Assessment Instrument/s appropriate for this population

 

7.         Internet Resources

 

8.         Reference Page

 

note: for the presentation, include a section on lessons learned and a class activity.

 

 

Career Counseling Field Experience

 

Field experience will involve observing and assisting the site supervisor with career counseling related issues. At the end of the experience you are to write a two-page personal reactions to your field experience. Discuss and react to the structure of the school/institution’s career counseling program - the strengths and weaknesses and what changes you would like to make. Also include what knowledge and skills (in the area of career counseling) you have gained from this experience.

 

Prior to beginning the field experience, students must provide the instructor with completed field experience applications by the end of the second week of class. Students must also obtain liability insurance. Applications through the Student Professional Association of Georgia Educators (SPAGE) can be obtained from the Dean’s office in the Education Center.

 

 

Career Assessment Report Format

 

Client’s Name (use a fictitious name)               Age

Sex                                                                              Grade & School or Occupation

Ethnicity

 

Date of Evaluation (it could be two day, one for initial interview and one for testing)

Date of Report (day the report was completed)

Examiner’s Name, Credentials, and Position (your name, degree/certification, job position)

 

I.                   Reason for Referral - presenting issue, who referred)

 

II.                Background Information - family information (parents, siblings, position in family, parents’ occupation, SES, etc.); client information (education/academic achievements, favorite/best subject/s, least favorite/worse subject/s, extracurricular activities at school/work and in the community, positions or offices held, awards/trophies received)

 

III.             Behavioral Observations - describe specific physical, affective appearance/behaviors during interview and testing periods, include any questions the client asked during testing, and anything, in your opinion that might be worth mentioning in the report.

 

IV.              Test Administered - name and description of the test with appropriate normative informative

 

V.                 Analysis and Interpretation of Test Results - report results of test with your interpretation of the scores based on the test information in the textbook and/or manual. Compare the results with the norm group with your interpretation of the comparison.

 

VI.              GCIS Analysis and Interpretation – explain what information resources you used with the client and why (your rationale must be related to the results of the career instrument given). Report on the results of the resources used.

 

VII.           Summary and Recommendation - summarize the evaluation including the interview and testing and test results. Provide some general interpretations of the test results as it relates to the client’s self-reported education/academics, extra curricular activities, and family information. What career plan did the client make as a result of the assessment.

 

Make specific recommendations for career counseling (individual, group, classroom, and/or family counseling), and a rationale for these approaches. Include as many specific next steps in the career counseling process as possible (e.g., career research, job search, job placement, internship, job shadowing, part-time work experience, etc.)

 

 

 

Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling Program (CDSCP) – Career Component

Format

 

A.     Introduction – include an introductory paragraph or two of the purpose or rationale for having a career counseling program as part of your comprehensive plan. Give attention to the ASCA standards and your mission and vision statements, and include the overall goals for your program. Also include a general overview of what your career program will consist of.

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