SYLLABUS

Course Number:         Coun 507

Course Title:              Career Development and Vocational Counseling

Course Time:              Thursday, 6:00 p.m. –9:00 p.m.

Course Location:        Education Bldg 636

Semester:                   Spring 2008

Credits:                       3 credits

Instructor:                  Dr. Bobbie Birdsall, NCC, LCPC, LMFT

                                    Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator

                                    Department of Counselor Education

                                    Office Phone: 208-426-3204

                                    e-mail: bbirdsa@boisestate.edu

Course Description

Provides an overview of the major career development theories and occupational/educational information sources and systems.  Career development program planning, resources, and evaluation will be included.  Emphasis will be placed on how career counseling is practiced by the school counselor.  Students will be able to develop/implement a comprehensive career program in a setting of their interest.  This course reflects multicultural awareness and aligns with the reflective practitioner model of the College of Education at Boise State University.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

1.      Understand the historical role of career counseling in the helping profession as well as its relationship to other fields of counseling.

2. Know the predominant theories of career counseling and how theory relates to practice.
3. Recognize the counseling tools, techniques, and job-hunting resources that are applicable to the process of career/life planning.
4. Learn the relationship of multicultural social values, issues and ethical concerns to career/life planning and decision-making.
5. Differentiate between various client needs:  occupational choice, career change, job adjustment, mid-life transition, self-awareness, career development, career decision-making and special needs clients.
6. Become aware of and adept in using a broad array of occupational, educational, and informational sources pertaining to the world of work.
7. Be knowledgeable about career guidance programs in K-12.

Course Content

            The following content will be included in the course:

Required Text:

Zunker, V.G. (2006).  Career counseling: Applied concepts of life planning, (7^th Ed.). Pacific

     Grove, CA Brooks/Cole.

Optional Text:

Bolles, R. (2008).  What color is your parachute?  Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

1.      Read the contents of this syllabus and complete required assignments.  Ask necessary questions the first part of class, rather than later.

Course Requirements

Students are expected to participate (and therefore attend) in all class activities, including role-play and skill development exercises.  In addition, students will have the opportunity to earn points through an examination, and videotaping of structured counseling assignments.  The requirements are as follows:

1. Complete CIS questionnaire, input data, do sorts and print results.  This should be for 1) yourself or 2) for your child or 3) for someone you know.  We will do this as a class with a Career Information Service professional.

2. Complete Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and the Strong Interest Inventory.

3. Do one information interview in the field of your choice that is of personal interest to you and write a short (three page maximum) summary of the experience emphasizing your reaction to the interview.

4. Interview a special population client to investigate factors and influences on his/her career/life development.  Write a two page (typed, double-spaced) paper synthesizing the interview.

5. Complete examination on theories of career counseling.

6. Career Paper—describe your own career development to date using career development theory information.  The paper must contain references to reading in the text, must be APA style, and must be typed (double-spaced).  No more than 8 pages typed.

Include the following:

A.     Review your career development and choose the one theory you think best illustrates your career development.

B.     Analyze yourself through at least one assessment in each of the four areas (personality, interests, values, decision-making style).

C.     Analyze the influences of these factors (e.g., socio-economic, opportunities, responsibilities) on your career selection(s)/decision(s).

7. Career Counseling Videotape Demonstration

¨      Choose a career-related aspect of counseling to demonstrate with a client.  (Please get the client’s written permission to show parts of the tape to the instructor and class). 

¨      Effectively demonstrate a therapeutic atmosphere, information-gathering, career counseling skills and recommendations for the client.

¨      The class review portion of the tape should be no longer than 10 minutes.  The instructor will evaluate the tape demonstration based upon its consistency with the career counseling process and appropriate utilization of selected career counseling concepts.

8. Complete online assignments on Blackboard as follows:

¨      Review chapter overview

¨      Complete multiple choice questions (20)

¨      Complete essay questions (10)

Each of the following segments will be scored by means of a point system.

Information Interview                                                                30 points

Career Counseling Videotape                                                   50 points

Special Population Interview                                                     30 points

Career Paper                                                                            100 points

Attendance                                                                               10 points

Online Assignments (6 x 30 pts each)                            180 points

Final                                                                                         100 points       

Total Possible:                                                                       500 points

Grading Scale:              90 – 100 =       A

                                    80 – 89 =         B

                                    70 – 79 =         C

                                    69 and below    F

Disability Statement:

If there is someone in the class who has a special need that may be the result of a disability or alternative learning style, I would appreciate hearing from you.  I am reasonably certain that we can make the appropriate arrangements if necessary to assist you.  The accommodations can take many forms, whether it is seating, testing, or the like.  Please see me after class, or during my office hours.

Academic Integrity Statement:

Academic misconduct or dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is unacceptable and appropriate penalties will be imposed.  This includes referencing material that has not been read by you, such as secondary references.