Career Seminar
EA4350 - SECTION A
FALL 2012
TTH –
3:30-4:45 pm
Treadaway
Rm. C
Instructor:
Professor:
Kevin Welch Office
Hours: Mon: By Appointment
Office:
Treadaway Rm. 377 Tue:
8:30-9:45, 4:45-6pm
Phone:
436-3655 Wed:
By Appointment
Email:
kwelch@stmarytx.edu Thur:
8:30-9:45,
4:45-6pm
No
Required Texts:
I
will post readings and tutorials on
Blackboard.
Nature of this Course:
“A seminar shares the educational experience among students
and instructors. Professors facilitate discussion based on their own knowledge
and study of a topic, but seldom offer long lectures or other formally
structured lesson plans and assignments. Learning is instead based on
participation of each student. Students will be expected to do their own
research on topic ideas to be covered at class meetings, offer essays or other
written work in support of those ideas, and lead or facilitate group
discussions of those topics. In addition to facilitating class discussions,
instructors may provide tutorials and evaluation of written work. But the
knowledge and insight taken from a seminar relies on preparation and enthusiasm
of everyone who takes part.” – Ross Collins,
Ph.D NDSU
Course
Goals:
- Evaluate yourself and determine
your career goal
- Research and prepare for an actual
job in your chosen field
- Develop your professional
portfolio (digital or binder)
- Create a culminating project that
demonstrates the knowledge and skills garnered during your education in EA
(or other major)
Attendance
Policy:
Please
read the attendance policy on Page 36 the St. Mary’s 2010-2011 Undergraduate
Catalog regarding absences and drops.
Four unexcused absences will result in you being dropped from the
course.
In
addition to this University Policy, Class Participation is a significant part
of both the classroom experience and your grade, so failure to attend or
actively participate will affect your grade.
Each unexcused absence or day of inactivity will result in loss of
points from your participation grade.
Absences
will only be excused for participation in University Sponsored events, as
dictated by the Deans, and documented serious emergencies.
Policy
on Late Work:
THIS
CLASS IS TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE REAL WORK ENVIRONMENT. LATE WORK will
result in a LOSS OF 50% of the points for that assignment and must be turned in
by the next class period. No assignment
will be accepted beyond the following class period.
Evaluation:
10% Attendance/Participation
10% Topic Presentation
20% Job Packet
10% Interview Assignment
20% Portfolio
30% Final
Project
100% Total
Topic
Presentation:
With
a partner you will present and lead discussion in class about topic related to
your chosen field. The goal is to find an important change or trend in the
field and explore it. For instance, you might lead a class about the role of
social media in journalism or the changing landscape of advertising due to the
internet and DVRs.
Job
Packet:
You
will prepare a job packet for an actual job posting that you would want apply
for. This will consist of:
1.
A 6-8 pg research paper into that
position including requirements, the company, and your strengths/weaknesses for
the job.
2.
A 1-pg resume and a 2-pg resume for the
job
3.
A 1-pg cover letter for the job
Interview
Assignment:
You
will interview for the job you are applying for with either me, a career
services rep or an industry professional. You will also interview each other
and write up a report on the interview.
Portfolio:
You
will produce a professional quality portfolio either in binder or digital or
both. I recommend that you create a website to serve as your digital portfolio
so that it can be linked to easily in your job applications. This is
increasingly becoming the standard.
Final
Project:
Must
be related your goals and experience as a student in our program. This can be
research or project based but will be geared towards a real world application
of what you’ve learned in your studies as an EA (or other) major. You are free
to explore your own interest but it must be related to your studies and career
goal. I will guide and advise you on the project but expect for you to take the
initiative to conceive and build this project without constant supervision.
Tentative
Course Schedule: (The schedule and homework are subject to change with notice)
Day: Topic
Week 1 Overview
and Goals Discussion
Aug 21st Overview
Aug 23rd Group
Discussion of Goals
HOMEWORK:
1. Sign-up at www.testingroom.com and complete the
three free tests (Career Interest Profiler, Personality Profiler, Career
Values, Scale) – You may choose to get the extended reports on your own if you
want but you are not required to do so as they cost money. Also take this test http://www.123test.com/personality-test/
2. Write up a 1-2 page response to the
findings (How you feel about the results and why)
Week 2 Dream Jobs and the Path to Success
Aug 28th Discussion
of results and your job goals
Aug 30th Focusing
HOMEWORK: Research the field you are most interested in
– Write an inventory of the qualifications needed for such a job as well as
your own experiences
Week 3 Resumes
and Cover Letters
Sept 4th Small
Group Work – How does your background fit what you’ve learned thus far?
Sept 6th In
Class work on Resume with Job
HOMEWORK: 1. Finish 1st Resume and
Cover Letter for your job in your field
2.
Prepare a ½-1pg idea for a final project
Week 4 Guest
Speakers
Sept 11th
Guest Speaker
Sept 13th Guest
Speaker
HOMEWORK:
1. Prepare your topic presentation with your partner
2.
Write a formal 2-3pg proposal for your final project
Week 5 Topic
Presentations
Sept 18th
Topic Presentation
Sept 20th
Topic Presentation
HOMEWORK: 1. Prepare your Topic Presentation
with your partner
2.
Prepare a timeline for your final project completion
Week 6 Topic
Presentations
Sept 25th
Topic Presentation
Sept 27th
Topic
Presentation
HOMEWORK: 1.
Prepare your Job Packet
Week 7 Consultation
Week
Oct 2nd Consultation
on your Job Packet
Oct 4th Consultation
on your Job Packet
HOMEWORK: 1. Prepare for your interview
2. Work on Final Projects and/or Portfolio
Week 8 Interview
Week 1
Oct 9th Interviews
Oct 11th Interviews
HOMEWORK: 1. Prepare for your interview
2.
Work on Final Projects and/or Portfolio
Week 9 Interview
Week 2
Oct 16th Interviews
Oct 18th Interviews
Week 10
Portfolio
Oct 23rd Overview
of Portfolio
Oct 25th Portfolio
Workshop
HOMEWORK:
Week 11 Guest
Speakers
Oct 30th Guest
Speaker
Nov 1st Guest
Speaker
HOMEWORK:
Week 12 Individual
Final Project Consultations
Nov 6th and 8th – Individual Final Project
Consultation/Work
HOMEWORK:
Week 13 Individual
Final Project Consultations
Nov 13th and Nov 15th Individual Final
Project Consultation/Work
HOMEWORK:
Week 14 THANKSGIVING
Nov 20th 1ST PORTFOLIO DUE
Nov 22nd THANKSGIVING
BREAK
HOMEWORK: 1. WORK ON FINAL PROJECT
Week 15 Guest
Speaker
Nov 27th Guest Speaker
Nov 29th Guest
Speaker
HOMEWORK: 1. WORK ON FINAL PROJECT
Week 16 Presentations
of Final Projects
Dec 4th Final
Project Presentations
Dec 6th Final
Project Presentations
Week 17 FINALS WEEK
THURSDAY DEC 13th 3:15pm
FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS Overflow and TURN IN FINAL
PORTFOLIO
