Career Explorations and Personal Development

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
HUMD 1130
Discontinued
No
Course Code
HUMD 1130
Descriptive
Career Explorations and Personal Development
Department
Counselling
Faculty
Student Affairs and Services
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
25
Contact Hours
Seminar: 3; Student Directed Learning: 1
Method(s) Of Instruction
Seminar
Tutorial
Learning Activities

Some or all of the following methods may be used:

  • lectures
  • small group discussions
  • group testing
  • structured independent learning assignments
  • visual/audio materials
Course Description
Our personalities influence our career choices and our ability to find employment and work cooperatively with others. This 15-week course will help students develop awareness and understanding of themselves and their career choices. Topics will include self-esteem and interpersonal communication skills, personality and temperament factors, needs and values clarification, interest assessments, occupational research skills, goal setting, problem solving and decision-making.
Course Content
  1. Interest, personality, values, skills, and aptitude assessment
  2. Self Management—time stress, anger and assertiveness
  3. Influences of significant life experiences and transitions
  4. Communications skills, needs and expectations, roles and self development
  5. Relationship management: with families, friendships, relationships and co-workers
  6. Decision making and goal setting
  7. Occupational research and planning
  8. The effects of labour market trends
  9. Employability skills and factors for success
Learning Outcomes
  1. To increase awareness of personal needs, values, and beliefs relating to career and life choices.
  2. To acquire a strong applied understanding of the processes that influence personality, self-concept, self-esteem, attitudes and beliefs.
  3. To generate an individual vocational profile based on psychometric tests that assess interests, aptitudes, work values and personality variables.
  4. To acquire career development skills related to occupational exploration, research, and decision-making.
Means of Assessment

Due to the experiential nature of this course, regular attendance is necessary to maximize student learning.

The specific course assignments and their weighting will be determined by the instructor. They may include:

  • Completion of in class exercises;
  • Submission of weekly journal reports describing the learning that has occurred as a result of the class activities, exercises, materials and/ or discussions;
  • Submission of a life history narrative;
  • Submission of a career summary report;
  • Submission of detailed occupational research report integrating assessment results;
  • Submission of competed information interview assignment;
  • Submission of various written assignments analyzing and applying vocational or self assessment results and theory.
Textbook Materials

Vocational Testing Assessment Package
Weiten, W. and Lloyd, M. (2012). 

Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century (tenth edition). Pacific Grove California: Brooks/Cole. (may be required)