FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Education

 

MHS 5341:  Career Development Program Design & Evaluation, 3 credits

 

Fall Semester, 5:15-8:00 p.m.

 

Dr. Robert Reardon, Professor & Program Director

 

4150A University Center (daily office hours).........644-9777             FAX:  644-3273

306G Stone (Monday a.m. office hours)...............644-1249

 

E-mail:  rreardon@admin.fsu.edu

 

Course History

 

            In 1973-74, a grant-funded 20 member special task force composed of educational, business, and community leaders from throughout Florida was created by Florida State University to develop a new degree program in the career development area.  This group identified a broad range of competencies thought to be essential for those graduate students specializing in this field.  Several new career development courses were proposed for the new degree program, including Foundations of Career Development and Career Development: Program Design and Evaluation.  For the latter course, eleven objectives were identified by the task force and used to formulate course-learning activities.  This course has been revised several times in the past 30 years, most recently in 1993 as part of a self-study for a planned CACREP accreditation review.  In 1998, the course was added as a requirement for students in the school counseling specialization, because of the priority given to school-to-work programs such as career education in the public schools, and the priority for program development skills for school counselors.  However, the essence of the course and the title has remained unchanged since the task force originally conceptualized it in 1974.

 

Purpose

 

            A counselor must be able to conceptualize, design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive career development program in almost any setting in which he or she may work.  Skills and abilities include being able to survey an environment, assess individual and organizational needs, develop or utilize career interventions, and evaluate program outcomes.  A counselor must be familiar with state-of-the-art intervention resources and technology, and be able to coordinate and integrate career programs with other guidance, mental health, and educational programs.  A counselor must also be able to provide program leadership for the career development area within the organization through management, supervision, and administration.  Finally, a counselor needs the skills to be able to conceptualize, design, establish, operate, and evaluate a staff, unit, office, or department.

 

Prerequisites/Co-requisites

 

            Prior coursework in career development, counseling, or student services, and professional experience as a counselor are highly desirable for successful completion of this course.

 


Objectives (Related to CACREP Standards)

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of the use of a systems approach to program development and evaluation related to life/career development.  [Standards B2; C1a; C2b]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how to write a comprehensive career development grant proposal on a topic of interest in a setting of choice.  [Standards B2; C1c]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how to prepare a budget request for career resources and materials for a targeted population and setting.  [Standards B3; B5; C1c; C1d]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how to make a persuasive oral presentation to obtain support for a proposed program.  [Standard C1c; C1e]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of social system needs assessment and program evaluation strategies.  [Standard C1d]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how various professional roles, relationships, and functions affect program development and operations.  [Standards A3; C1b]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how job positions are created, supervised, and evaluated in developing career related programs.  [Standard A3]

 

** To demonstrate an understanding of how cultural, ethnic, gender, and physical diversity affect career development program design.  [Standard C3b]

 

Methods of Instruction

 

            Class time during the first part of the course is devoted to lecture presentations by the instructor and class discussions of assigned readings in the text.  The last part of the course is devoted primarily to independent work on a program development project proposal, with the instructor providing consultation and technical assistance as needed.

 

Behavior Expectations

 

            Students are expected to be punctual and regular in class attendance, and to read assignments in preparation for class discussion or explore follow-up readings as they are made available by the instructor.  Assignments should be submitted on the dates provided in the class schedule.  Project grades will be reduced by 5% for each class meeting after the due date.

 

            Students registered with the Student Disability Resource Center and having a disability that may interfere with learning in this class may negotiate a reasonable accommodation with the instructor during the first week of the semester.

 


Texts

 

Primary Text:

 

Sampson, J. P., Jr., Reardon, R. C., Peterson, G. W., & Lenz, J. L. (2004). Career counseling and services: A cognitive information processing approach. Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth-Brooks/Cole.

 

Supplemental Texts available in UCA 4148:

 

Reardon, R., & Lenz, J. (1998).  The Self-Directed Search and related Holland career materials:  A practitioner’s guide.  Odessa, FL:  PAR, Inc.

 

Reardon, R., Lenz, J., Sampson, J., & Peterson, G. (2000). Career development and planning:  A comprehensive approach. Pacific Grove, CA:  Wadsworth-Brooks/Cole.

 

Peterson, G., Sampson, J, & Reardon, R. (1991).  Career development and services:  A cognitive approach. Pacific Grove, CA:  Brooks/Cole. 

 

Kobylarz, L. (1996).  National Career Development Guidelines:  K-adult handbook.  Stillwater, OK:  NOICC Training and Support Center.

 

 

Note:  Additional readings will be provided for reference in Tech Center Professional Library (UCA 4148) of the Career Center.  These will include sample program and grant project proposals; articles and samples of reports on strategic planning; reports from NOICC and the Florida Bureau of Career Development; and articles on career counseling for members from diverse populations.  In addition, a collection of more than 580 items describing career development vendors and products is available in the FSU Career Center/Tech Center for use in completing course projects.

 

Grading

 

            Letter grades will be assigned by the instructor on the basis of instructor evaluation of the quality of:

 

·         participation in class activities and discussions (10%);

·         quiz on text chapters and presentation materials (20%);

·         career information resources purchase list (20%); and the

·         project proposal (50%).

 

            An incomplete grade (I) is given only in exceptional circumstances involving death of a family member or a critical personal health problem.  Students should confer with the instructor at the first indication of problems in completing course assignments as scheduled.

 

 

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