Fall 2009 Psych 390

Dr. Norcross 1 credit

Career Development in Psychology

(The Junior Seminar)

Catalog Description: (Prerequisites: Junior standing; Psychology major) This seminar entails studying, discussing, and applying information on academic planning, career development, and graduate school. Course requirements include attendance at several academically related department events or psychologically related university presentations. Fall only.

Course Objectives:

(1) to provide factual and timely information on academic planning to psychology majors

(2) to dispense essential information on career development, specifically on preparing for graduate school and obtaining employment with a baccalaureate in psychology

(3) to clarify realistic career goals

(4) to promote active engagement in University life, including attendance at academically related events.

Faculty Information:

Instructor: John C. Norcross, PhD, Professor of Psychology

Contact numbers: 941-7638 (office); norcross@scranton.edu (e-mail); 585-5726 (home)

Office hours: Mon 8:15 – 10:00, Tue 1:15 - 2:30, and by appointment

Office location: 224 Alumni Memorial Hall

Web page: academic.scranton.edu/faculty/norcross/

Teaching assistants: 10:00 section: Matthew Suda (sudam2@scranton.edu; 484-995-1852)

                                    11:00 section: Maria Portelli (portellim2@scranton.edu; 973-508-9656)                                                     1:00 section: Cassandra Rozell (rozellc2@scranton.edu; 570-575-0516)

Required Texts:

Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2007). Careers in psychology (2^nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/ Wadsworth.

Bolles, R. N. (2009). What color is your parachute? A practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Norcross, J. C., Sayette, M. A., & Mayne, T. J. (2008). Insider’s guide to graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology (2008/2009 edition). New York: Guilford Press.

Evaluation Process: Your performance in this course will be assessed via 5 quizzes (including the summer reading assignment), 8 brief assignments, and your class participation. The quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class; makeup quizzes are not permitted. Each quiz is based primarily on the assigned reading and secondarily on class material. We shall count only your 4 best quiz grades; you can “drop” one quiz.

The assignments are each worth a maximum of 5 points, as follows. 5 points = assignment delivered on time (first five minutes of class), in class, and excellent work. 4 points = assignment delivered on time, in class, and good work. 3 points = assignment delivered on time, in class, and satisfactory work. 2 points = late but excellent assignment. 1 point = late but good work. 0 points = assignment not received within 1 week of due date.

Y Catch the Fever! Y

Thus, 4 best quizzes (max of 10 points apiece) 40

8 assignments (max of 5 points apiece) 40

class participation (max of 10 points) 10

90 possible points

Course Policies: Regular class attendance is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. If absent from a class meeting, you are responsible for the material covered. You are responsible for all announcements made in class. Please turn off your cell phone while in class. Violation of this policy will demand punishment – though one that does not infringe on your eighth amendment rights.

Please refer to the University’s Academic Code of Honesty (revised May 1998). Plagiarism or dishonest examination behavior on your part will result in the assignment of a grade of F for the course.

Course Calendar and Assignments:

Date Topic Reading Assignment

Aug 24 A Royal Welcome; Getting Started Quiz 1 (on Summer

Reading)

Aug 31 Active Engagement in the University Life B 1 & 2 Interest Inventory

Psychology Curriculum & Advising Tips

Sep 7 Labor Day; no class

Sep 14 Accessing University Resources: Field Trip to B 3 Career Services

Sep 21 Employment & Grad School Selection Criteria N 18-23 Quiz 2

Assessing Your Career Interests B 8

Sep 28 Preparing for Your Life’s Work: Courses, N 23-33 Advising Check List Research, Experience, & Extracurriculars

Oct 5 Baccalaureate-Level Career Options N 1 Quiz 3

Graduate-Degree Career Paths B 4

Oct 12 Fall Break; no class

Oct 19 Entrance Examinations N 33-40 Career Plan

Article

Oct 26 Researching Positions and Selecting Schools N 4 & B 5 Quiz 4

Nov 2 Applications and CVs/Resumes N 5 Informational

Interview

Nov 9 Personal Statements & Letters of Recommendation article CV or Resume

Nov 16 Interviewing Strategies & Practice N 6 & B 6 Interview Responses

Nov 23 Interview Day B 7 Mock Interview

Nov 30 More on Interviews N 7 Quiz 5

Making Final Decisions

Dec 7 Let Your Life Speak B 12 Attendance Documentation

Guidelines for the Brief Assignments:

All papers are to be typed double-spaced with one-inch margins. The papers are designed to be brief and focused; they should never exceed 1.5 pages in length (with the exception of your Career Plan). Please place your name, section time, and title of the assignment at the top of your paper.

For the Interest Inventory, complete the Strong Interest Interview at home in a quiet and comfortable place. Follow the instructions and be sure to fill in all of the requested information. Return it to class on the scheduled day. No formal paper is required if you complete and return the SII on schedule.

For the Advising Check List, complete the checklist boxes that apply to you and list at least three concrete questions about you, your courses, and your career plans that you should ask your advisor(s). Please avoid general questions (e.g., How do I obtain a well-paying job? How should I prepare for the GREs?) in favor of specific questions about your unique situation.

For the Career Plan, select one career path, either baccalaureate-level or graduate-degree, in or outside of psychology. Then, in numbered order, please specify or list the following elements.

1. Your desired career

2. Undergraduate psychology courses you still need to complete the major

3. Undergraduate psychology experiences (e.g., research, lab experiences, field experience, teaching assistantship, extracurriculars) you plan to acquire in the future

4. Undergraduate courses and experiences outside of the psychology major you will need to secure in order to graduate (include GE courses, minors, and concentrations)

5. Undergraduate courses and experiences outside of the psychology major to prepare for your desired career

6. Timeline (semester by semester) by which you will secure these courses and experiences

For the Informational Interview, you are to interview a professional in a field of your interest. Please do not interview a family member for this assignment. The interview may be in person or by telephone. The paper will summarize, in two paragraphs, the interview, specifying the date of the interview, the name of the interviewee, the person’s position/profession, employment setting, and ending with a few observations on what you learned about your field of interest. Questions you may ask include:

How did you decide to go into your current field?

What, exactly, is the title of your position?

What training and credentials are needed for this job?

How did you get this job?

Where did you go to school?

What are the typical job duties or tasks of this position?

What is a typical day at work like for you?

What are the best features of your job? What are the worst?

What are some of the pressures and stressors you face in your job?

What opportunities are there for acquiring new skills and learning from your co-workers?

What is the probable salary range for this occupation?

What is the most valuable piece of advice you can give?

What skills did you acquire through experience that you didn’t learn in school?

Are you still challenged and stimulated by your job?

What was your biggest misconception about your profession?

What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier?

What do you think the future holds for this field?

For the CV or Resume, you will prepare one or the other (or both, if you like). The CV will be prepared according to one of the two formats presented in the Insider’s Guide. The resume will be constructed during one of the resume preparation classes conducted by the Office of Career Services.

For the Interview Responses, you will be assigned in class three questions frequently asked during interviews. Your paper will present the questions and your responses to them. You will be asked at least two of the three questions on Interview Day.

For the Mock Interview, you will be assigned an interviewer for a 15-minute job or graduate interview during Interview Day. A formal paper is not required if you complete the mock interview as part of class. If you miss class that day, then you need to complete a videotaped mock interview at the Office of Career Services or prepare a formal paper.

For the Attendance Documentation, you will describe the two academically related department or university events you attended this semester. The events must be academic in nature; social events and club meetings do not count toward this requirement. Nor may you count an event that you are required to attend for another course. For each event, please list its name, the date, the presenter(s), and the general thrust of the presentation. Following is a sampling of approved events:

What’s News in Medicine, Science, and Technology

Panel Discussions by Medical Alumni Council

Study Abroad Forum/Fair

Harry Mullin Memorial Lecture

Psi Chi Induction Dinner (invited address)

Psychology Department’s Brown Bag Series

Women’s Studies Forum

Law School Fair (including attendance at a presentation)

Annual Henry George Lecture

Feminist Fair (including attendance at a presentation)

Kids Judge Neuroscience

Recruiting/Career Expos (visit booths and attend at least one presentation)

Criminal Justice Fall Dinner (with invited address)

Multicultural Diversity Conference

Readings sponsored by an academic department