Counseling 151 - Career Exploration & Life Planning
3 units - CSU transferable GE

Instructor: Belén Torres-Gil
Class Times & Location: Online
Section: 8040
Office: Career Development Center rm. A113
Office hours: Online anytime or on-campus by appointment
                      I also check my WebCT email on a daily basis
Phone: (562) 692-0921 ext. 3174
Email: btorresgil@riohondo.edu

Required Text & Online Assessments:

Textbook: The Career Fitness Program: Exercising Your Options, 8^th edition

Online Assessments:
These personality and skills assessments are an integral part of the course. The results will be integrated within the midterm. No midterm will be accepted if these assessments are not completed.

Keirsey Temperament Sorter $9.95 (purchase online)

Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS) $17.95 (purchase online)

 
"What should I do with my life?..."

Course Description:

This course is designed for students who are:

• undecided about academic majors & career options & opportunities.
• seeking a career change.
• making the transition from school to work.
• seeking to understand successful workplace behaviors.
• preparing for the "new" world of work.

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to life planning concepts as related to the world of work, theories of career development and career/major decision-making. Emphasis is on creating a personal awareness foundation for exploring career and educational opportunities and goal setting.

There will be weekly quizzes, assignments, and forum discussions on topics that will explore human development, career theories, decision-making, life skills, adult workplace competencies, values, interests, abilities and personality, labor market trends, job-seeking skills, and successful workplace behaviors. A career research midterm paper and a final that consists of completion of a portfolio and a phone or in person/group interview are required as well.

General Course Goals:

1. To develop a basic understanding of human nature and adult and career development theories as related to the career planning process and decision-making.
2. Apply and integrate knowledge of theories and concepts to the career/major planning process.
3. Define and develop life skills and workplace competencies relevant to career/life planning.
4. Acquire the ability to research and evaluate current and future labor markets.
5. Be able to identify personal interests, skills, and values and match them with appropriate career choices.
6. Understand the role of education in career choice.
7. Acquire skills of decision-making.
8. Identify and evaluate sources of career information.
9. Understand the changing nature of the workplace including the changing role of men, women, minorities and special populations as related to work, family and leisure activities.
10. Develop job search strategies and workplace success skills