Psychology of Career Choice

Psy 3181- Spring 2007-Guzman 112

Fri. 1/19/07-6:00-8:00, Sat. 1/20/07- 9:00-5:00

Instructor: Gail Matthews, Ph.D.

Office phone (415) 485-3265 Department fax: (415) 257-1386

Office Hours: W11:30-12:30, TR 2:00-3:00, F 11:00-12:00 and by apt.

Course Description:The role of skills, interests, and values in establishing successful career goals. Course design includes goal setting, networking, behavioral contracting, and establishing support systems. This course is designed for sophomore psychology majors and non-majors who are interested in choosing a career consistent with their personality, talents and values. Prerequisite: PSY 1100. Course is designed to enhance the understanding of and appreciation for your unique talents, gifts, skills, values and work preferences and to expand your vision of future career possibilities that are congruent with these understandings.

Psychology Department Goals: This course is designed to partially satisfy Psychology Departmental Goal #2: "Students will (a) comprehend the range of career possibilities available to psychology majors, (b) explore at least three specific career options and (c) develop and articulate personal short and long term goals."

Desired Student Learning Outcomesfor Psy 3181:

Students will understand the relationship between career choice and the following factors: personality and socio-cultural factors (gender, age, and socio-cultural and socioeconomic background, learning styles, health, disability status, family culture, ethnic background, values, experiences, etc.)

Assessed by: Career Analysis Paper #1

Students will be able to identify and articulate their talents and skills and understand possible career choices that incorporate their own values, functional skills and preferred work environments.

Assessed by: Career Analysis Paper #2

Academic Honesty:Students are responsible for adhering to the DominicanUniversityAcademic Honesty Policy found in the university Catalog and on line at GeneralAcademic Procedures, and then scroll to Academic Honesty Honor Code.) You must cite references when you present any ideas that are not your own, both within the body of a paper and in a references list at the end. APA style referencing within the body of the text is preferred; this entails citing the author(s) last name(s) and the year of the publication in parentheses after mentioning their work. When citing a direct quote from a particular source you must, in addition to using quotation marks, include page numbers after the publication date.

Cultural Diversity:In keeping with DominicanUniversity's commitment to foster a positive and respectful learning atmosphere for all of its students, this course provides the opportunity to explore the meaning of "diversity" in all of its forms. I support the DominicanUniversity's Diversity Declaration and encourage the examination and discussion of different points of view and different cultures, in all their forms, in my classroom. Respect for each human being is key. Issues related to diversity will be included in the course content where appropriate(Wording of these policy statements was adapted, with permission, from Dr. Matt Davisand Dr. Patricia Dougherty)

Text:Tieger, P.D., & Barron-Tieger, B. (2001). Do what you are: Discover the perfect career for you through the secrets of personality type--Revised and Updated Edition Featuring E-careers for the 21st Century Boston: Little Brown & Company.

Recommended Readings:

Bolles, R. N. (2005). What Color Is Your Parachute Workbook: How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career.Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.
Bolles, R. N. (2007). What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.
Sher, B. (1995). I could do anything, if I only knew what it was. New York: Delacorte Press.
Sher, B. (1997). Live the life you love- in ten easy step by step lessons. New York: Dell.
Sher, B. (1999). It's only too late if you don't start now: How to create your second life at any age. New York: Delacorte Press.
Sher, B. (2003). Wishcraft: How to get what you really want.New York: Delacorte Press.
Sher, B., & Gottlieb, A. (1991). Teamworks. New York: Warner Books.
Sinetar, M. (1989). Do what you love, the money will follow. New York: Dell Publishing.

Most of the above books are paperbacks that are widely available in bookstores and on-line. The World Wide Web also provides a wealth of valuable career- related information. Additional career materials are available in the DUC Career Services Library.

Assignments and Grading

All papers must be typed or computer generated, in an easily readable 11 or 12 point font, and stapled. (No plastic folders.) Detailed instructions for completing these assignments are found later in the syllabus.

A is outstanding, superior, nearly flawless work (90%+), B is very good, fine quality work which exceeds average expectations (80-89%), C is average, satisfactory work (70-79%), D is work with significant problems and below course expectations (60-69%), F is work failing to meet course expectations and usually indicates lack of attendance, little effort, poor organization (<60%).

DUE DATE FOR ALL PAPERS IS NOON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21.Note: late papers will be docked one third of a letter grade for each day they are late (e.g. a B+ paper would receive a grade of B if it is one day late. Note: weekends count.). Students who have failed to turn in their papers by Wednesday, February 28 but who did attend the lecture portion of the class will automatically receive a grade of D in the course.

Where do I turn in my papers? Please place your papers in the wall folder marked “GAIL MATTHEWS” in the Psychology Department in Bertrand 27.

How do I get my papers back? If you want your papers returned, when you turn in your papers place them in a self-addressed, stamped envelope and I will mail them to you. Otherwise, I keep student papers only until the end of the semester.

Grades are based on:

Career Analysis #1- Personality and Socio-cultural factors. (40 points)

Paper analyzing and relating career choices to personality type and socio-cultural factors (age, gender, socioeconomic background, learning styles, health and disability status, family and ethnic background, values, experiences, etc.)

(See page 3 of syllabus for outline for Career Analysis #1)

2. Career Analysis #2: Functional skills, Values & work environments. (60 points)

This paper has 5 parts: (1) analysis of the functional skills you used to accomplish your five successes (2) identification of your personal and work values (3) identification of your preferred ork environments (4) summary diagram of values, skills and preferred work environments and (5) Analysis of possible careers which incorporate all three elements: skills, values, preferred work settings. (See pages 4-6 of syllabus for outline for Career Analysis #2.)

Career Analysis #1-Outline:

Personality & Socio-cultural Factors

To determine your personality type (e.g. ESFP) read chapters 1-3 in Do What You Are by Tieger & Barron-Tieger.

Optional: You might also wish to take the Myers-Briggs personality test or the Kiersey TypeTest (Both are available on-line. Consult the external links on my website)

Download this page from the class syllabus on my website so that you can type your answers directly onto the form.

1.Record your 4-letter personality type here ______(5 points)

2.Read about the relationship between personality and careers: chapters 4-7 in Do What You Are by Tieger & Barron-Tieger

3.Chapters 8-23 of Do What You Are identify “Popular Occupations" or "Careers to Consider” for each personality type. These careers are further divided into various categories, e.g. Health Care, Education, Social Service, Business, Legal, Sales/Service, Professional. Read the chapter in Do What You Are which addresses yourtype.

4.Identify three careers identified by Tieger & Barron-Tieger as being appropriate for your personality type. These 3 careers must come from three different categories (see #3 above). (5 points)

______

5.Discuss each of these 3 careers in terms of its relationship to your personality, talents and your personal background (e.g. age, gender, socio-economic status, family, cultural/ethnic background, the impact of what your father/mother wanted you to be, how being from an immigrant family impacted your career aspirations, etc.) The handout entitled “Family messages about work” is designed to assist you in answering this question. (10 points for analysis of each career, for a total of 30 points)

Career Analysis #2-Outline:

Functional Skills, Values, Work Environments

Note: Your grade on the 4 successes depends on your ability to describe your actions in sufficient detail to exemplify the functional skills you list for each success. (You need to demonstrate how you used the functional skills you list for each success.)

During class you will use these pages to take notes on your successes and functional skills.
After class go to my website (see page 1) and download this outline from the class syllabus.
Review the lists of functional skillsand your success stories to insure that your actions portray functional skills. No credit will be given for adaptive or content skills.
Type your successes and your analyses of these successes onto the outline that you have downloaded. Hand written responses will not be accepted.

A. SUCCESS #1

Situation: Describe the Situation.

Obstacles: Describe the obstacles you faced.

Actions: List the actions you took. (Be sure to include actions which illustrate functional skills.)

Results: Describe the results you helped obtain and/or any benefits to your employer.

FUNCTIONAL Skills: List at least 3 functional skills you used in this success.(7 points)

B. SUCCESS #2

Situation: Describe the Situation.

Obstacles: Describe the obstacles you faced.

Actions: List the actions you took. (Be sure to include actions which illustrate functional skills.)

Results: Describe the results you helped obtain and/or any benefits to your employer.

FUNCTIONAL Skills: List at least 3 functional skills you used in this success. (7 points)

C. SUCCESS #3

Situation: Describe the Situation.

Obstacles: Describe the obstacles you faced.

Actions: List the actions you took. (Be sure to include actions which illustrate functional skills.)

Results: Describe the results you helped obtain and/or any benefits to your employer.

FUNCTIONAL Skills: List at least 3 functional skills you used in this success. (7 points)

D. SUCCESS #4

Situation: Describe the Situation.

Obstacles: Describe the obstacles you faced.

Actions: List the actions you took. (Be sure to include actions which illustrate functional skills.)

Results: Describe the results you helped obtain and/or any benefits to your employer.

FUNCTIONAL Skills: List at least 3 functional skills you used in this success. (7 points)

Review the functional skills identified in your successes and then select your top 5 Functional skills. Be sure that each skill is supported by your successes. Then list the top 5 skills that represent your strongest functional skills and those that you most enjoy using.

______

Review the list of personal and work values provided and list below your top 5 values.(4 points)

______

Review the list of Employers and Work Settings provided and list below your top 5 preferred work environments. (4 points)

______

Provide below a summary diagram of your Values, Skills and Work Settings(4 points)

ValuesSkills Employers/Work Settings

______

Using the above summary diagram, brainstorm 5 possible careers, suitable for you, based on yourfunctional skills, values and preferred work environments.(20 points or 4 points each)

______