BTE 221

Professional Development Coursework


Instructor: Shelley Cassady, Ph.D
Office: 122 Rentschler Hall, 513-785-3113
Credits: 2 (for a grade)
Meets: Monday and Wednesday, 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. (Class begins October 1, 2008)
Classroom: 218 Mosler Hall
Book: JOB CHOICES 2009 (Provided by the instructor)
You will be expected to read all of the articles in this magazine.


Course Description: This course is designed for fall 2008, spring and summer 2009 two- and four-year graduates, co-op/internship students who will be approaching major career transitions from college to the job market, or for students entering the job market while in college.
Course Objectives:
  1. To understand and apply basic components of the job search process including correspondence, networking, researching companies, interviewing, follow up, etc.
  2. To increase awareness of diversity and dynamics within the workplace and how these affect career decision making and expected patterns of behavior.
  3. To develop a personal/professional philosophy and approach to the workplace. Keeping in mind the dramatic changes that are occurring in business and industry today.
  4. To reflect on career and career search issues including personality differences, resumes, image, communication, interviewing, job search strategies, legal issues in the workplace, office politics, and diversity in the workplace.
  5. To increase awareness that learning is a life-long process and to be successful in the job market, one must be flexible, creative, and willing to learn.
Expectations:
  1. The following paperwork should be typed: The resume, cover letter, thank you letter, researching a company and work philosophy paper. All other papers should be typed, though neatly hand-printed is acceptable.
  2. Assignments will be turned in on the due date. Students will lose one letter grade for each date an assignment is late.
  3. The resume, cover letter, thank you letter, company research paper, mid-term, mock interview and the final paper on a personal/professional philosophy will constitute 70% of your grade.
  4. All other assignments must be completed and attendance and participation in discussions is mandatory. This will constitute 30% of your grade. Quizzes can occur at any time on assigned reading material. Attendance and participation will constitute 20% of the 30%.
  5. Last, but not least by any means, attendance is mandatory. Because this is a sprint course, if you miss one class, it is the same as missing one and one-half classes during a regular 16 week schedule. So, if over the 10-week period you miss 3 classes, you really have missed 5. All missed assignments must be completed and turned in no later than the next class period, unless agreed upon by the instructor. Again, one letter grade is deducted for each late day.
  6. No cell phones in class.


Grading: A = 100 - 90 %
B = 89 - 80 %
C = 79 - 70 %
D = 69 - 60 %
F = 59 % or lower


Major Coursework: Myers Briggs Indicator Inventory
Resume and Cover Letter - rough draft
Resume and Cover Letter - final draft
Take-Home Language Skills test
Mock Interview tape
Thank-You letter
Critique of your Interview
ADA Article
Midterm
Researching a Company paper
Legal Issue Article
Philosophy of Work paper