Faculty Contact Information:
Wm. Huffman, Ph.D.
bhuffman@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
bhuffman@tamu.edu
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Consultation:
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Required Texts and Readings:
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Zunker, V.G. (2002). Career Counseling. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
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Supplementary Readings:
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All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills.
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Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
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This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of career development as it impacts on individuals throughout the life span. A basic assumption of the course is that understanding the adjustment of individuals is highly dependent upon understanding the choices they have made throughout their lives. Emphasis is placed on career and vocational choice theories, counseling delivery systems, career information, and social and psychological factors in career decision-making. Formal and informal occupational classification systems are covered. A great deal of emphasis is placed on practical applications of career theory to individual counseling, group guidance, job search and placement, and career adjustment. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: GUCO 508 or EDCP 611.
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Course Goals:
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The course focuses on theory and the development of skills needed to offer career counseling. The class examines the developmental and longitudinal changes people experience in a life span. Information is provided on service delivery models, application of counseling skills, and discussion of key professional issues. The course provides opportunities for students to administer, score, and interpret select career assessment instruments.
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Course Objectives:
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Understand, compare, and contrast the different theories of career development through their own life and through the journey of others.
Understand and apply the process of assessment to their own career development.
Understand cultural and cross-cultural issues related to career development and career counseling.
Identify resource information systems for career guidance and counseling which will include on-line computer resources.
Develop appropriate entry-level skills and strategies to assist individuals in educational, occupational, and career decision making.
Develop appropriate entry-level competencies in acquiring, evaluating, and programming for the dissemination of career information.
Understand the role of current research that refines, and updates theories of career development.
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Grading Information:
Grading Information: Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 91% + C 70 – 80%
B 81 – 90% F Below 70% F(a) or regular non-attendance F(n)
Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by Maryland in Europe policies. Please refer to UMUC Maryland in Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/visit/pubs/catalog/grad_02-03.pdf, for further details.
Course Requirements:
Midterm Examination: 20%
Final Examination: 20%
Site Visit: 20%
Assessment Report 20%
Weekly Participation: 20%
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Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society.
Examinations (2 total; 40% of total points) There will be two examinations that will cover the assigned reading, lectures and activities for the course. The midterm (Chapters 1-12) and final exam (Chapters 13- 21) will contain application and essay items. The topics for the questions will equally address the information presented in the text and in the assigned class discussions and activities. The examinations are open book, but based on the analysis of case studies, application of career counseling skills and interpretation of assessment data.
Site Visit: (20% of total points)
Students will visit a site that provides career or educational assistance. The students will interview a counselor or service provider to determine the types of services, theoretical stance and professional preparation. A double-spaced paper should be submitted in the grade book section by the end of the 11th week of class. The instructor will supply a template for the paper. Students should work closely with the instructor before planning or completing a site visitation.
Career Assessment Report (20% of total points)
Students will write a career assessment report based on the results of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory (Strong) and the Campbell Interest and Skill Survey. The instructor will supply a template for the report.
Participation (Weekly assignments; 20% of total points): Participation is essential. The grade for participation will be determined by both the frequency of your interactions and by the quality of your participation. Late assignments will not be accepted without penalty unless the instructor gives prior approval.
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Description of Course Requirements:
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class and approximately ten hours of preparation per week for a DE class.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
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Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Week 1 Module 1 Introductions and Overview Chapters 1-2 History and Theory Scavenger Hunt; Library Activity January 31
Week 2 Module 2: Theories of Career Dev Chapter 3 Which Career is Right for you? February 7
Week 3 Module 3: Counseling Models Chapter 4 and 5 Intake interview: Self February 14
Week 4 Module 4: Case Studies and Assessment Read Chapters 6 and 7 Counseling Interview with Partner February 21
Week 5 Module 5: Self Assessment and Computer Resources Read Chapters 8 and 9 February 28
Week 6 Module 6 Special Pop Chapters 10-12 Counseling Interview with Partner due March 6
Week 7 Midterm Prep Prepare for Midterm March 6
Week 8 Midterm March 8- 12
Break Break Break March 15-28
Week 9 Module 7: Diversity Write Assessment Report Chapters 13 – 15 April 3
Week 10 Unit 8: Educational Settings Read Chapter 16 – 17 Comparison of Job Tasks Developmental Counseling Activity April 10
Week 11 Module 9: Higher ED Chapter 18 April 17
Week 12 Module 10: Job Chapter 19 Job and Life Satisfaction Handouts Assessment of Environmental Concerns April 24
Week 13 Module 11: Career Transitions Read Chapter 20 Basic Coping Skills Activity May 1
Week 14 Module 12: Career Development Read Chapter 21Site Visitation Paper Due May 8
Week 15 Module 13: Home Stretch Final Examination Week May 10-14 May 10-14
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Academic Policies:
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Please refer to the UMUC – Europe Graduate Catalog, available online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs/ or from your local Education Center, for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
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Faculty Bio:
One difficulty with online classes is your lack of information about an instructor or any available “inside” information about the class before you register. As an introduction, I am a counseling psychologist with my Ph.D. from Duke University. I also have degrees and certifications in school psychology, counseling, educational administration and psychology. The majority of my college experiences were completed in North Carolina. I recently moved to Texas following 13 years in Asia and Europe.
I have been a teacher, counselor, researcher, school psychologist, school counselor, professor, Department Chair, Coordinator of the graduate counselor training programs for Maryland in Europe and also in Asia. I previously taught with Boston University, East Carolina University, University of Ryukyu-Japan, and with Graduate programs in Greece. My last position with Maryland was as Area Director for Central Germany, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Honduras, and Turkey. I have also been in private practice and acted as a consultant to State, National and International organizations and governments.
(I am also under a hundred years old?)
Besides teaching distance education classes for Maryland in Europe, I currently work as Assistant Director of Human Resources for Texas A & M University.
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