Connecting Students to Careers: Teaching Students about Careers in Sociology

Abstract

This resource is a recently developed course called Careers in Sociology and it is a 4 semester unit, upper division course for Sociology majors and minors, often taken the semester before they graduate. The goal of Careers in Sociology is to take a sociological perspective on the process of exploring careers in Sociology, particularly those that students...

Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.

Details

Subject Area(s):

Capstone Courses

Resource Type(s):

Syllabus

Class Level(s):

College 400

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

This resource contains my syllabus, course assignments, first day of class ice-breaker, and a powerpoint explaining my approach for a semester-long 4 semester unit course to help students with career planning in the field Sociology. It can be adapted for less units or a shorter time-scale. This course quickly became an anticipated course by students—they...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Develop a sociological perspective on careers and understanding labor markets. Explore careers for students with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Understand the job application process and how to improve career "presentation of self."
2. Identify interests and skills learned in sociology courses. Learn to present those skills in a resume, interview, or use in a career. Identify graduate studies, internships, or jobs to build students’ experience and expose to fields of interest.
3. Learn from professionals in careers of interest by interviewing and shadowing the professionals. Develop professional goals and produce a "Professional Portfolio." Develop social networks (online and in-person).

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students read ASA research in groups and present to class. Students write "weekly memos" about researching and applying for jobs and how presentation of self varies by position or career and discuss in their final research paper.
2. Students write "weekly memos" exploring skills and opportunities, and then discuss memos in class.
3. Students write weekly memos about their social networks and how to expand. Students create an online career profile on one of the social network sites. Students complete a semester-long project interviewing 4 professionals and write research paper.