CHAPTER 10 Pages 241-266 Educational Planning And Decision Making

1. CHAPTER 10 Pages 241-266 Educational Planning And Decision Making

2. Learning Goals The primary goals of this chapter are to help you achieve a balance between academic exploration and commitment to a specific field, and develop a plan for making educational decisions that is best for attaining your personal and professional goals.

3. Chapter Outline To Be or Not to Be Decided about a College Major: What Research Shows. When Should You Reach a Firm Decision about a College Major? The Importance of Long-Range Educational Planning. Myths about the Relationship between Majors and Careers. Making Decisions about a College Major. Summary and Conclusion.

4. To Be or Not to Be Decided about a College Major: What Research Shows Less than 10% of new college students feel they know a great deal about the field that they are intending to major in. As students proceed through the first year of college, they grow more uncertain about the major they chose when they began college. Over two-thirds of new students change their mind about their major during the first year of college. Only one in three seniors eventually major in the same field that they chose during their first year of college.

5. When Should You Reach a Firm Decision about a College Major? National surveys indicate that colleges and universities vary in terms of when they expect students to make a decision about their college major. As a general rule of thumb, you should reach a fairly firm decision about your major during your second (sophomore) year in college. However, in order to reach a good decision within this time frame, the process of exploring and planning should begin now � during your first term in college.

6. The Importance of Long-Range Educational Planning Compared to high school, college will allow you more choices about what courses to enroll in and the choice of what field to specialize in. Your advisor�s job, as the job title implies, is to �advise.� Advisors are not academic dictators who tell you what to do; ultimately, you are in charge of making your own academic choices and decisions. Through advanced planning, you can actively take charge of your academic future, making it happen for you, rather than passively letting it happen to you. Pause for Reflection: Choosing a major is a life-changing decision because it will determine what you do for the rest of your life. Would you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

7. Myths about the Relationship between Majors and Careers Myth 1: When you chose your major, you�re choosing your career. Myth 2: If you want to continue your education after college, you must continue in the same field as your college major. Myth 3: To work in a business or corporation, you need to major in business or a technical field. Myth 4: If you major in a liberal arts field, the only career available to you is teaching. Myth 5: Having specialized skills is more important for career success than having general skills.

8. Making Decisions about a College Major Reaching an effective decision about a college major involves three steps. The steps are > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

9. Step 1: Gaining Self-Awareness What are your� Interests? Abilities? Values?

10. Step 2: Awareness of Your Options ( the academic subjects available to you as choices for a college major) Step 3: Awareness of the Options that Best Match Your Personal Abilities, Interests, and Values

11. Strategies for Discovering a Compatible Major When exploring majors, consider using the following strategies: Think about what subjects you�ve been successful at in high school and during your first year of college. Use your elective classes to test your interests and abilities in subjects that you are considering as a major. Be sure you know the specific courses that are required for the major you�re considering. Look over an introductory textbook in a field you�re considering. Talk with students majoring in the field you�re considering. Sit in on classes in the field you�re considering.

12. When exploring majors, consider using the following strategies, continued� Discuss the major you�re considering with an academic advisor. Speak with some faculty members in the field you�re considering. Visit the Career Services office. Surf the Web site of a professional organization of the field. Be sure you know what academic standards must be met to be admitted.

13. Summary and Conclusion This chapter has focused on the curriculum, which refers to the total set of courses that your college offers. The total set of courses that appear on your college transcript will represent your curriculum. Intentionally select courses with one or more of the following purposes in mind: ...to choose a major or confirm whether your first choice is a good one; ...to acquire a minor or build a concentration that will compliment your major; ...to broaden your perspectives on the world around you; ...to become a more balanced or complete human being; ...to handle the practical life tasks that face you now and in the future; and ...to strengthen your career development and employment prospects after graduation.

14. Web-Based Resources for Further Information on Educational Planning 1. What to do with a Major in� click here 2. College Majors� click here 3. Careers for Liberal Arts Majors� click here

15. Resource All material is quoted directly from: 1. Text, � Thriving in College & Beyond� by J. Cuseo, V. Fecas, and A.Thompson. 2007

16. Assigment The class will be divided into 4 groups by career areas of interest. If this is not possible, the groups will be determined randomly. Each group will deliver a presentation to the class about a specific career or careers of their choice. Groups whose members do not share the same career interest should highlight at least two careers. Use your resources and imagination. Presentations should be between 20 to 30 minutes. Guidelines Choose a career that is of interest to you.� Describe in detail the typical work day in that career field.� What is it about this career that interests you?� What is your motivation for pursuing this career field?� Discuss the amount of education required, the appropriate major/minor, salary, job outlook, etc.� Use resources to determine the skills you will need to have in order to be successful at your chosen career.� Consider the area of the country that has the best job outlook, the worst job outlook, best and worst salaries, etc. Refer to your assignment rubric handout for additional assignment and grading criteria