Bryant & Stratton College – Course Syllabus

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CMSM 001: Internship Prep Seminar

This course syllabus is a contract between you and Bryant & Stratton College. It represents the minimum expected learning outcomes for this course. Your instructor will also provide a supplemental syllabus describing the approach to the course, instructional methods, tracking calendar, assignments, assessments and grading scheme, plus guidelines for your success.

Semester Credit Hours: Instructional Hours: Term: Fall 2013

Proficiency Available:

No

Prerequisite(s):

At least 30 semester credit hours

Co-requisite(s):

Date of Last Revision: 3/2013

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION:

This required seminar is a prerequisite to the Internship/Capstone Experience course within all degree plans. It is designed to prepare students for the workplace. This seminar focuses on finding an internship site, securing professional employment, and managing a career. Practical strategies are presented for establishing and succeeding in a career, developing employment tools, and maintaining a professional attitude. A strong emphasis is placed on utilizing optimal resume to implement successful job search strategies, including researching prospective employers, writing a resume and cover letter, developing a portfolio, and interviewing effectively. This seminar requires students to demonstrate knowledge, discuss and apply concepts and methods, and complete research applied to achieving short and long term career goals.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Bryant & Stratton College seeks to develop lifelong learning competencies in all students through the development of information literacy skills that assist students to formulate essential questions, research and apply the answers, and communicate the results within the dynamic communities of college, career, and life.

Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Use a portfolio to articulate skills and competencies related to a chosen career.

2. Perform research to assess employment needs and access resources that best match skills needed in a chosen career field.

3. Develop networking and internet career search skills.

4. Produce professional employment documents including a resume and cover letter.

5. Identify professional workplace behaviors and attitudes.

6. Develop and implement a Professional Marketing Plan.

7. Participate in mock interviews.

8. Utilize Optimal Resume as a career development tool to support resume development, interviewing skills and employment pursuits

Institutional Outcomes:

1. Employ information literacy skills through the effective use of technology and information resources to accomplish a goal.

2. Follow established, habitual, and scientific methods to create opportunities for growth and increase critical awareness of one's responsibilities as a contributor to society.

3. Develop thinking processes and utilize learning strategies to understand their metacognitive abilities. 4. Transfer knowledge from life lessons and formal instruction to new situations as evidence of relational learning. 5. Demonstrate proficient mathematic and communication (written and oral) skills as required in the workplace.

MEDIA/EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:

Bryant & Stratton College faculty, as content area experts, selected the following media package for this course. A decision was made from these approved packages and is reflected on the supplemental syllabus.

Package A

Professional Development Seminar Facilitator’s Guide (Found on Sharepoint)

Package B

Package C

SKILLS ASSISTANCE: The instructor will be available for Skills Assistance hours. The times and locations are published in the

supplemental syllabus.

Bryant & Stratton College – Course Syllabus

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TOPICS TO BE COVERED MAY INCLUDE:

Seminar Introduction / Getting to Know Yourself

Accessing Optimal Resume

Personal Strengths Assessment

Selling Personal Strengths in a competitive job market

The Job Seekers’ Toolkit: Employment Documents

Resume Development

Cover Letter Development

Alignment of Resume and Cover Letter to Identified open position

Professional References

The Internship Experience

Internship site search

Internship paperwork

Job Search Strategies

Leveraging your Strengths

Short Term Professional Goals

Long Term Professional Goals

Portfolio Development and the benefits of Optimal Resume

Student Career Portfolio Development

Material Selection to Showcase

Interviewing Effectively

Purpose of the Interview

Basic Interviewing Strategies

Typical Interviewing Questions

Behavioral-Oriented Interview Questions

Interview Disqualifiers

Handling inappropriate interview questions

The Second Interview

Follow Up Correspondance

Salary Negotiation

Interview Assessment Rubric

Networking

Strategies for Networking

Professional Organizations/Networking Sites

Using the Internet for Networking

- Pros

- Cons

Professionalism in the Workplace

Professional Etiquette

Conversation Etiquette

Electronic Communication Etiquette

Dining Etiquette

Salary negotiation

Job Readiness: Your Professional Marketing Plan

Professional Marketing Plan

- Employer Search

- Marketing Avenues

- Managing Stress

PHIL 250: PRACTICES IN ANALYTICAL THINKING

Instructor Chris Schwab, B.A., M.Div. Phone (216) 798-7128

E-mail clschwab@bryantstratton.edu Twitter clschwab

Engrade www.engrade.com or m.engrade.com Facebook clschwab78

Office Mondays 10:30-3:30 and by appointment

Course Description:

This required seminar is a prerequisite to the Internship/Capstone Experience course within all degree plans. It is designed to prepare students for the workplace. This seminar focuses on finding an internship site, securing professional employment, and managing a career. Practical strategies are presented for establishing and succeeding in a career, developing employment tools, and maintaining a professional attitude. A strong emphasis is placed on utilizing optimal resume to implement successful job search strategies, including researching prospective employers, writing a resume and cover letter, developing a portfolio, and interviewing effectively. This seminar requires students to demonstrate knowledge, discuss and apply concepts and methods, and complete research applied to achieving short and long term career goals.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Use a portfolio to articulate skills and competencies related to a chosen career. 2. Perform research to assess employment needs and access resources that best match skills needed in a chosen

career field. 3. Develop networking and internet career search skills. 4. Produce professional employment documents including a resume and cover letter. 5. Identify professional workplace behaviors and attitudes. 6. Participate in mock interviews. 7. Utilize Optimal Resume as a career development tool to support resume development, interviewing skills and

employment pursuits.

Instructor’s approach to this course:

Welcome to CMSM 001 – Internship Prep Seminar.

There are many challenges waiting for you in today’s workforce. Now, more than ever, you have to be able to compete and stand out from the crowd. The workforce is undergoing critical restructuring and more is demanded of an employee than ever before. Employers are often faced with very difficult decisions, as well. You will be affected in some way or form by the decisions made within the workplace from both an economic and personal standpoint.

My approach is to help you make the connections of the theories and concepts that you have learned within your major program-related courses and show you how to transfer your learning to the real world. We will be participating in learning that is engaging, thought-provoking, and solutions-oriented. You will participate in assessments, discussions, research and role play scenarios. These activities will help you become more confident and prepared as you begin your career development process. We will also refine your portfolio materials, prepare you for your portfolio presentations, and hone your interviewing skills so that by the end of the term you will be ready to secure an internship site. The classroom is, ideally, a comfortable and interactive forum. Direct instruction, reflection, information-sharing, small group work and peer review will be utilized. Students are expected to contribute and assume an active role. The class session discussions, activities, and course assessments will help students to achieve the course outcomes.

During the next 15 weeks you will be engaging in your educational success in a way that elevates your own level of academic standards. Please take note that this is a course designed to help you refine your work skills, behaviors, and adaptability in the workplace. The many lessons that you learned and will need to transfer with you to the workplace can be found from classes that you’ve taken in the liberal arts area such as:

Critical Thinking

Psychology

Sociology

Public Speaking

Research & Writing

These courses along with your program specific courses lay the foundation for you as you embark on your internship journey, then graduation, and finally a new career. In addition, you will be required to submit all assignments on specific dates that are included on the tracking calendar that comes with this syllabus.

Materials & Supplies:

Notebook

Lined Paper

Pen/Pencil for note taking

Portable flash-drive (required)

Required Media:

“Ready, Set, Go!” Professional Development Seminar Student Workbook

Supplemental Reading

There is no text book for this class. However, below I have listed supplemental books that I urge you to invest in for yourself, your professional growth, and development: Covey, Stephen. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. New York, NY: Free

Press.

Fry, Ron. (2009). 101 great answers to the toughest interview questions (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Hill, Paul. (2012). The panic free job search: Unleash the power of the web and social networking to get hired. Pompton Plains, NJ: Career Press.

Teaching Philosophy:

I believe that students at Bryant & Stratton are sincerely motivated adult learners who value education and appreciate the opportunity to learn in a stimulating and respectful environment. As the instructor, it is my goal to serve as a positive, professional role model who is prepared for each class with engaging and relevant activities that will advance the students’ progress toward the professional outcomes of this course, as outlined in the systems syllabus. As adult learners, I expect that students will take responsibility for their own learning and progress through active and appropriate participation in class, preparation of assignments, and offering feedback to me on how I can best help them to learn. Ultimately, I will have to assign grades to students’ work. I do my best to be fair and objective. I do not grade on a curve. Therefore, everyone in the class can receive an “A” provided they study, are prepared for class and actively participate, turn in their assignments on time, and put in the effort required to achieve an “A”, which could mean revising assignments more than once.

It is a privilege for me to be your instructor. I feel that I learn just as much as I teach, that I receive more than I give, and I look forward to a rewarding semester together. A positive attitude – on everyone’s part – is essential to making this shared experience the best that it can be.

Course Expectations:

Students in this class are expected to attend class lectures as most of the material is discussed and learned in the classroom. Students are required to participate in the search of finding an approved internship site by working with career services. Students will also have to put together a cover letter, resume, and professional marketing portfolio.

Lifelong Learning Skills:

Assessment and Evaluation: You will be expected to engage in class discussions, assessments, and role play scenarios.

Communication Skills: You will demonstrate increased growth in written and oral communications by submitting written documents and participating orally on a frequent basis. This is a requirement and has a direct impact on your overall success in the workplace.

Metacognition: You will be expected to use class materials, discussions, external research and your understanding of the concepts to further develop your interviewing, communication, and job readiness skills.

Critical Workplace Skills:

• Effective Communication • Ethical Behavior • Responsibility • Adaptability • Teamwork • Problem-Solving skills • Interpersonal skills • Technological Researching skills

Rigor Standards for CMSM 001 – Internship Prep Seminar

Bryant & Stratton College requires the application of academic rigor in all courses to ensure your educational experience adequately prepares you for future educational and career opportunities. These standards expect the following to be applied in all courses. In the following space, I will explain my expectations:

Theory: You will be expected to be able to properly put together a cover letter, resume, professional references, and a professional portfolio. You must be able to put together these professional articles in order to successfully gain employment over your lifetime.

Learning Focus: You will be introduced to the tasks and duties performed in preparation of developing a career. A strong focus will be placed on career mapping, development, interviewing techniques/skills, workplace habits and behaviors. Effective oral and written communications are also areas in which you must excel.

o Knowledge: You will learn about real world situations/scenarios, through discussion, class assignments, homework, role playing and project oriented tasks. You will demonstrate your ability to recall critical information.

o Comprehension: You will demonstrate your ability to understand, apply, and create employment seeking documents.

o Application: You will illustrate your effective communication skills through mock interviewing and role playing. You will also demonstrate your ability to create and evaluate critical strategies pertinent to seeking gainful employment. You will do this by participating in research projects, presentations, and written assignments.

o Analysis: You will break down the concepts and present your own ideas in a more concise and professional manner that is transferable to the work place. You will assess your own strengths and weaknesses and devise a plan to overcome them.

o Synthesis: You will take concepts and theories from their complex form and break them down into basic components and parts.

o Evaluation: You will engage in a Mock Interview Session with a panel of faculty members and external employers that will demonstrate your full understanding of the concepts presented in this course. You will have to prepare a professional marketing plan that can be used to market your skills and education to potential employers.

Authentic Assessments/Application:

Students will need to be able to perform real world tasks, behaviors, and practices on the job. There needs to be a connection made between the concepts, theories, cases, and laws presented and how they affect the workforce of the 21st century. Students will demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills by participating in a Final Employability Portfolio Assessment. This finished work product will demonstrate your skills of both oral and written communications, presentations, research, writing, analysis, and usage of MS Office Suite Products, and Internet Research capabilities.

Class Etiquette/Classroom Environment:

It is expected that all members of the class respect each other and the instructor. No disrespect or disruptive behavior will be allowed at any time. Any such behavior will be grounds for removal from class. All cell phones are to be turned off and no phone calls are to be taken during class time. Absolutely NO FOOD is permitted in the classroom. However, you may bring with you a beverage to class. Please observe the school’s no hat, scarves, doo rags, etc. policy. These are seriously frowned upon in the workplace and you are in a place of business. No children are permitted in the classrooms for any reason.

Attendance/Tardiness Policy:

It is your responsibility to come to class and be on time. Class is just the foundation for setting up your work habits and work ethic for the work place. Establish good behaviors and patterns now so you will be prepared for your career and the expectations of your employers. If you are absent it is your responsibility to make arrangements to turn in and/or receive your work assignments. Please advise me ahead of time via email if you know you will not be in attendance. Attendance is recorded every class meeting and will become a part of your permanent record and may have an impact on your daily participation points. Please note that in accordance with stipulations put in place by the United States Department of Education, being absent from all classes over a period of 14 consecutive calendar days will cause you to be withdrawn from all classes, and you will have only a small window in which to appeal this decision.

Academic Integrity:

I expect every student to be responsible for demonstrating his or her own work. You should never mimic, copy, or duplicate anyone else’s assignment for any reason at any time. You should never loan your work to another student as an aid or as a guide. If I receive an assignment that look as if the work was “borrowed” from another assignment, both the “lender” and the “borrower” will receive a 0, and a cheating incident will be reported to BSC. Additionally, plagiarism will simply not be tolerated. A copy of Bryant & Stratton’s plagiarism policy will be distributed, and student will be expected to hold to these guidelines. Any work that contains more than 35% quoted (or closely paraphrased) material will be considered unoriginal and returned to the student with appropriate penalties and guidelines for resubmission at the instructor’s discretion.

Evaluation

Ten components make up your overall grade. A detailed Seminar Checklist/Grading Point Checklist is included on last page of Professional Development Seminar Student Workbook; please maintain individual records throughout the semester.

Evaluation:

The following table indicates the respective weights of different assessments:

Resume 10%

Cover Letter 10%

References 10%

Homework 10%

Thank You Letter 10%

Mock Interviews 10%

Portfolio Development Day 10% November 12, 2013

Networking Activity 10%

Video 30 Sec. Commercial 10%

Classroom Ptcpt./HW 10%

Total 100%

Final grades will be assessed on the following scale, for a given percentage:

Pass 85

85 > Fail 0

The following is an example of a successful student’s computer grade: Assessment Grade % of Grade Final % Pts.

Resume 100% 10% = 10.0 Cover Letter 88% 10% = 8.8 References 92% 10% = 9.2 Homework 86% 10% = 8.6 Thank You Letter 77% 10% = 7.7 Mock Interviews 88% 10% = 8.8 Portfolio Development Day 92% 10% = 9.2 Networking Activity 89% 10% = 8.9 Video 30 Sec. Commercial 95% 10% = 9.5 Classroom Ptcptn./HW 97% 10% = 9.7

Totals 100% 90.4 = Pass

Late Work Submission Policy:

All work and projects are to be submitted on time. No late work will be accepted unless there have been prior arrangements made and a mitigating circumstance with the instructors approval and/or documentation presented in the event of an illness, court appearance, etc.

Late work is unacceptable in a place of employment since most work is deadline driven, and it is my intention to prepare you and get you ready for the real world. Your education is a commitment and your study habits are reflective of your work ethic and behaviors. The expectations for this class will be held in high esteem because this is your last class before graduation and the main objective is to ensure your work preparedness overall.

Keys to Success

Succeeding in college does not always come easy. More than likely, you will face some trials that threaten to derail your academic progress. Some good planning, however, can help avoid these situations or make them less difficult when they do show up. Don’t ever give in to the temptation to feel ashamed or scared and so not seek out help. Here’s a top 10 for success:

1. Show Up. I have noticed that there is a strong correlation between grades and attendance. Students who show up to every class tend to get A’s. Students who show up to almost every class tend to get B’s.

2. Be Early. It’s so hard to jump into the middle of a complex discussion—you feel lost and confused! Showing up late is a sure way to confuse your brain. What’s more, I give quizzes at the start of class. Show up late, and you miss the quiz!

3. Start Reading Today. There’s a lot to read—no doubt about it! But if you want to pass, you will probably need to complete almost all of the reading. Be honest with yourself: Can you really read and take in 100 or 200 pages in the week before an exam? Probably not! Do not let yourself get behind! (If you do get behind, catch up while it’s just a little bit, not a lot!)

4. Work Ahead. You already know that the end of the semester—with papers and projects due in nearly every course—is probably going to burn you out. The wise course of action is to plan for that by working ahead.

5. Backup. If you have a USB drive, that’s great, but do not store your life on it without backing it up. I would suggest keeping all your files in three places: a USB drive, a home computer, and a network drive or Internet space. Don’t ever lose an assignment you’ve worked so hard on!

6. Talk to Me. If you are unsure about something, ask! If you’re facing a challenge, tell me; I might be able to help. I might not, but I know I can’t help if you don’t tell me! I have given you 5 ways to contact me; I’m here for you.

7. Get an Accountability Partner. Find a person at BSC with whom you make a commitment to hold each other accountable for your studies and to encourage each other during difficult times.

8. Talk to Your Advisor. Your academic advisor director is here to help you successfully navigate your academic program. He or she has tremendous resources and experience dealing with students with all sorts of difficulties. Again, your program director isn’t divine, but he or she can be an invaluable source of wisdom.

9. Go to the RAP Room. Ms. Hicks in the RAP room is a tremendous resource for students who are want to get ahead or simply struggling through a difficult time—either academically or personally. If you are having a problem that is impacting your studies, talk to Ms. Hicks!

10. Seek Spiritual Counsel. Many religious or spiritual students tend to put their religious or spiritual beliefs on the “back burner” when they are weighed down by schoolwork. If you have a religious background (or think you should!), get help and seek advice from a trusted spiritual leader.

Technology:

Technology will play an important role in the activities and assignments of this course. Without the ability to think critically about technology and use it fluently, you will lack important skills necessary to survive the next 20–50 years in the workforce. I will frequently email help, hints, or updates to you over the course of the semester. Course materials will be available online at all times so that you can always stay on top of your studies. Also, I will be challenging you to read broadly, often from materials most easily found online. A website and online discussion forum will provide invaluable electronic information, a means to submit homework, and unique tools to further your learning. An overview of these will be given no later than Week 3. Finally, all assignments (unless otherwise noted) are expected to be typed and submitted electronically. Your boss will not accept handwritten formal work from you, and neither will I.

Classroom Etiquette:

Students should arrive on time and be respectful of other students both in class and in online forums. To facilitate a strong classroom environment, the following rules must be adhered to:

1. Do not use handheld or mobile devices for talking, texting, reading, listening to music, surfing the web, or any other activity not essential to class participation during class. Any student who fails to adhere to this rule will be warned once and then, asked to leave.

2. Turn off the ringers on your cell phones. Your phone calls are not more important than your classmates’ learning. Leave your phone on vibrate, airplane mode, or turn the power off.

3. If you absolutely must take a phone call during class, leave the room and the entire Quads before answering the phone as a courtesy to your fellow classmates and to the surrounding classrooms.

4. Do not use profanity, personal attacks, or a raised voice to communicate your point of view (or anything else). Depending upon the severity of the incident, you may not be given a second chance.

5. Do not work on other homework or reading assignments while in class. The classroom material is invaluable to your success, and by doing other things, you shortchange yourself and distract others from getting what they need.

6. Due to campus policies, there is to be no eating or drinking in computer labs, and any eating and drinking in the classroom should be limited to small, self-contained snacks and drinks.

Lifelong Learning:

BSC desires to promote a passion for lifelong learning as well as the skills necessary to carry it out. Because the practices of reasoning in this class are timeless, they are critical to your development as a lifelong learner. My great hope is that you will find this process exciting and be left with tools to serve you in every career and personal endeavor your future holds.

Syllabus Note:

This syllabus is surely incomplete and subject to revision at any time. There will be assignments not listed on the schedule. The only way to be absolutely certain and up-to-date is to be in class.