Faculty Contact Information:
Michelle Mentzer, Ed.D
Quadrelle (AV) Italy
drmentzer@mac.com
mmentzer@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
cell 340-406-1967
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Consultation:
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I am available for appointments before and after classes; for questions outside of class times, please email me. I usually respond within 24 hours (usually within 12 hours). Please feel free to ask questions and/or comment.
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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:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 92%
B 80 – 91%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs.
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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.
In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions 20%
Write graduate level papers or case studies 30%
Orally/visually present prepared material 20%
Complete one or more written examination(s) 30%
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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:
It is very important to read the text prior to class and have a working understanding of the text so that you can discuss it. Students will be expected to present parts of selected chapters (assigned first day of class). There is an assignment due the first day of class; a career autobiography of self. Instructions for each assignment are found on www.homepage.mac.com/drmentzer for download. For password, please email me at drmentzer@mac.com .
Session One 05 JUN
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to subject
Chapter 1 Perspectives
Chapter 2 Theories
Chapter 3 Theories
Assignment #1 Due
Session Two 06 JUN
Chapter 4 Models
Chapter 5 Interviews
Chapter 6 Case Studies
Email 08 JUN
Part I Case Study Outline Due
Session Three 12 JUN
Chapter 7 Assessments
Chapter 8 Assessments
Chapter 9 Computers
Assignment #2 Due
Session Four 13 JUN
Chapts 10-15 Special Populations
Email 19 JUN
Parts II and III of the Case Study Outline Due
Session Five 26 JUN
Chapts 16-18 Educational Settings
Session Six 27 JUN
Chapts 19-21 Career Transitions/Work settings
Group Presentation Due
Course evaluations
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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:
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I am a counselor and instructor residing in Quadrelle, Italy with my family, books, and two cats. My undergraduate background at the University of Kansas was in education, my MA work was in Counseling and Human Resources at Regent University, and my doctoral work was in Counseling Psychology at Argosy University, Orange County. My doctoral residency at MRI (Mental Research Institute) in Palo Alto was invaluable. I work almost entirely with the military population, both active duty training and family counseling; from Critical Stress Incident Debriefing and domestic violence training and research to family retreats and interactive parenting classes for the whole family. I thoroughly enjoy working with people and especially teaching in these fields. I look forward to teaching this course, and getting to know all of you.
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