Psyc 294 -spring 2005 - Dr. vom Saal

Psyc 294: Seminar on Careers in Psychology, Spring 2005 POSSIBLE SEMINAR TOPICS Walter vom Saal for tentative dates, see the handout Schedule of Dates and Topics
# and DATE	TOPIC	PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT	REFERENCES and RESOURCES Note: references are to the first authors of books cited at the end of this table.
	Initial Overview
1	Introduction and overview of course	Printout of final list of topics, including indication of which you were involved in preparing/presenting
2	Class discussion of topics. Assignment of groups. Initial group planning.
3	Visit by Rebecca Tinker, SUNY Oneonta Career Center	Notes on Rebecca Tinker visit
4	Finalize assignment of groups; group planning.
5A	A four-year timetable for undergraduate students. Overall timetable for students throughout four years of college.	Timetable, with separate set of notes/guidelines for yourself.	Landrum, pp. 39ff. Keith-Spiegel, pp. 10-15 Buskist, pp. 76-83
Career Options
5B	Finding out about kinds of graduate degree options: -- B.A. or B.S. -- M.A. -- Ph.D. -- Psy.D. -- M.S.W.	Any relevant notes or information. Size may vary depending how important this is to you.	Kuther, p. 176-181, including notes on different degree options (Psy.D.) Keith-Spiegel, pp. 44-45: Ph.D. vs. Psy.D. Keith-Spiegel, pp. 45-46, counseling vs. clinical
6A	Overview of career options for the Psychology Major: Groups report on career options available with different degrees.	Material on career options: general Expanded material on career options relevant to you.	General references: Landrum, Ch. 2 and 3 Morgan, pp. 36ff.
6B	Careers available for any B.A.	Commentary on potential career options for yourself	Landrum, Ch.2 Kuther, pp. 113ff. includes general BA jobs, plus psychology-related jobs, along with salary information
6C	Career options for the Psychology Major: Careers available with a B.A. in Psychology.		Landrum, Ch.2
7A	Career options for the Psychology Major: Careers available with a masters degree in Psychology.		Landrum, Ch.3
7B	School Psychology and School Counseling degrees and certification
7C	Career options for the Psychology Major: Careers available with a doctorate in Psychology.		Landrum, Ch.3 Kuther, Ch. 9
7D	Career options for the Psychology Major: Careers available with a M.S.W. degree.		Landrum, Ch.3 Kuther, Ch. 9
8 (WvS)	WvS mini-presentations: - "what do you want out of life." - "The importance of money." Self examination: - Finding what’s right for you - Your personal and professional interests - Your strengths and weaknesses	Self-examination paper.
Graduate school: Deciding to go to graduate school
9	Deciding whether to go to graduate school (Should you go to graduate school). Issues include: am I an attractive applicant (grades, GRE, other strengths); interest, motivation, and initiative; finances; etc.	Reflection paper on this question as it applies to you. If graduate school is not under consideration for you, a simple statement about that is fine.	Morgan, pp. 87-102. Kuther, pp. 170-174, including letter from a student, and checklist for assessing your potential
9	--- a related consideration: what about taking a year off before applying?	Include comment on any or all of these in the above paper if relevant and appropriate.	Morgan, pp. 100-101.
9	Full time vs. part time programs		Keith-Spiegel, p.21
9	On-line degrees: options, pros and cons.
9	Paying for graduate school		Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 13
9	Finding out about specific graduate schools	Material on specific graduate schools of interest to you. Include letter from you requesting info, etc. (Large materials may be listed and referred to but do not need to be included.)	Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 11
Preparing for graduate school
10A	Improving your chances - for those with some time!	Reflection paper on what you need to do to prepare for graduate school.	Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 6 & 7
10B	Getting good grades - and what to do if they're not so good		Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 14
10C	Special undergraduate opportunities that enhance your credentials: Research assistantships, teaching assistantships, internships, involvement in organizations.		Landrum, Ch. 4 Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 8 & 9
10D	What to do as an undergraduate at SUCO: - courses to take at SUNY Oneonta - Psyc courses - non-Psyc courses - special Psyc courses: II, IS, TA, internships - other activities: Psyc Club, Psi Chi, other clubs, work experience, volunteer work, other. - GRE timing. - pre grad school work experience requirements / expectations. GUEST to describe internship opportunities.	Notes on general guidelines. Commentary on how these apply to you, with guidelines and plans for yourself.
The graduate school application process
11A	How to apply to graduate school. Overview: steps and timetable for applying to graduate school.	Copy of timetable with relevant notes for yourself, or just a separate paper on your own timetable.	Landrum, Ch. 3 Morgan, pp. 103-109
11B	Overview of criteria for admission to graduate school.		Landrum, pp. 42ff Morgan, p.109 Keith-Spiegel, pp. 32-39
11C	The GRE: what it is, timetable for taking, who needs to take it, how to prepare.	Notes for yourself on the GRE and preparation for the GRE	Kuther, pp. 184-186 Keith-Spiegel, Ch. 10.
11D	Obtaining and filling out application forms.	Copy of letter requesting information and forms.	Keith-Spiegel, ch. 18
11E	Cover letter for graduate program applications.	Draft cover letter for yourself.
12	Writing your vita or resume or curriculum vita. - Class 1: guidelines and discussion.	Draft your own resume.	Landrum, p.47ff. Also additional guidelines and sample resumes in Appendix B. Morgan, pp. 75-78. Kuther, pp.125-132; includes a sample and list of Do’s and Don’ts Keith-Spiegel, Appendix A; includes sample
13 (WvS)	Resumes, Class 2: writing your own resume.	Give and receive feedback from class members. Revise your own resume.
14	Letters of recommendation for admission to graduate school: obtaining letters; general strategies; specific contents	Notes and guidelines regarding letters of recommendation.	Landrum, pp. 48-49 Morgan, pp. 110-112 Kuther, pp. 188-190 Keith-Spiegel, ch. 17
14	Letters of recommendation: your own sample letter about yourself	Draft letter of recommendation for yourself.
14	Personal Statement for admission to graduate school.	Draft personal statement for yourself.	Landrum, pp. 49-50 Morgan, pp. 115-116 Kuther, pp. 186-188 Keith-Spiegel, ch. 19
15	The admissions interview (also see section on the job interview, below).	Set of general guidelines. Set of guidelines for yourself.	Kuther, pp. 190-192 Keith-Spiegel, ch. 22
16 (WvS)	The admissions interview: practice interviews, feedback, further discussion.
16	Being accepted: What school should you choose?	Notes for yourself, if relevant.	Keith-Spiegel, ch. 15 & ch. 23
16	---and being rejected: What to do next.	Notes for yourself, if relevant.	Kuther, pp.192-193 Keith-Spiegel, ch. 25
Getting a job
17A	General skills and abilities that employers seek (reading, writing, problem-solving, work experience, computer skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, etc.).	General notes and guidelines. Set of guidelines for yourself.	Kuther, pp. 109ff.
17B	Tips to help you find a job.	List of tips.	Landrum, Ch. 2 Kuther, p.124 on finding job openings
18A	Job application cover letter.	Sample application letter. Required of all students even if it seems not needed right now.	Morgan, p.78 Kuther, pp.130-133
18B	The job interview.	General notes on job interview. Specific notes for yourself. [May combine with material on graduate school interview.]	Morgan, pp. 79-85. Kuther, pp. 134-138. Includes common questions asked, and questions for you to ask.
Final thoughts
19	Optional presentation by Dr. vom Saal and/or others: Advice after you’ve gotten the job. Includes: balancing work and personal life; flexibility and adaptation to change; what if you become dissatisfied; asking for a raise; learning and keeping up to date on computer skills; dealing with difficult situations, etc.	Notes for yourself.
Do on your own
--	Visiting Career Services to see an overview of services offered.	Report on career center visit (date, time, what you did and saw: brief!) Report on career center (description and resources).
--	Trip to the writing center	Section on guideines for writing. General guidelines (including your own material and references to other material). Your own guidelines for yourself.	General resources on writing well
Integrated throughout course
--	Using the internet.	Section of portfolio: internet resources: general guidelines. May include your own written summary & notes, also references to other written guidelines. Section of portfolio: internet resources: notes on specific websites.	Morgan, pp. 69ff. has many sites listed, but may be somewhat out of date. Library has brochures with guidelines for using the internet
--	The importance of writing ability.	All written material must be of high quality. See syllabus. See handouts on web regarding writing guidelines, writing quality, spelling and grammar.	Mentioned in Landrum and Morgan and almost everywhere else. Important for both graduate school and employment immediately out of college
Class meeting during final examination period
20	Final discussion: - portfolio and portfolio contents - personal plans - class evalutation

References:

American Psychological Association (1993). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology. Washington, D.C.: Americal Psychological Association. NOTE: this book was not reviewed for entry into appropriate categories above. Although it is now over 10 years old, it does contain a great deal of useful information on many of the topics listed.

Buskist, W. & Sherburne, T. R. (1996). Preparing for graduate study in psychology: 101 questions and answers. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. NOTE: this book was not reviewed for entry into appropriate categories above. It contains information on many of those topics in a brief question-and-answer format.

Keith-Spiegel, P., & Wiederman, M. W. (2000). The complete guide to graduate school admission: Psychology, counseling, and related professions. Second edition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Kuther, T.L. (2003). The psychology major’s handbook. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Landrum, E., Davis, S., & Landrum, T. A. (2000). The psychology major: Career options and strategies for success. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Morgan, B. L., & Korschgen, A. J. (1998). Majoring in psych? Career options for psychology undergraduates. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Note: page references are to this book but I later discovered a second edition (2001) which I did not review but assume has similar sections to the first edition.

1/18/05
minor revision 1/25: change #18 to #18A & #18B