Skip to main contentSkip to footer

110 - Career & Life Planning - Erika Torgeson

Course:Career & Life Planning
Professor:Erika Torgeson
Email:erika.torgeson@canyons.edu
Format:
  • Online
Course Length:8 week
Textbook Title:ZTC (Free) Digital Textbook - Career & Life Planning
Types of Assessments:*Student-lead discussion posts *Individual homework assignments covering course material, handouts, and online research *Quizzes *Career Assessments

Introduction

Welcome to Counseling 110 - Career & Life Planning and I am super excited to have you join me this semester! This class is all about career exploration and helping students understand how college majors are connected to career areas. You will explore your personality preferences toward various career clusters, access different career research websites, and determining if there are changes to your college major that need to occur based on your career goals. You will have the opportunity to review three career exploration assessment tools and gather information on being informed on what potential careers will be the best fit for You.

If you have felt lost about which direction to go in for your major or undecided, this class will help you narrow down potential majors that link to careers you may be interested in. 

Course Description

This course introduces students to career self-assessment tools to identify college majors and careers by clarifying interests, skills, abilities, values and personality type. Students will examine the decision-making process, self-management, life roles, and goal setting. Also included will be a review of labor market trends, career research, interviewing skills, resume and cover letter writing, and job search strategies.

Course Objectives: To assist students as they examine their major and career options. Student goals will be to have a better understanding of what they want to major in and what their future career plans are. The course objectives include:

  • Understanding the career planning and decision-making process
  • Finding a career path and/or major consistent with individual skills, values, interests, and personality style
  • Recognizing the skills needed to succeed in a particular occupational field
  • Gaining resume writing and interviewing skills
  • Having a better understanding of oneself

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):

At the end of this course, students who have regularly attended and completed all assignments will be able to:

  • assess and evaluate personal characteristics including their skills, values, interests, abilities and personality traits as they apply to academic, career and personal decisions throughout one's lifespan. 

What to Expect in this Course

Canvas PandaTo help students be successful in class, they will want to:

  • Log into the course regularly (every 1-3 days), turn in assignments, participate in discussion posts, and show a "presence" in class
  • Monitor deadlines and turning in assignments on time/early
  • Think critically on how topics relate to their classes and how actions are linked to success in college

Actively Participating

  • Understand that the online classroom learning environment is a shared responsibility between the professor and the student. It is an interactive process that emerges from what students bring into the online environment. I cannot force you to learn; it is up to You to want to learn!
  • Students are expected to actively participate by leading discussion board prompts and sharing their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the class.

Inclusive Learning

  • Demonstrating inclusive behavior with professor and class peers
  • As a class community, we will learn and support each other, and solve problems as a team!
  • Be sensitive to the perspectives of students who have different beliefs, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities from your own and be open to working with each other 

Additional Textbook Information / Link to OER Textbook

We will be using Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials for this course, which is a free online textbook. A digital copy will be listed in CANVAS along with a hard copy on reserve at the Valencia and Canyon Country Libraries. If you wish to purchase the Counseling 110 ZTC text, you will be able to do so in the bookstore for about $8.

Other Relevant Course Information

Canvas is the online learning management system used at College of the Canyons and you can log into the Canvas site to access class announcements, class content, submit assignments, and view grades from the COC homepage or @ https://coc.instructure.com/ . You will log in using your username and password:

Canvas login area on the COC homepage

 

USERNAME: Your MyCanyons username

PASSWORD: students (**Please change your password after you log into Canvas for the first time**)

*Search for the COUNSELING 110 box

There are additional CANVAS resources to help you navigate the website, upload assignments, how to participate in Discussion posts, how to view grades, how to change your password, and much more @ https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2893 . If you need additional assistance or come across an issue with logging into your CANVAS account, please contact our COC CANVAS Student Tech Support Staff:

  • Email: cvsupport@canyons.edu
  • Phone #: (661) 362-3398
  • Business Hours on Weekdays: Mondays thru Fridays (8am-4pm) excluding holidays
      • After Hour and Weekends (5pm-8am): 1-877-889-9052

If you have not taken an online course before, I strongly recommend that you review the Canvas online tutorials available at: https://www.canyons.edu/academics/onlineeducation/online/index.php

 

 

Final Thoughts

This is an accelerated 8-week course and it is very important that you are ready to take a course that will require between 5-8 hours/week. Though we are online due to COVID19, online education requires a different style of learning. Please take a moment to exam your personal learning style preferences and look into completing the Online Learning Readiness Assessment to better prepare for this course: https://www.canyons.edu/academics/onlineeducation/questforonlinesuccess.php

Successful online learning requires self-motivated, independence, access to recommended technology (computer/laptop; internet; document options such as Google docs, Word, Mac Pages), and have the time and energy to complete this course.

This course will be available on the scheduled start date and you will need to complete Discussion Post #1 - Introductions by the second day of class, to be considered "present" in the course. If you add this class after the first day of the term it may take up to 24 hours before you will have access to Canvas. If you cannot log in after 24 hours, please email me.


Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

  • CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
  • CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accomodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

College of the Canyons cares about your emotional and physical health. Learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including free counseling and mental health services available during this time by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center website or by calling them at: 661-362-3259.

The National Suicide Lifeline number is 1-800-273- 8255 (TALK). Please call it if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress - it could save someone's life.

You can also use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. It's free, available 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Last updated: 10/09/2023 Sub # Orig: 2353