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POSC 392

I. Course Title: Political Science Careers

II. Course Number: POSC 392

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: None

V. Course Description: 

This course introduces students to career options for political science majors.  Students engage in career exploration. They are guided in the creation of documents, such as résumés, personal statements, and/or cover letters, needed in the application for such opportunities.  Students meet professionals to learn about political science-related career fields.

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

Course content is designed to help students explore their personalities and how they fit with various career fields. Students are guided through discovery exercises to help them uncover patterns of preferences in their life that impact career choice and satisfaction. Students are instructed in the preparation of career documents and successful interview strategies. Students meet Radford alums working in political science-related fields and ask questions about required education and qualifications, what typical work days are like, and what advice the guest might have for their younger self coming out of Radford.

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

The course begins with career exploration including personality inventories for discovery.  Students are instructed in the production of work application documents such as résumés, personal statements, and/or cover letters. Students practice interviewing for jobs both in-class and through an online interview skill improvement tool.  Students interview multiple course guests to learn about career fields of prime interest to political science students such as law, campaigns, international work, and local government.

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

  1. Students apply acquired knowledge and skills to develop professional identity.
  2. Students identify a personal or professional goal(s) through engagement in activities or coursework.
  3. Students critically reflect on their learning, abilities, and experiences and how those help those help them to attain their personal/professional development goal(s). 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

  1. Students apply acquired knowledge and skills to develop professional identity (assessed with a culminating e-Portfolio).
  2. Students critically reflect on their learning, abilities, and experiences (assessed with a culminating e-Portfolio that has a strong reflective/growth focus). 
  3. Students create professional documents for next career steps (assessed through the resume).

Review and Approval

August 2020

March 01, 2021

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