Courses in Integrated Studies
Assuming the role as Co-Director of Integrated Studies has allowed me the opportunity to teaching capstone experiences in that program as well. The curriculum allows students to complete a portfolio or an internship for a capstone, but in Fall 2024 I developed an alternative capstone course that focuses on connecting students’ experiences to their career goals.
As a Bachelor of Integrated Studies majors, students take a collection of courses in two or more areas of study. In the Career Connections course they focus on demonstrating how that course work - as well as their own life experiences - connects to make them uniquely prepared for the job market. Through this course, my goal is for students to develop the materials, skills, and confidence they need to level up what they know to land their next position. I coach students through career exploration, developing a job application toolkit, and growing their networking and interviewing skills.
INTS 4998 - Career Connections
The learning objectives for this course are:
Articulate and demonstrate a practical grasp of a body of knowledge related to two or more disciplines (areas of study)
Reflect on your academic and personal experiences to understand how they shape your career goals.
Engage with career professionals to gain insights into industry expectations and opportunities.
Analyze, synthesize, and apply information learned through your integrated studies curriculum to your intended career.
Create essential career documents, including a cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile.
Demonstrate and communicate critical thinking and problem-solving skills for your intended career.
Module 1 - Your strengths and career readiness
This module focuses on thinking about the areas of study you are integrating for your degree. You will reflect on what knowledge and skills you've acquired in your coursework, what natural strengths, abilities, and preferences you bring to a workplace, and how you'd like to develop those strengths further. As such, in this module you will:
Reflect on your academic and personal background to identify your strengths and how they relate to your career goals.
Articulate a clear understanding of your unique qualifications and abilities based on your integrated studies.
Module 2 - Exploring career options
This module focuses on getting you connected with our Career Connections office and brainstorming how your knowledge, skills, and abilities / strengths align with potential or actual career trajectories. As such, in this module you will:
Engage with online tools and career professionals to explore various career trajectories related to your areas of study.
Analyze industry expectations and opportunities to inform your career planning.
Create a list of potential career paths and corresponding skills required for each, utilizing insights gained from professional engagement.
Module 3 - Building your Tool Kit
This module focuses on getting you up to speed regarding the purpose of job application materials and the current utility of a career-focused online presence. You may already have a collection of job application materials in your tool kit - and if so, you'll use those materials rather than start from scratch. In this module you will:
Develop tailored job application materials, including a cover letter and resume, for a specific job or internship opportunity.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to customize your application documents to effectively highlight relevant skills and experiences.
Begin to build an online presence that reflect your strengths and career goals.
Module 4 - Highlighting your quantifiable skills
This module focuses on the importance of quantifiable skills in job applications and how they can effectively demonstrate your impact to potential employers. You may already have some achievements in mind, and this module will help you articulate those in a compelling way. In this module, you will:
Understand the role of quantifiable skills in showcasing your accomplishments and value to employers.
Identify key resources that explain how to quantify your achievements and provide practical examples.
Develop strategies for integrating quantifiable skills into your job application materials, including your resume and cover letter, ensuring you stand out in a competitive job market.
Module 5 - Getting Noticed
This module focuses on introducing you to the ways many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to manage their recruitment process. We will explore how Applicant Tracking Systems work and how you can customize your application materials to ensure you have the best possible chance of being considered for the position you want! In this module, you will:
Understand what an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is and its role in the recruitment process.
Explain how ATS impacts job applications and how candidates can optimize their resumes to navigate ATS effectively.
Analyze common mistakes candidates make when submitting resumes to ATS and strategies to avoid them.
Demonstrate how to tailor a resume for ATS compatibility using keywords and job-specific formatting.
Module 6 - Polish and Shine
This module focuses on getting your job application materials edited and formatted in a professional way. As such, in this module you will:
Know what sections all resumes should include and reflect on what optional resume sections you should include for your career goals.
Carefully review each paragraph and section of your cover letter and resume to identify errors in the writing and/or formatting.
Refine the ways in which you articulate a clear understanding of your unique qualifications and abilities based on your integrated studies.
Module 7 - Delivering your elevator pitch
This module focuses on helping you identify and explain the unique knowledge and skills you have acquired through your BIS degree. You will work on constructing a brief 'elevator pitch' of yourself so that you'll be prepared when you inevitably get asked the question... "Um, what even is a Bachelor of Integrated Studies, anyway?!?" As such, in this module you will:
Reflect on your academic and personal background to identify your strengths and how they relate to your career goals.
Articulate a clear understanding of your unique qualifications and abilities based on your integrated studies.
Tailor your personal 'elevator pitch' to communicate your unique skillset for your specific career goals.
INTS 4810r - Integrated studies internship
This is a supervised working experience in a professional situation. Must be a BIS major and have approval of Program Director in the semester preceding enrollment.
The learning objectives for this course are:
Acquire at least 140 hours of professional experience in a real-world setting that is related to at least one of their areas of study.
Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their work environment.
Reflect upon and evaluate how their work experiences are related to their areas of study in the BIS curriculum.