Passion, Grace, and Fire:

Course Description as presented by Professor Dave Thomas in the course syllabus:

 

In Pro-Seminar II, students draw on their personal background, individual differences, knowledge and skills to assess career choices that maximize your strengths, values, and passions.  Students will explore their own balance between work and the other important elements in your life, and develop strategies for living a meaningful and fulfilling life, at least through your work.   Students will explore the notion of career management and work/life integration from a number of different perspectives, and centered on your own unique personal characteristics, life circumstances and goals.  Students will explore some of the most relevant career management literature / theory, taking into consideration the interdisciplinary nature of this topic.  You’ll also connect with some of the ideas you became familiar with in your previous Organizational Leadership core courses, conduct a qualitative, thematic self-analysis, develop short term and long term career / life plans, and collect artifacts to help along life’s journey.

 

Category

Required Learning Outcomes

Career Management & Work-Life Integration

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• Demonstrate best practices in the development of a personal narrative / autobiography.

• Discuss the key concepts associated with values, purpose, and vision - in an individual sense and in an organizational sense.

• Demonstrate best practices in qualitative interviewing by developing an interview guide sheet and conducting qualitative interviews.

• Collect personal qualitative data by engaging in various interests, skills, personality, and communication style instruments / assessments and reflecting on your results.

• Evaluate and discuss your own personal “organizational” versus “protean” career characteristics.

• Experiment with various network planning methods and develop a networking plan.

 

Synthesis, Assessment, and Transfer of Learning

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• Perform a self-assessment of program-based learning in alignment with Organizational Leadership learning outcomes, and include this assessment in an e-portfolio.

• Develop, collect, and reflect on artifacts (across various academic and other life areas) indicative of personal interests and achievements.

• Perform a qualitative thematic self-analysis and develop a set of “life themes.”

• Demonstrate theory borrowing, using concepts from Jim Collins’ book Good to Greatwith respect to best practices in organizational leadership versus personal leadership.

• Develop an integrated long term career strategic plan

• Develop a short-term (1 – 2 years) career plan, using best practices regarding project planning / management knowledge and skills.

 

Documentation & Self-Assessment of Key Learnings

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• Develop (or employ) technical skills and technology-based tools, including website design and publishing, in support of the continued refinement of an academic and professional e-portfolio.

• Demonstrate project management, design, and creativity skills through the continued development of your e-portfolio.

• Self-assess, describe and illustrate key interests, skills, and personal connections (gained in the Organizational Leadership Program) through the presentation of artifacts and reflective writing.

• Develop a deeper understanding of learning theory, and how key knowledge and skills can be effectively showcased in an online environment.

• Demonstrate a variety of communication skills and best practices with respect to electronic portfolio development.

ASSIGNMENT

EXAMPLES