SYLLABUS

Name of Course:  Environmental Studies Seminar I

Course Instructor:  Gary Phillips, Environmental Studies Program Coordinator
Office phone number - (712) 362-7978 & e-mail address - gphillips@iowalakes.edu 

Credits:  Lecture (EV203A) - 1 credit

Catalog Description:  Environmental Studies Seminar I is an opportunity for career exploration and development of job seeking skills.  Emphasis is placed on familiarization of environmental and conservation agencies, resume' preparation, and job seeking skills including preparation of job correspondence and application forms, and participation in job interviews.

Text:  None

Other Materials:  Course portfolio

Objective of Course:  The objective of this course is to provide students with a knowledge of the job market and assure that they possess basic job seeking skills.

Course Content:

  1. Career exploration.

  2. Resume' preparation.

  3. Job seeking skills.

  4. Job application procedures.

  5. Interviewing for a job.

Method of Instructional Delivery:  There will be one hour of lecture, demonstrations, and discussions each week.  Also, various independent study assignments will be made during the semester requiring completion, as well as various class reports and individual presentations. 

Learning Objectives/Competencies:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

  1. Identify the major career areas in the environmental field.

  2. Describe the duties of personnel working in each major environmental career area.

  3. Determine through value clarification, which career area the student is most interested in.

  4. List those conservation and/or environmental agencies which exist in the student's home county.

  5. List those individuals who supervise the sites managed by the variousconservation and/or environmental agencies in the student's home county.

  6. Describe the duties, benefits, responsibilities, and qualifications of a specific           environmental career area.

  7. Present a report detailing the duties, benefits, responsibilities, and qualificationsof a specific environmental career area.

  8. Summarize and organize their credentials for inclusion in a resume'.

  9. List those items which need to be included in a resume'.

  10. Describe how to present their credentials in a format suitable for the types of jobs they will be applying for.

  11. Describe the types of sources which provide information about potential employers.

  12. Contact and obtain information from potential employers concerning the availability of jobs.

  13. Recognize the types of correspondence required for job applications.

  14. Prepare the correspondence necessary for job applications.

  15. Recognize the types of application forms required for certain environmental jobs.

  16. Complete correctly application forms required for certain environmental jobs.

  17. Assess the job for which the student will be interviewed.

  18. Prepare oneself for a job interview.

  19. Participate in a job interview.    

  20. Conduct oneself in a satisfactory manner during a job interview.

  21. Evaluate the effectiveness of his or her job interview presentation.

  22. List those qualities and characteristics which are expected of employees by employers.

Methods of Evaluation:  Evaluation of student performance will be based upon completion of assigned tasks and projects, presentation of reports, and attendance.  Students are expected to attend class except in cases of sickness, emergencies, and excused absences.  Students who miss class for the above reasons will be allowed to make up their work.

Grading:  Grading is determined by a percentage of total points for the semester.  Sixty percent is required to pass the course, seventy percent for a C, eighty percent for a B, and ninety percent for an A.

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