PSY 3100 Careers in Psychology, Spring 2006

Tuesday 3:30-4:45, GR 4.301

Instructor: Duane Buhrmester, Ph.D.
Office Hours: Tuesday 3-3:30 & 4:45-5:30 1. Holland Self-Directed Test
and by appointment 2. Career Options Chart 1
e-mail: buhrmest@utdallas.edu 3. Career Options Chart 2
Office: GR 4.532 4. Bachelor-level job postings
Office Phone : 972-883-2352 5. Career Options Chart 3
6. Graduate-level job postings
Teaching Assistant: Terri Hartsell 7. Graduate Programs Chart
email: tdh052000@utdallas.edu 8. Skills Employers Seek
Office Hours: 9. Brag Sheet
Office: GR 4.414 10. Personal Statement—1st draft
11. Career Prospectus 1
Purpose of the Course: This one-credit course is designed 12. Career Action Timeline
to provide psychology majors with information and skills 13. Personal Statement—2nd draft
that will help them select and pursue a career in 14. Career Prospectus 2
psychology or a related field. Course information will be 15. Practice GRE
conveyed through readings, homework assignments 16. Informational Interview Report
exercises, internet searches, discussions, guest speakers, 17. Speaker Notes (7 speakers/videos)
in-class exercises and group discussions. 18. Assembled Course Portfolio

Prerequisite: PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology. This
course is not recommended for freshmen.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A great deal of this course involves
exploring resources available on the internet. If you do
not have access to a reasonably fast internet connection,
this may not be the course for you.
Required Reading:
• Morgan, B. L. & Korschgen, A. J. (2001). Majoring
in Psych? Career options for psychology
undergraduates. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
(UTD bookstore)
• Web-based Course -pack. All web-based readings
and class assignments can be accessed through
http://blackboard.utdallas.edu. We should have
already registered you in the course under your
UTD NETID. You will need to set a password by
following the instructions on the Blackboard.com
login page. If for some reason your NETID does
not work, please contact Dr. Buhrmester. Mo st
materials are in Word2000 format and can be
saved to your local computer’s hard disk.
Course Grading: This course will be based on the following:
A. 20% Class Attendance/Participation: Attendance
at all class meetings is expected. Attendance
grade based on percent of classes attended (out
of 15 possible). Maximum of 2 excused absences.
B. 80% Class Assignments. There will be outside
and inside class assignments.
Instructions for each assignment are only available on the
Blackboard.com website (http://blackboard.utdallas.edu)
at the appropriate time. Due date s for these assignments
are given in the "Course Schedule and Outline" (attached).
Late assignments will be accepted but penalized 10% for
each week late.
Course Portfolio: The course portfolio will be your own
personal handbook to help you in your career search after
you have completed the course. You will need to purchase
a 2 inch 3-ring binder (if possible, one with pockets) in
which to put all your course materials. Bring your
portfolio to each class meeting. You must turn in your
completed portfolio on the last day of class (it will be
returned to you after I have reviewed it).
Note and of importance for your portfolio grade: The
portfolio must include all your assignments, in-class
exercises, hand-outs class notes, and the two SDS
pamphlets. Be sure that all course materials are 3-hole
punched. Organize your portfolio into two sections.
Prepare labeled dividers for each section:
(1) Course Information (syllabus, in-class assignments,
notes, etc….) AND;
(2) Graded Assignments (for each missing assignment
there is a point penalty off your portfolio grade).
Academic Dishonesty: I view academic dishonesty
(plagiarism, cheating) as a serious offense. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be handled according to UTD
procedures.
Note: Due to the nature of this course, there will be no
final exam.
 Course Schedule and Outline
Date TOPIC/Assignment
1) Jan 10 Class 1 INTRODUCTION TO COURSE
• Course goals and requirements
• Complete Speaker Preference Sheet
• Overview of Career Paths options
• Handouts: Holland Self-Directed test (complete & bring to next class)

2) Jan 17 Class 2 IS PSYCHOLOGY THE RIGHT MAJOR FOR ME?

• READ: Chapters 1 & 2 of “Majoring in Psychology?” (read BEFORE class)
• READ: “Tomorrow’s Workplace” on web
• DUE: Holland Self-Directed test (score before coming to class)
• EXPLORE: bls.gov Occupational Outlook Handbook
• DUE: Career Options Chart I (non-psychology jobs)
• CLASS: Mickey Choate from UTD Career Center: What does the Holland mean?

3) Jan 24 Class 3 WHAT JOBS CAN I GET WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY?
• READ: Chapters 3, 4 & 5 of Majoring in Psychology?”
• READ/STUDY: “Psychology Career Table” on web
• READ/STUDY: “Bachelor-level Psychology Jobs” on web
• EXPLORE: CareerWay.com on UTD Career Center website
• DUE: Career Options Chart 2 (bachelors psychology jobs)
• DUE: Job Ad Postings for 3 bachelors psychology major jobs
• CLASS: Group discussions about bachelor-level career options

4) Jan 31 Class 4 SHOULD I GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL?

• READ: Chapter 7 of “Majoring in Psychology?”
• READ: “Psychology Careers for the 21st: Scientific Problem Solver”
• READ: “Career Options with Graduate Degrees” on web
• READ: “Graduate School Options” on web
• READ: “Areas of Specialization in Psychology” on web
• DUE: Career Options Chart 3 (graduate psychology jobs)
• DUE: Job Ad Postings for 3 graduate psychology degree jobs
• CLASS: Discussion of different types of graduate training

5) Feb 7 Class 5 HOW DO YOU GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL?

• READ: Chapter 8 of “Majoring in Psychology?”
• READ: “Your Admissions File” on web
• READ: “Admission Profiles”
• READ: “Graduate Superstars” on web
• READ: “Words of Encouragement” on web
• READ: “Books on Graduate Schools
• DUE: Graduate School Programs Chart
• CLASS: Discussion of what is needed to be accepted into different types and levels
of graduate programs
Date TOPIC/Assignment

6) Feb 14 Class 6 DO I HAVE ANY MARKETABLE SKILLS? HOW DO YOU GET THEM?
• READ: “Good Letters of Recommendation” on web
• READ: “STAR Behavioral Interview”
• DUE: Brag Sheet
• DUE: Skills Employers Seek Chart (web)
• CLASS: Mickey Choate discusses identifying your skills
• CLASS: Video of “STAR” Behavioral Interview Method

7) Feb 21 Class 7 PULLING YOUR CAREER IDENTITY TOGETHER—A FRIST DRAFT

• READ: TBA (something about making career decisions)
• READ: “Preparing a Personal Statement”
• READ: “First Crack at Personal Statement”
• READ: “Informational Interview Protocol”
• DUE: First draft of Personal Statement
• CLASS: Discussion of finding the right fit for you. Career Prospectus
• CLASS: Discussion of Internships, volunteerships, working with professors, senior
thesis & campus involvement

8) Feb 28 Class 8 GETTING IN TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

SPEAKER: Clinical Psychologist (Tape of Dr. Black). Turn in speaker notes.
• READ: “What is the GRE” on web
• Download: Practice GRE or
• READ: “Career Prospectus Instructions”
• DUE: Career Prospectus 1: Primary Path
• DUE: Speaker notes taken during Class 8
• CLASS: Selecting right program, GRE’s etc, Personal Statement, Letters of
Recommendation
Mar 7 SPRING BREAK
9) Mar 14 Class 9 SPEAKER: Mr. Angelo Abella, LPC (Tape). Turn in speaker notes.
• READ: Career Action Plan Example
• DUE: Career Action Timeline

10) Mar 21 Class 10 SPEAKER: Mr. Chris Slocum A.C.P. Social Worker (Tape). Turn in speaker notes.
• DUE: Revised Personal Statement

11) Mar 28 Class 11 SPEAKER: Forensic Psychology (Dr. Goodness-Tape). Turn in speaker notes.
• DUE: Career Prospectus 2: Secondary Path

12) April 4 Class 12 SPEAKER: Academic (Dr. Marion Underwood-Tape). Turn in speaker notes.

13) April 11 Class 13 SPEAKER: I/O Psychologist (Keith McCook-Tape). Turn in speaker notes.
IMPORTANT: Sign up for course “check out” times for next week.

14) April 18 Class 14 SPEAKER: Health Psychology (Dr. Hafer-Tape). Turn in speaker notes.
• DUE: Practice GRE
• DUE: Informational Interview Report
• DUE: Course Portfolio
• DUE: Course Evaluations