Instead of meeting twice a week for the full-semester, in a typical face-to-face course, we will meet once a week on Tuesdays for 75 minutes and utilize online weekly modules to continue learning outside of the classroom.  The Tuesday class period will be held as a face-to-face (in person) class meeting session.  During the Tuesday class, we will utilize a combination of lecture, discussion, and experiential activities.  The weekly online modules will build upon our Tuesday topics, and involve more individual activities, responding to articles and videos, or participating in discussion boards with classmates.  This approach maximizes the impact of an interpersonal learning environment, while also allowing for flexibility of self-paced reading and assignments throughout the week.

.

• Make it a priority to attend every Tuesday, as we only meet for class 16 times the whole semester

• Set aside at least 75-90 additional minutes to complete each weekly module by the deadline

• By federal definition, college students are expected to spend approximately 2 hours outside of class engaged in learning activities (reading, homework, projects, papers, etc.) for every credit hour enrolled.  Therefore, for a 3-credit hour class like CPD120, plan to set aside approximately 6 additional hours/week for these types of study activities beyond our scheduled class meeting times.

• Using a weekly planning tool, like the Free College Schedule Maker, is strongly recommended for students to ensure that they can devote the necessary time to make the most of this educational and career investment.

Although many students prefer the variety and flexibility of hybrid formats, it is not the right option for everyone! For a variety of reasons, from learning preferences to scheduling issues, students need to make informed decisions about which instructional modality is best for them.

Consider the following:

• Can you arrange your schedule to set aside dedicated time outside of class to work on modules, in addition to your other study time, classes, and commitments?

• Do you feel comfortable with computers and technology?  Because this class is a hybrid, completing weekly online modules is a significant part of the course.  Students who dislike computer-based activities will likely find this necessary component to be stressful or boring, and may benefit from a class that is taught fully face-to-face.

• Are your time management skills strong?  One of the biggest challenges that students report with eLearning is that - although the flexible scheduling to complete some of the coursework is helpful - setting aside the time each week for the online component requires a great deal of self-discipline.  It is easy to let other things in life take priority, so that remembering to log into Canvas gets forgotten or assignments get submitted late.  If this sounds familiar, know that this could be a challenge for you too.

Please follow this link to the CGCC eLearning self-assessment quiz: www.cgc.edu/Academics/eLearning/Pages/eLearningQuiz.aspx

The self-assessment provides results in a "stoplight" approach - if you score in the green zone, you're good to go!  However, if you score in the yellow zone, please review the assessment feedback carefully and be aware that this hybrid format might be a challenge at times.  Finally, if you score in the red zone, please seriously consider whether this is really your optimal learning format - for those who are uncomfortable with eLearning or anticipate significant technology challenges this fall, waiting for a face-to-face version of the course to be offered in the future might provide a more positive learning experience for you.

Description: Overview of the process of career and life planning through self-awareness for students interested in helping fields. Focus on current occupational trends and outlook, the learning models of the individual, the world of work, and decision-making. Emphasis on individual application and workplace diversity. Design materials for use in the professional world such as resumes, online presence, career portfolio. 

Pre-requisite:  A grade of C or better in ENG101.

Course Attributes: General Education Designation: Literacy and Critical Inquiry - [L]

Transfer Equivalency: This course has been accepted at ASU as the equivalent of CED250 

MCCCD Official Course Competencies

1. Analyze the process of career and life planning for prospective helping professionals.

2. Interpret personal characteristics such as interests, values, and skills related to career theory and decision-making.

3. Synthesize career information using multiple sources such as online resources, networking, informational interviews and professional development 

4. Evaluate occupational fit with a career of interest in the helping professions using field specific research and self-reflection.

5. Evaluate the role of support systems, self-care, stress management, and resilience for professional success in the helping fields.

6. Demonstrate effective goal strategies to develop short, mid, and long term goals for career and personal development.

7. Prepare for job search activities such as researching, interviewing, and networking.

8. Develop materials for use in the professional world such as a resume, online presence, and career portfolio.

In Fall 2021, students from CAP260 were asked at the end of the semester for a brief explanation of the course that could be used by prospective CAP260 students in the future who were considering whether or not to sign up for this class.  Here are their unedited responses:

Student 1: "This class helps you explore your career choices and shows you how to prepare for the future by learning how to write resume, cover letters, personal mission statement, etc. This class helps you prepare for your future career and prepares you for graduate school as well."

Student 2: "This class is incredibly helpful towards building the necessary skills for professional opportunities within the career exploration process."

Student 3:  "CAP 260 is a great way to not only learn more about yourself, such as your skills, values, etc., but also about your desired career, and if you don't have a desired career, it might just help you figure out what that career is, or at least send you in the right direction. On top of that, it utilizes and sharpens your professional writing skills by applying them to real world examples."

Student 4:  "CAP260 is a beneficial class for the career and professional help professions. gets you on the path to your future college plans, as well as figuring out the best helping profession that best fits you."

Student 5:  "My other classmates are still very unsure what they want to do. I explained that this class explores aspects of careers. This starts from looking at your personal values, abilities, and interests. Helping you understand yourself and what would make you happy as a career. Researching aspects of a career that most don't even think about. This class helps you prepare for the near future and gives you tools to become successful."

Student 6:  "Preparing for professional fit. Becoming a presentable candidate for the professional world, emphasis on the helping fields. "

Student 7:  "This class is not specifically about the counseling and psychology majors, it is about what resources you have, how to use them, and how to better plan of what is to come in your future."

Student 8:  "CAP 260 is an integrative class that uses outside tools and resources to teach the basics of "adulting". The class is good for anyone whether interested in counseling or not. Life skills that you wish you had learned in high school, will be taught in a comfortable and creative learning environment. Dr. N connects students with an abundance of information for anything and everything, just ask. Highly recommend any college student take this class, or any class, with Dr. N!"

The inaugural classes in the new Associate of Arts, Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science, began in  the Maricopa Community Colleges in Fall 2020.  There was a course prefix change from CPD to CAP that became effective in May 2021, so that prior to this date you will see the courses referred to as CPD120/220/240/260 and now as CAP120/220/240/260.    Click here to find enrollment details for CAP260 and other courses in this new major.

Please note that CAP260 is approved as the transfer equivalent of ASU's CED250, per AzTransfer's Course Equivalency Guide, which also appears on the major maps for several Psychology degrees (BA, BS) at ASU Polytechnic.