Life Skills and Career Opportunities

COURSE NAME: Life Skills and Career Opportunities (Two Semesters)

INSTRUCTOR: MSgt Norris, (USAF-Ret)

REQUIRED TEXT:

LE 300: Life Skills and Career Opportunities

Chapter 1: Charting Your Financial Course

Chapter 2: Managing Your Resources

Chapter 3: Career Opportunities

Chapter 4: Aiming Toward a College Degree

Chapter 5: Charting Your Course

Chapter 6: Applying for Jobs

Chapter 7: Working for the Federal Government

Chapter 8: Developing Your Career Skills

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Life Skills and Career Opportunities: This course provides an essential component of leadership education for today’s high school students. This course is designed to prepare students for life after high school in the high-tech, globally oriented, and diverse workplace of the 21st century. Students will learn how to become a more confident financial planner and to save, invest, and spend money wisely, as well as how to avoid the credit trap. They will learn about real-life issues such as understanding contracts, leases, warranties, legal notices, personal bills, practical and money-saving strategies for grocery shopping, apartment selection, and life with roommates. The Holland Interest Inventory and other self-assessments will help them to reveal their attitudes, aptitudes, and personal skills. This self-understanding will allow them to explore career paths and understand requirements that they will need to be successful at work and in life. To help students increase their potential for success through education, they will learn how to select a school that is right for them; how to apply for admission to a vocational or technical school, community college, or college/university; and how to succeed in these learning environments. Information is provided on how to conduct the job search for students who wish to enter the workforce right after high school or after additional education and training. They will learn how to prepare a winning résumé, and how to develop effective interviewing skills. Students will become more skilled at using the Internet for career research and learn how to network safely using social media. The text also provides information on working for the federal government to include careers in the military, aerospace industry, and public service. Finally, students will consider the most important elements of life skills for all Americans: civic responsibilities, such as volunteering, registering to vote, jury duty, and draft registration.

Course Objectives: After completing Communication, Awareness, and Leadership, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze the elements of successful financial management skills.

2. Create a plan to safeguard personal resources.

3. Analyze the different ways of pursuing a career path.

4. Analyze the requirements for applying to a college or university.

5. Analyze positive and negative impact of college life in meeting career goals.

6. Evaluate the essential process for successfully pursuing desired career or job.

7. Evaluate the benefits of working for the Federal Government.

8. Create a plan for successful career development.

GRADING PROCEDURES:

Weekly Physical Training and Uniform Inspections: Weighted for final grade (see below)

1. Make up Exams: Required within three days (maximum) after an absence.

2. Make up Inspection: Uniform must be worn the day the cadet returns to school from an absence. There are no other uniform inspection make-ups. Please see the cadet handbook for uniform inspection make-up policy.

3. An unexcused absence on a scheduled Physical Training day will result in a grade of zero.

4. Absences (excused/unexcused): See the Burns High School policy regarding absences.

5. Special Projects will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.

Course Evaluation Percentage weight

Attendance 5

Quizzes/Exams 20

Classwork/Homework 20

Uniform Wear 40 *

Fitness/Wellness Training 15

TOTAL 100

GRADING SCALE:

Grade Percentage Required

A 90 and above

B 80 – 89%

C 70 – 79%

D 60 – 69%

F 59% and below

* HABITUAL NON-WEAR OF THE UNIFORM AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN STANDARDS WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE AND DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM AS PER NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION POLICY.