Identify individual post-graduation educational and/or career goals (Personal & Social Responsibility).

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
SNHU e-mail, Blackboard, Chalk & Wire, readings will be distributed in class and/or available on Blackboard.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of SNHU 101, SNHU 202 and 58 completed credits or, permission of instructor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the second general education course of a three-course sequence (SNHU 101/202, 303, 404). The course will build upon the SNHU 101/202 experience focusing students on preparing for their post collegiate life. Topics include: Goal setting, career and graduate school exploration, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing techniques, and topics of personal finance.

COURSE GOALS: The goals of SNHU 303 are to:
Prepare each student for post-graduation career and/or career options
Provide tools and skills to enhance each student’s ability to attain post-graduation readiness.
Help students make informed decisions about their future career options.
Help students be informed about issues of personal finance.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of SNHU 303, students will know and be able to (General Education Learning Goals identified in parentheses):
Identify individual post-graduation educational and/or career goals (Personal & Social Responsibility)
Research and evaluate educational and career opportunities related to the student major (Critical & Creative Thinking)
Identify and explore graduate school and/or job searching resources.
Continue building an on-line portfolio of student work, goals, experiences, accomplishments and achievements (Integration, Application & Reflection)
Communicate effectively both verbally and in written form through resumes, cover letters, admissions essays and interviews. (Communication)

COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Resume 25%
Interview 20%
Cover Letter, Thank You Letter & Elevator Pitch 20%
Informational Interview 15%
Student Journals & SNHUFolio 10%
In-Class & Other Assignments 10%
GRADING POLICY:

B+ = 87-89% C+ = 77-79% D+ = 67-69%
A = 93-100% B = 83-86% C = 73-76% D = 60-66%
A- = 90-92% B- = 80-82% C- = 70-72% F = 0-59%

GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT: Your cover letter and resume will be used to assess the General Education Learning Goals for this course (see Student Learning Outcomes above). You will need to submit these assignments using Chalk & Wire, the University’s e-portfolio software. Details will be discussed in class.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar (weekly meetings). This class meets once each week throughout the semester. It will be conducted in seminar style, with interactive discussions organized round weekly topics. Your regular attendance is critical to your success.

COURSE WORKLOAD:
You should expect about two hours of work, in addition to the weekly class meeting for this 1-credit course. (*A standard, 3-credit course requires six hours of work, outside of class, weekly.) If you find that the work demands of SNHU 303 are regularly falling short or exceeding the expected two additional hours of work per week, you should communicate with me as soon as possible. I will strategize with you to help you access relevant resources and to manage your workload more effectively.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Professional Communication [Multiple Due Dates; see Course Schedule] (Communication)
Students will engage in numerous activities to develop both their written and oral communication skills. The Resume, Cover Letter and Mock Interviews will be graded. The Resume and Cover Letter will also be used as a critical task for university assessment purposes. Additional information is included in the Assignment & Grading Information documents provided separately [on Blackboard].

Informational Interview [Due Date: April 20, 2016] (Personal and Social Responsibility)
The purpose of the informational interview is to encourage you to gather more information about a particular profession, organization, graduate school/degree or any other related opportunity you wish to explore after graduating from SNHU. It is an opportunity to approach a professional in order to ask specific questions about such things as skills needed to enter a field, expectations for the chosen field of graduate study, educational requirements of a given profession, or the types of responsibilities that characterize a given job classification. This is also a valuable networking opportunity. Additional information is included in the Assignment & Grading Information documents provided separately [on Blackboard].

SNHUfolio [Due Date: April 27, 2016] (Integration, Application and Reflection)
You will be collecting, selecting, reflecting, and connecting artifacts that highlight your competencies, skills, and experience for life beyond SNHU. This process will be done within your SNHUfolio using electronic software (Chalk & Wire). The assignment will draw upon the artifacts you have stored in your Chalk & Wire library while at SNHU in addition to evidence you will gather from your previous academic, co-curricular and work/life experience. This process is designed to encapsulate and highlight your strengths to be used in your interactions with recruiters, admissions officers, and other decision-makers. Additional information is included in the “SNHUfolio Assignment & Grading Information” document provided separately [on Blackboard].

Journal Entries
[Due Dates: Journal #1: January 27, 2016; March 23, 2016; April 6, 2016]
(Critical and Creative Thinking)
Students are required to write and turn in brief journal entries throughout the semester (see Course Schedule for due dates). There is a question or group of related questions to guide your journal entries. For each entry you are expected to answer each question in depth, but you may include more information of your choice. Journal grades will be based on the completeness and depth of thought in addressing the assigned topic. Additional information is included in the Assignment & Grading Information documents provided separately [on Blackboard].
Participation & In-Class Activities
Discussions will be part of all class sessions, and in-class activities/assignments will be part of some class sessions. This course is taught in a seminar format so that participants will learn from one another, from the instructor, and from guest presenters. Student participation in class discussion and activities and out-of-class assignments are necessary for student success. Additional information is included in the Assignment & Grading Information documents provided separately [on Blackboard].

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
According to University policy, missing 10% of any class is considered excessive. In SNHU 404, missing TWO classes equates to 10% and is therefore excessive.

This course is taught in a seminar format, so that participants will learn from one another; you will also learn best with active participation. Therefore, student participation in class discussion and activities, as well as out-of-class assignments are necessary for student success. When possible, contact me in advance if it is necessary to miss a class. Ultimately, you are expected to attend all classes on time and prepared. Your participation is critical to your success in this class.

LATE WORK:
We expect that as Juniors in college, you know how to manage your time effectively and to submit your work on time. You are also expected to communicate in advance and respectfully with your instructors if for some reason you are not able to complete work on time. In an effort to respect both your adult status and a culture of fairness in SNHU 303, we require each section of this course to agree upon its own explicit policy for late work. On the first day of class in SNHU 303, all students and the instructor of this section will discuss and define the details of a policy for late work, which will be ratified and appended to this syllabus.

INCLUSIVITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:
Southern New Hampshire University values and promotes social diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. Together, we work to develop understandings and skills aimed at the practice of respectful dialogues and interactions, which we believe to be essential to the vitality and civility of our campus culture. We also know that respectful communication requires challenging work, authentic care, and ongoing practice. In order to provide an inclusive, respectful, and challenging educational environment, all members of the SNHU community will:

Respect the varied histories, identities, ideas, and experiences of all people.
Respect the diversity of all social groups, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, ability, age, religion, socio-economic class, and all intersections.
Reject injustice, bigotry, and discrimination of all forms, including non-compliance with others’ preferred names and gender pronoun requests.
Engage in challenging, constructive, and caring dialogues and interactions; and refrain from judgment, even when we perceive differences and disagreements

If you feel that your classroom is not an inclusive and civil space, please speak with your instructor or contact the Assistant Dean of General Education, Rane Hall

ADA/504 COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
Southern New Hampshire University is committed to and concerned with meeting the needs of students challenged by physical, sensory, psychiatric, attention, and/or learning disabilities with regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. At the beginning of each term, or as soon as you become aware of a disability, we encourage you to contact the Office of Disability Services to discuss accommodations for which you may be qualified.
For questions concerning support services, documentation guidelines, or general disability issues: Office of Disability Services, Exeter Hall, Suite 56. 603.644.3118.
For questions concerning ADA/504 related compliance matters, grievance or legal issues, the contact information is:

SNHU Policy Statements
Please review the policy statements regarding Disability Services, Library Resources, Copyright, Academic Honesty, and Blackboardtm here: https://my.snhu.edu/Academics/Pages/SyllabiStatements.aspx

Instructor Availability
I want your experience in this course to be positive and will help you in any way that I can. I hope that you will use me as a resource throughout the semester. Beyond scheduled office hours, I can schedule meetings with you at a variety of times. Please feel free to contact me to make an appointment to meet or with questions or concerns you may be having with any aspects of the course or life after college.

Course Schedule (approximate)
Assignments are due at the beginning of class (or before class, for electronically submitted work) on the day they appear on the syllabus.
Due on Bb: Assignment has been indicated to be due electronically through blackboard.
Due IC: Assignment has been indicated to be due at the beginning of class.
Out of Class Requirements
February 17, 2016 Internship Fair (Dress professionally, bring your SNHU ID for attendance) Dining Center, 2:00pm-5:00pm
March 9, 2016 LinkedIn Workshop and Headshots (Sign up will occur during the second week of class) Hospitality Salons, 10:00am & 12:00pm
March 31 & April 7, 2016 Mock Interviews (Sign up email will be sent the week of February 15, 2016) Dining Center, Second Floor

Week Topic Assignments Due
1
Jan 20: Course Overview/Review Syllabus
Introduction to the course ; peers /instructor ; overview of syllabus.
2
Jan 27: Research Foundations
Introduction to finding employment opportunities; reading job descriptions; goal setting using the SMART method Due January 27:
Due on Bb: Journal #1
3
Feb 3: Resumes: Content
Introduction to general guidelines for resumes; creating a resume not using templates; exploring resumes per field. Register for CareerEdge and start to build resume in class. Due February 3:
Reading: BRAG! Chapters 1-2
Due on Bb: Take 12 Questionnaire & List of volunteer/community service/club experience
4
Feb 10: Resumes: Accomplishment Statements and Formatting
Exploring accomplishment statements, peer review
Due February 10:
Reading: Guide to Writing a Professional Resume
Due on Bb: Resume Draft #1
5
Feb 17: No Class – Attend Internship Fair Due February 17:

6
Feb 24: Informational Interviewing & Cover Letters
Introduction to the elements of informational interviewing; formatting cover letters; review of SNHUFolio for SNHU 303 Due February 24:

7
Mar 2: Interviewing Skills; Tips and Preparation
Introduction to the types of interviewing; mock interviews with peers; professional dress and presentation; introduction to the variety of mock interviews; portfolio presentations overview Due March 2:
Reading: BRAG! Chapter 5
Due on Bb: Cover Letter Assignment
8
Mar 9: Networking: Preparing for Large Scale Professional Events
Developing your elevator pitch; exploring professional conferences; engaging in small talk with strangers; developing a networking letter Due March 9:
Reading: I Just Graduated, Now What? Reading #1
Due Bb: Journal #2
9
Mar 23: Mock Interviewing #2: Portfolio Presentations Part 1
First 10 students presenting; Review of SMART goal setting Due March 23:
Due on Bb: Resume Draft #2

10
Mar 30: Mock Interviewing #2: Portfolio Presentations Part 2
Second 10 students presenting Between April 4-8:
Mock Interviewing #3: Students will engage in a 30 minute phone interview outside of class time.

11
Apr 6: Exploring Post-Grad Experiences
Introduction to exploring post-grad experiences; internships; pre-professional experiences; Guest Speaker: re: how to market pre-professional experiences. Due April 6:
Reading: I Just Graduated, Now What? Reading #2
Due on Bb: Journal #3
12
Apr 13: Finance: Fringe Benefits and Salary Negotiations
Developing your understanding of what fringe benefits come with a job offer and how to negotiate for a salary within your field. Due April 13:
Reading: TBD
Due on Bb: Final Resume and Cover Letter
13
Apr 20: Managing Up
Exploring how you can take charge of the work environment and your success within a professional setting Due Apr 20:
Due on Bb: Informational Interview
14
Apr 27: Dining Interviews & Sustaining the Network
Introduction to dining etiquette; managing an interview over a meal; Thanking interviewers in the 21st Century; following up post-interviews Due April 27:
Due via Email: SNHUFolio