NACE Excellence Awards 2005
Best Practice or Program—Educational Programming: College
“Putting Theory Into Practice”—Mount Union College’s Office of Career Development
Mount Union College’s Office of Career Development created a three-course, cross-curricular academic career development series titled “Putting Theory Into Practice” to assist students in their career exploration and job search.
The Office of Career Development collaborated with the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Business Administration to develop the series. Through this initiative, career development information is integrated into the academic process and is delivered on a more consistent and seamless basis.
The three-course sequence assists students in:
- Career exploration and self-awareness (Integrating College and Life Options: BA 143).
- Expanding their chosen career opportunities and refining those industry research skills (Exploring and Evaluating Life Options: BA 243). Other academic departments were then encouraged to develop a similar course specific to their department/major curriculum.
- Implementing job-search skills and strategies (Pursuing Personal and Life/Career Plan: BA 343).
The “Putting Theory Into Practice” series has been popular with students and faculty alike. There has been a 121 percent increase in enrollment from Fall 2005 to Spring 2005. Additional courses have been added to help accommodate the increase, but a waiting list remains. And in addition to the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Business Administration, five other academic departments have developed their own departmentally specific courses.
