About the Major and Careers Advising Curriculum (MCAC)
The MCAC is designed to assist students with the lifelong process of decision making and career development. During their undergraduate studies, students will be guided by their university advisors as well as other student affairs educators and academic staff to:
The curriculum will serve as a roadmap to identify advising themes for every stage of students' undergraduate careers as well as exploration and decision-making processes that students need to accomplish by a specific stage in their education.
- work on self-awareness assessments,
- make informative decisions about their major choice,
- develop an understanding concerning the correlation between majors and careers, and
- acquire critical thinking skills as they relate to decision-making strategies.
The curriculum will serve as a roadmap to identify advising themes for every stage of students' undergraduate careers as well as exploration and decision-making processes that students need to accomplish by a specific stage in their education.
FRESHMEN
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SOPHOMORE
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JUNIOR
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SENIOR
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FRESHMEN ( 1st Semester) >>>>> SELF ASSESSMENT
Objective: This stage allows students to assess personal interest, abilities, and values and translate them into major and career options.
NACADA's proposed: goals: Students will be able to craft a coherent educational plan based on assessment of abilities, aspirations, interests, and values. |
Learning outcomes:
Students will:
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Process
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Individual Appointment:
Students will meet with their adviser to discuss results of the assessments and translate them into major and career options |
Ed.folio:
Students will build their "About me" page and write a short biography introducing themselves translating the results from the self assessment tools. |
FRESHMEN ( 2nd Semester) >>>>> EXPLORE OPTIONS
Objective: This stage allows students to research potential majors and career options
NACADA's proposed goals: Students will be able to use complex information from various sources to set goals, reach decisions, and achieve those goals. |
Learning outcomes:
Students will:
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Process:
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Individual Appointment:
Students will meet with their adviser to plan academic career relevant experiences, choose courses and decide what steps they need to take to achieve specific goals. |
Ed.folio:
Students will start building their "Academics", "Education and Career Goals" pages using information they gained and exercises they completed in this stage. |
SOPHOMORE >>>>>>>>> EVALUATE FIT
Objective: This stage allows students to identify engagement opportunities to test out their options
NACADA's proposed goals: Students will be able to assume responsibility for meeting academic program requirement Students will be able to articulate the meaning of higher education and the intent of the institution's curriculum. |
Learning Outcomes:
Students will :
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Process:
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Individual Appointment:
Students meet with their advisor to help them narrow down thier options for internships, study abroad, work experience, undergraduate research and volunteer to learn about specific fields. |
Ed.folio:Students will continue working on their "Academics", "Education and Career Goals" pages.
Students will start working on their "Achievement", "Organizations", and "Community Service & Engagement" pages. |
JUNIOR >>>>>>>>> TAKE ACTION
Objective: This stage allows students to reflect on their decision making and take action towards post graduation plans.
NACADA's proposed goals: Students will be able to cultivate the intellectual habits that lead to a lifetime of learning. |
Learning outcomes:
Students will:
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Process:
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Individual Appointment:
Students meet with their adviser to develop a graduation plan. The adviser will help students make sure that they are on the right track to meet all their graduation requirements and guide them through thinking of their post graduation plans; Students should also meet with a career counselor/adviser to start working on their professional resume. The career adviser will give students information about job searches, mock interviews, and how to start building a professional network. |
Ed.folio: Students will continue building their "Achievement", "Organizations", and "Community Service & Engagement" pages. and start working on their "Professional" Page.
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SENIOR >>>>>>>>> ADJUST TO TRANSITION
Objective: This stage allows students to reflect on their decision making and take action towards post graduation plans.
NACADA's proposed goals: Students will behave as citizens who engage in the wider world around them. |
Learning outcomes:
Students will:
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Process:
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Individual Appointment:
Students meet with their advisor to discuss graduation requirements. The advisor help students decide and plan their post-graduation goals. Students meet with a career adviser for a videotaped mock interview to help them build interviewing skills. |
Ed.folio:Students will continue working on their "Professional" page.
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