Selecting a College Major: Exploration and Decision Making - Softcover

Gordon, Virginia N.; Sears, Susan J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130395854 ISBN 13: 9780130395856

Publisher: Pearson, 2003

Synopsis

For courses in Career Planning or Student Orientation.

Focused on the decision-making process as a tool for choosing an academic major or changing a previous academic decision, this workbook is filled with self-assessment exercises that help students see the importance of identifying realistic goals, developing a workable academic path towards those goals, and integrating their past academic work with their choices. They can then create an action plan for identifying and gathering information about academic and occupational alternatives and for choosing a major and career path.

About this title

Review:

“I recently found your work in the areas of academic and career advising.  I cannot thank you enough for your contributions to our field.  As you can see from my email signature, I work with “deciding” students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  We have been using the Strong Interest Inventory and the MBTI with our deciding students for years and they have served us well.  However, we realize that we need to follow a developmental model to ensure our students are prepared to make good use of the information those assessments provide.  (We have always attempted to determine students’ readiness to begin career counseling as well ― maturity, mental health, etc.) 
 
I find the methods used in Units One and Two of Selecting a College Major: Exploration and Decision Making to be just what we’re looking for.  As I read through this book, I felt as if I’d stumbled upon buried treasure!  I especially like the section on decision theory.  How very useful it will be to our students!  If we taught a course in choosing a major, I’d certainly want to use this workbook.” 
 
Jane Miles, M.A.
Student Development Coordinator, Major and Career Exploration
UM-St. Louis Center for Student Success

From the Back Cover:

This innovative text simplifies the process of choosing a major from a sometimes overwhelming array of majors and related career fields. It will assist not only the "undecided" student with selecting a major, but also the "major-changer" who is exploring alternative options.

A step-by-step process leads students through personal and academic assessment as well as occupational information searches. Through thought-provoking activities, they can explore their academic, career, and personal interests and goals. Students can investigate academic majors from many perspectives, including a search of majors in general, majors on their campus, and majors based on their academic and occupational interests. Highlights of this text include:

• A Natural Decision-Making Progression. Students are directly and personally involved in activities that involve exploration, reflection, and choice.
• Extensive Major Exploration. Three distinct approaches help students narrow their List to realistic alternatives.
• Incorporation of Academic and Career Interests, Abilities, and Values. Self-assessment gives students information on which to base their choice of a major.
• Formulation of a Graduation Plan. Students use their academic transcripts to summarize all they have Learned and develop a plan for the future.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0130395854
• ISBN 13: 9780130395856
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 128