Evaluating a Career Design Micro-Course for First-Year Engineering Students

Abstract

This paper describes the evaluation of a career design micro-course integrated into a required first-year introductory engineering class. The micro-course was a collaborative effort between faculty and career development staff. Rooted in a career design paradigm, the micro-course included practical career development strategies and personal reflection. Pre- and post-course survey data, including the Career State Inventory, indicate how students’ career decision state changed by the end of the course. Using quantitative and qualitative data, the paper provides insight into one university’s efforts to integrate career development into the academic curriculum, with implications for career development research and practice.