A course in career preparation and business skills in an engineering technology baccalaureate degree program

Abstract

This paper describes the planning and implementation of a one-credit Engineering Business Skills course intended for baccalaureate degree students in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (EMET) at the Altoona College of The Pennsylvania State University. The elective course, developed cooperatively by the Director of Career Services and the EMET Program Coordinator during the spring 2006 semester, is designed to address career-oriented topics. The purpose of the class is threefold: to engage students in the job search process, to educate students regarding career planning activities and the resources available to them, and to better acquaint students with the skills necessary to succeed in industry. Topics for the course include development of career goals, resume creation, marketing strategies, professional correspondence, job search strategies, interviewing skills, business etiquette, multicultural experiences, graduate school options, professional topics, and lifelong learning. As a part of the course, students attended two different career fairs: the Fall Career Fair at The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA, and the Business and Engineering Career Fair at Penn State Altoona. The course was offered in fall of 2006 to eleven senior-level students in the EMET program. Students were surveyed during the first class period to gage their own assessment of their level of career planning preparedness for a variety of activities related to locating employment. An additional survey was administered at the conclusion of the course in order to assess shifts in student attitudes as well as the effectiveness of the course. Data from both survey instruments will be presented in this paper. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2007.