BA 420 Planning for Internship, Collaborative Project, and Research in Business (1 Credit): Planning, preparation, and decision making for students enrolling in either BA 495A, 495B, or 495C courses in their final semester.
Overview
B A 420 is designed much differently than other courses most students will have been exposed to because students will be asked to become personally involved and to think critically about issues that will affect both their immediate future as well as future careers. Students will be asked to continually engage their minds during and while preparing for class. While students will learn specific techniques pertaining to the planning and preparation for their experience in the BA 495 course options, they will be learned in the context of thinking about one's future goals. Students will be expected to focus on how best to gain hands-on experience that will assist them to be successful in their future environments of professional work or formal education.
Students will be exposed to on-line computer techniques that assist people in determining future professions. If choosing to pursue an internship, students will be expected to specifically identify internship opportunities that might allow a student to personally experience and assess applied environmental life before the student graduates. Additionally, if a student wishes to pursue a research course of study, students will be expected to investigate and assess various group project or individual research options that might be selected in the student's final semester.
This course has as its primary focus the preparation of the student to pursue career options that match a student's needs as well as the identification and elimination of options that may not be of personal interest. A secondary purpose of this course is to present job-seeking skills, student development of those skills, and repeated opportunities for students to practice those skills in laboratory settings before entering applied environments in search of internship or career employment.
In this course, students will develop and enhance their resume writing skills as well as learn insights that will help de-mystify what is involved with basic research processes.
Course Communication
Course information is posted on ANGEL including the syllabus, course text, announcements and news, and assignments. It is imperative that you check ANGEL and your Penn State email regularly since this is how I will be communicating with you both individually and as a class. Please use your Penn State email address to email me (so that it is recognizable and not deleted or transferred to junk mail). It is your responsibility to ensure that I receive any emails you send to me.
Course Goals
- Students will gain an increased understanding of themselves in terms of personal career development, short and long term career-related goals, and career planning to reach those goals
- Students will develop an increased awareness of career options that will best match their career-related goals
- Students will practice relevant job seeking, getting, and keeping skills including resume & cover letter writing, interviewing skills and job/internship searching techniques
- Students will practice effective communication and networking skills
- Students will be able to successfully locate and navigate available and reputable career-related resources both in print and online
Required Course Materials
The following materials are required and must be purchased from MBS Direct:
Required Text
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. 40th Anniv edition. Richard N. Bolles. Ten Speed Press, 2011. ISBN: 9781607740100
For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.
Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. It is very important that you purchase the correct materials. If your course requires one or more textbooks, you must have exactly the correct text required (edition and year).
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
[printer-friendly version]Note: Regardless of where you live, all assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Schedule
Lesson 00 and 01
Timeframe:
(1 week) Readings:
Lesson 00 and Lesson 01 Notes
Assignments:
- Familiarize yourself with the course navigation structure
- Create a student homepage
- Introduce yourselves in the "Discussion Forum on Student Homepages"
Assignment due date: All Week 1 assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday.
Lesson 02
Timeframe:
(1 week) Readings:
- Lesson 02 Notes
- "Personality and Careers" website
- Learn about your by personality type by reading "MBTI" (Meyers & Briggs) and MBTI basics
- The narrative related to your personality type
Assignments:
- Complete the Jung Typology Test
- Complete Donald Super's Work Values Inventory
- Discuss the results of the work values inventory in the "Self-Exploration: Values Discussion Forum"
- Discuss the results of the MBTI inventory in the "Self-Exploration: Personality Preferences Discussion Forum"
Assignment due date: All Week 2 assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday.
Lesson 03
Timeframe:
(1 week) Readings:
- Lesson 03 notes
- Article, "The Road: Getting Started on Your Journey to a Great Career"
- O*Net Online
Assignments:
- Complete the assessment on p. 6 in the article, "The Road: Get to Know Yourself, Assess Your Interests"
- Explore job titles that match your interest code on O*Net Online
- Submit a summary (1-2 pages) addressing your findings and the assigned reflective questions
Assignment due date: All Week 3 assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday.
Lesson 04
Timeframe:
(1 week) Readings:
- Bolles text, pp. 179-188
- Article, "Identifying Your Skills"
- Website: "Top Transferable Skills Website"
Assignments:
- Complete examples of transferable skills from "Transferable Skills Checklist I"
- Use the "Transferable Skills Checklist II" to identify skills that can be used in your resume
- Submit a summary (1-2 pages) on your top transferable skills
- Complete "Flower" in the Bolles text - pp. 184-185 (optional)
Assignment due date: All Week 4 assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday.
Lesson 05
Timeframe:
(1 week) Readings:
- Lesson 5 notes
- Article on "Planning for Future Goals: Goal Setting"
Assignments:
- View video on SMART goals
- Write SMART goals for your career-related goals using the worksheet provided in the Week 5 Activities folder
- Discuss reflective questions in the "Writing SMART Goals" discussion forum
Assignment due date: All Week 5 assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Your grade will be based on the following:
| Assignments |
Percent
|
|---|---|
| Completion of instruments and assignments related to self-exploration |
15%
|
| Participation in online discussion forums including both postings and responses |
25%
|
| Resume related assignments/activities |
15%
|
| Networking related assignments/activities |
10%
|
| Interviewing assignment |
15%
|
| Personal career management assignment |
10%
|
| Participation in final class wrap up |
10%
|
The letter grade equivalent to the points earned is indicated below.
| A: | 100 – 93 | A-: | 92 .99 - 90 | ||
| B+: | 89.99 - 87 | B: | 86.99 - 83 | B-: | 82.99 - 80 |
| C+: | 79.99 - 77 | C: | 76.99 - 70 | ||
| D: | 69.99 - 60 | ||||
| F: | 59.99 – 0 |
Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal
integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help
create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the
fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is
requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page.
Accommodating Disabilities
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.
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