NOTES:

This course is graded on an in-progress/complete basis. To achieve a in-progress grade, students are expected to attend and participate in all seminar sessions and complete a professional portfolio (details below). In addition, students are encouraged to attend relevant seminars and workshops offered by Graduate Studies and Career Services, as well as consult one-on-one with the instructor about their professional development.


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (To Be Confirmed)
Session 1:Dream Big, Skill Up, Stay Well: Introduction & Informal Discussion  

Session 2: How To Think About Your Career
·  Guest Presenter: Penny Freno, Career Education Specialist, SFU Career Services  

Session 3: The Academic Path: Discussion Workshop on PhD Application, Research Proposal & Academic CV  

Session 4: Post-secondary Teaching Options: Discussion & Workshop on Teaching Portfolio
·  Guest Presenter(s): TBA  

Session 5: Student Presentations of Portfolio & Discussion (first draft of portfolio due): Part 1  

Session 6: Student Presentations of Portfolio & Discussion (first draft of portfolio due): Part 2  

Additional research or career skills development workshop Sessions may be scheduled at the library.  

REQUIREMENTS:

THE PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO   Description and Purpose
A portfolio is a “purposeful collection of documentation” (SFU M.Ed), created by graduate students in consultation with faculty, the graduate chair, and SFU career services staff.  Portfolios reflect a student’s educational and research expertise, highlight their educational achievements, consolidate information about their professional skills and abilities, and help prepare students with appropriate documents for future work in academia, private, or non-profit organizations. Students will be expected to meet at least once with the seminar instructor and at least once with Career Services staff during the semester. Students will also be required to present parts of their portfolio at the end of the semester.  

Content
The end product will be a professionally presented collection of documents, placed in a binder. Two copies will be made: one for the student, and one copy for the Graduate Chair, who will then preserve a copy for the department’s library.  

Portfolios must contain ALL of the following:

Table of Contents

Two-page general statement: summing up contents of portfolio, highlighting main goals achieved in process of graduate work; statement of direction for future research work and/or employment. The statement should include a brief explanation of the ‘sample’ jobs or grants in the portfolio (i.e. why these were chosen, where the job advertisement was found, etc).

Curriculum Vitae  and/or Resumé. Students may choose one, or do both. A CV is academic in focus, while a resume is oriented to the non-academic job market.

Cover letter for employment in a ‘sample’ job (academic job; non-profit; NGO; private, etc). Please include a copy of the original advertisement.

Writing sample: a piece of writing that showcases your skills and/or research expertise and that is relevant to your professional goals.

Evidence of professional online profile (LinkedIn, Academia.edu, Twitter or other)

A one-paragraph profile (with photo if you like) for the Alumni section of our website.  

Plus at least ONE of the following:

PhD application and/or professional school application. (Generally a statement of research interest, required by graduate school; law school; Master of Library Sciences; Journalism school, etc). Please include a copy, if possible, of the application guidelines.

Grant application (SSHRC; CIHR; postdoctoral grant; non-profit or government grant), fellowship or internship applications. Please include original copy of grant guidelines.

Teaching portfolio (copies of sample syllabi; teaching philosophy, course evaluations).  

Material Considerations The GSWS department will provide you with binders. Photocopying and/or printing can be done in the Graduate Student lounge or on the photocopier; remember to check with Kat Hunter for your photocopying code.