Career Architecture & Human Services

How will you use Career Architecture as a Human Services major at SU? Here are some suggestions from our Human Services faculty:

SELF-DISCOVERY

  • Analyze ability to be a helper
  • Write journals reflecting personal feelings
  • Assess reaction to diverse families
  • Analyze personal interview style
  • Write a reflection on how your academic learning has affected you as a human services professional
  • Complete a personal family assessment-genogram
  • Learn how your values impact your interactions and assessments of clients
  • Present orally and in writing on an issue encountered during your internship
  • Complete a journal reflecting on your field placement
  • Participate in class discussions in which you specify how your personal values and goals relate to a career in human services
  • Write a paper evaluating your developing management style including strengths and limitations
  • Analyze media's portrayal of gender issues
  • Complete a self-evalutation at midpoint and end of the semester for your field experience or internship

CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATIONS

  • Participate in Human Services Club
  • Develop an understanding of the interview process
  • Learn how to do a genogram
  • Participate in a seminar discussions that focus on your experience at your agency
  • Present oral reports based on visits to different human services agencies
  • Participate in interview project
  • Learn about persons of diverse backgrounds
  • Attend Senior Internship presentations that focus on different human services agencies

CAREER EXPLORATION

  • Visit different human services agencies
  • Test interpersonal, interview, and helping skills
  • Gain understanding of what diversity means in the United States
  • Learn new insights about careers in human services through written reflections about current news events that impact on families
  • Participate in 90 hour field placement to begin gaining hands-on experience in the field
  • Complete a 540 hour experience in a community-based agency where you can apply theory to practice, evaluate setting and responsibilities, etc.

CAREER PREPARATION

  • Practice questioning style
  • Conduct a helping interview with audiotape
  • Gain an understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication styles
  • Learn information and skills necessary to effectively manage a social welfare organization
  • Prepare a resume
  • Develop a working portfolio to be used at job interviews or interviews for graduate school
  • Participate in and help develop group sessions for clients
   
 

What is Career ArchitectureSM?

Career ArchitectureSM is a unique process that enables each Stevenson student to create a successful and rewarding career path. Starting in the freshman year, students begin working with faculty and staff to design a strategic career plan based on their personal interests, values, strengths, and abilities. Career Architecture includes four elements: Self-Discovery, Career Development Foundations, Career Exploration, and Career Preparation. Not only does the knowledge gathered during the Career Architecture process help SU students land their first jobs; it serves for the lifetime of their careers.