LAS 120 Major Exploration and Career Readiness Course

students at a networking event
Photo credit: Katie Klema

General Eligibility

This course is open to first-year, second semester, undeclared College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students.

Description

This is an 8-week (1 credit) major exploration course tailored for liberal arts and sciences students to gain a deep understanding of how their values, skills, strengths, and motivations align with potential career paths and majors. Using a strengths-based approach, life design principles, and appreciative inquiry, students will engage in self-discovery and career exploration through tools such as "What Can I Do with My Major," Roadtrip Nation, TruMotivate, and ONET Online. Emphasizing the development of professional identity and self-awareness, the course will guide students through the four phases of appreciative inquiry—Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny—to make informed decisions about their academic and career paths.

Questions about the course: Contact Liz Herrera, Director, LAS Career Development eherre3@uic.edu

LAS 120: Spring 2025

Term A: | CRN 48393 | January 15th - March 2nd

Term B: | CRN 48394 |March 9th - May 1st

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS COURSE (Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives)

  1. Self-Discovery: Identify and articulate strengths, values, interests, and motivations, understanding how these attributes influence major and career choices.
  2. Appreciative Inquiry Application: Engage in the four phases of appreciative inquiry—Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny—to explore and develop career and major plans.
  3. Career Assessments: Complete various career assessments, including CliftonStrengths, TruMotivate, and analyze the results to determine how strengths, skills, interests, and abilities align with potential major and career goals.
  4. Decision-Making: Use life design concepts and activities to make informed decisions about major and career choices.
  5. Resource Exploration: Learn and identify the wide range of campus resources including student and professional organizations, UIC Handshake, Cultural Centers, Success Centers, and Student Leadership and Civic Engagement.
  6. Career and Major Planning: Develop a personalized plan for achieving major and career goals, incorporating self-assessment results, research findings, and feedback from experiential learning activities.
  7. Exploration of Opportunities: Through online tools, guest speakers, LinkedIn, and hands-on activities, explore major and career paths.
  8. Career and Self-Development: Acquire skills and strategies for seeking ongoing career and self-development and being aware of the career resources available at UIC.