Academic Catalogs

COUN G152: Planning for Health Science, Nursing and Kinesiology

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Eff Term Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 03/04/2025
Top Code 493013 - Academic Guidance
Units 3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3)
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 108
Total Student Learning Hours 162
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • Area 7E Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development (GE)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU E1 Lifelong Understanding (E1)

Course Description

This course is an extensive overview of strategies for academic and career success within the broad perspective of psychological, sociological, and physiological theories. Emphasis will be placed on values, needs and goals, motivation, and skill development for career readiness within the broader society. It introduces students to a successful college and transfer experience through an examination of the various program options and requirements. Students in this course will explore higher education and career options throughout their lifespan. This course is recommended for students in their first semester interested in majors within health science, nursing, and kinesiology. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC: Credit Limitations: COLL G100, COUN G104, COUN G105, COUN G115, COUN G150, COUN G151, COUN G152, COUN G153, COUN G154, COUN G155, COUN G156 and COUN G205 combined: maximum credit, 3 units.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Apply theoretical models of decision making to the process of selecting a career within the health science, nursing, and kinesiology pathway.
  2. Analyze personality or occupational theories as it relates to career and student development.
  3. Identify strategies for success in the academic and career environment.

Course Objectives

  • Distinguish between the various programs and majors to assist in identifying academic programs of study to meet career objectives.
  • Assess values and interests to determine appropriate academic and career fit.
  • Identify core competencies associated with successful completion of educational and career goals.
  • Examine career environments within the context of the organization and larger society.
  • Use critical thinking and decision-making skills as they apply to life-long learning strategies for career and student development.
  • Identify methods for managing personal and emotional health.

Lecture Content

  1. Overview of Higher Education
    1. Benefits of higher education
    2. College competencies
    3. Academic policies, terminology, and services
    4. Information literacy
  2. Higher Education Frameworks
    1. Types of programs and degrees
    2. Segments of higher education
    3. Transfer institutions and programs of study
    4. Campus climates
    5. Admission and degree requirements
    6. Transferable vs. articulated
  3. Decision Making and Student Development
    1. Sociological Theories
      1. Brown’s Value Based Theory
      2. Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory
      3. Happenstance Learning Theories
    2. Psychological Theories
      1. Super’s Lifespan Theory
      2. Holland’s Person-Environment Fit
      3. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
    3. Goal setting and values exploration
  4. Connecting Majors to Career Pathways
    1. Traditional and non-traditional career options
    2. Alignment of personal values to pathway and career outcomes
    3. Self-evaluation and goal setting
  5. Career Skills
    1. Motivation and overcoming setbacks
    2. Mindfulness, resilience and grit
    3. Emotional Intelligence
    4. Soft skills and transferable skills
    5. Networking and mentorships
    6. Internships and service learning within the pathway
  6. Global Perspective in Careers
    1. Diversity in the workforce
    2. Long term career development
    3. Self-Branding and Attribution Theory
  7. Work / Life Planning
    1. Work / life balance
    2. Physiological Theories
      1. Stress management
    3. Healthy work environments
    4. Lifelong planning for personal growth
    5. Personal finance

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

-

Reading Assignments

A. Chapters and excerpts from text/OER. B. Academic and research journals.

Writing Assignments

A. Witten papers and reflection journals. B. Short responses to class discussions.

Out-of-class Assignments

A. Conduct program research to determine which educational program meets the student's goals. B. Research at least two career pathways. C. Evaluation of personal values as they relate to careers. D. Decision making tools and techniques.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Short Quizzes
  • Written Assignments
  • Essay Examinations
  • Projects (Individual/Group)
  • Problem Solving Exercises

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

A. Evaluate systems of higher education in California and influences on choice of educational and career pathway. B. Analyze core competencies associated with persistence and completion of academic goals.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

A. Report on selected career pathways. B. Identify educational goals based on career pathways. C. Apply theoretical models of decision making.

Resources Subscreen

  • Textbook: Harrington, C.. Doing What Works! Student Success in College, 4th ed.. Middlesex, NJ: Cengage Publishing (2023).
  • Open Education Resource: Alcala, C; Diamond, N., Fong, N., Dickerson, K., Portillo, Y.. Academic and Career Pathways, 2nd ed.. (2025).
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Eligible Discipline(s)

  • Counseling: Master’s degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, or career development, marriage and family therapy, or marriage, family and child counseling, OR the equivalent. (NOTE: A bachelor’s degree in one of the above listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is an alternative qualification for this discipline.) Master's degree required. Title 5, section 53410.1