COUN G155: Planning for STEM (Biological and Physical Sciences)

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	04/15/2025
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 a 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 STEM, specifically biological and physical sciences. 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)

Apply theoretical models of decision making to the process of selecting a career within the STEM pathway.
Analyze personality or occupational theories as it relates to career and student development.
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 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 personal development.
Identify methods for managing personal and emotional health.

Lecture Content

Overview of Higher Education
1. Benefits of higher education
2. College competencies
3. Academic policies, terminology, and services
4. Information literacy
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
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
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
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
Global Perspective in Careers
1. Diversity in the workforce
2. Long term career development
3. Self-Branding and Attribution Theory
Work / Life Planning
1. Work / life balance
2. Physiological Theories
  1. Stress management and coping
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. Written 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 pathway. B. Identify educational goals based on career pathway. 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

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