Career Planning 

Career Services 

Career decision-making is a continuing process requiring active involvement in the investigation of self, education, and career possibilities. There are two main approaches to choosing a major and relating it to a career goal: 

1. Choose a major because it is intellectually stimulating and develop gradually a career goal while progressing through the program; or, 

2. Decide on a career goal first and then choose a major that will provide the best preparation for that career. 

Whichever method you use, it is important to identify your skills, interests, and values; to explore majors and their relationships to careers; and to pursue a goal. 

Developing educational plans and career goals are closely related, and the university offers a broad range of assistance to its students. Academic advisers from the various colleges and/or departments can help you select your academic major and plan a course sequence to fulfill degree requirements. The University College course (UCOL 1002) “Gateway to College Learning” is an excellent introduction to the university and a basic foundation on which to build your educational and career goals. In addition to the University College and the individual college and departmental advisement units, the following offices can be helpful: 

Assessment and Learning Center, Carnegie Building, Room 200 

Career Services, Oklahoma Memorial Union, Room 323 

Counseling and Testing Services, Goddard Health Center, Room 201 

Center for Student Life, Oklahoma Memorial Union, Room 370 

Career Services (Oklahoma Memorial Union, Room 323) also offers programs to assist students in learning job search skills and providing various avenues to help students identify and obtain internships, co-ops and professional employment. Career Services provides a highly regarded program of on-campus interviewing, resume/job matching and credential services to bring you in contact with employers. 

If you participate in the available programs and services, you can enjoy the satisfaction of the rich experiences offered by the University of Oklahoma. It’s your future; plan it wisely. 

Career Planning Calendar 

FRESHMAN YEAR 

• Analyze your personal interests, needs, skills, values, and goals and identify skill areas you would like to develop. 
• Participate in campus organizations and activities that interest you. 
• Obtain career-related information by attending career fairs, using the Career Services library and discussing ideas with academic advisers, professors, other students, relatives, and friends (networking). 
• Use computer-assisted guidance systems, including DISCOVER (located at the Assessment and Learning Center, 200 Carnegie Building). 
• Participate in career-interest testing and interpretations (located at Counseling and Testing Services, 201 Goddard). 
• Learn how to write a résumé and to interview for a summer job related to your career interests. 
• Pick up a copy of “50 Clues To Getting the Job You Want With an OU Degree” from Career Services and act on the items appropriate for you. 

SOPHOMORE YEAR 

• Continue your appraisal of your skills, needs, interests, values, and goals. 
• Interview individuals doing work of interest to you (information interviewing). 
• Take advantage of courses available to assist you with career decisions. 
• Look for opportunities to attend such events featuring employers as career fairs, campus organizations, and employer information meetings sponsored by Career Services, your college, or your department. 
• Join a campus organization related to your major or career interests (more networking). 
• Attend one or more of the Exploring Majors Series (schedules available at Center for Student Life, 370 Oklahoma Memorial Union). 
• Examine the Career Services’ on-campus interview and résumé/job matching programs and determine the appropriate time to register with that office. 
• Review Career Services internship and co-op resources and decide whether to apply. 

JUNIOR YEAR 

• Enhance your job search, résumé writing, and interview skills by attending workshops and using resources available through Career Services. 
• Take an active role in campus organizations to develop leadership and communication skills. 
• Develop a list of employers in your field and collect literature on these employers. 
• Use campus career fairs to expand your contacts and to apply for jobs. 
• Research internship/cooperative education opportunities through Career Services and your academic department and obtain career-related employment. 
• Update your résumé. 
• Use the Internet for career-related research. 

SENIOR YEAR 

• Register with Career Services and participate in the on-campus interviewing, résumé/job matching and/or credential services. 
• Work with a Career Services professional to focus your job search. 
• Identify and research specific employers you wish to contact. 
• Contact the employers of choice. 
• Review job openings available through Career Services and across campus. 
• Use career fairs to apply for jobs. 
• Attend meetings of professional associations as a student member to network with professionals in your field. 
• Use the Internet to look for jobs and contact employers. 
• Report salary offers and position acceptances to Career Services. 

Academic Planning Calendar 

FRESHMAN YEAR (0–30 hours) 

• COMPLETE required freshman English composition courses (English 1113 and 1213). 
• COMPLETE all other course requirements and any necessary application procedures for admission to the Norman campus degree college of choice by the end of the freshman year. 
• COMPLETE any necessary testing for admission to major programs and degree colleges, such as the PPST (Pre-Profession Skills Test), as needed for admission to a teacher education program in the College of Education or the Language Skills Test for admission to a journalism and mass communication program in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. 
• INTERESTED students not previously admissible to the Honors Program should apply for admission as soon as the necessary hours and grade point average are acquired. 

SOPHOMORE YEAR (30–60 hours) 

• COMPLETE remaining requirements and the application procedures for admission to the degree college of choice at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. 
• COMPLETE required courses and application procedures for formal acceptance into such Norman campus programs as health and exercise science, journalism and social work. 
• FINALIZE decision about choice of major or run the risk of delaying graduation (some of the highly structured programs such as engineering require firm decisions during the freshman year). 
• CONSIDER study abroad programs. 

JUNIOR YEAR (60–90 hours) 

• CONSIDER double major, minor, and area of concentration. 
• COMPLETE any necessary testing and application procedures for admission to professional schools (such as the MCAT and application to medical schools the second semester). 
• REQUEST initial graduation check from degree college office during the last semester of the junior year. 
• CONSIDER such post-baccalaureate options as Fulbright Grants and Rotary Scholarships. 

SENIOR YEAR (90 hours and above) 

• ALL requests for program adjustments should be made no later than the beginning of the senior year. 
• REQUEST final graduation check from degree college early in the last term of enrollment. 
• APPLY for graduation during the last term of enrollment (applications should be submitted by March 1 for spring, July 1 for summer and November 1 for fall). 
• SATISFY all remaining requirements for the degree program, including courses, hours, grade point average, residence, and any additional requirements for anticipated distinguished degree. 
• APPLY for admission to post-baccalaureate programs and complete any required testing. 
• DEGREES are formally conferred at spring commencement. Degrees are awarded and diplomas mailed at the end of each semester and summer session. 

It is the student’s responsibility to meet deadlines and all other requirements from the beginning of the freshman year through graduation. Information about deadlines and requirements is available from advisers. 

August 2009