Co-ordinator - 519-748-5220 ext. 3680 cdp@conestogac.on.ca (for questions about the program and how it can fit into your career).
Program Assistant - Sharon Williams, 519-748-5220 ext. 3414 swilliams@conestogac.on.ca (for questions about the application/registration process).
About the Program
The field of career development is evolving and expanding today, enabling practitioners to work in a variety of roles. This program is designed for individuals who are or would like to work in roles such as career counsellors, employment counsellors, career information practitioners, career development practitioners or career management practitioners. Practitioners in these roles may work in consulting firms, human resource departments, community organizations, private practices, learning institutions and government departments.
Diploma or degree from an accredited College or University, OR a Career Foundations Program certificate.
Qualified applicants will be contacted and requested to submit:
Current resume.
A letter of application.
Note re: Admission Requirements
Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency. Test scores, if required, would be a minimum of TOEFL 580 or 237 computer-based or 92 internet-based with TWE 4.5, IELTS 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0, CAEL 70 with no sub-test band scores less than 60, or equivalent scores in other recognized standard tests of English.
Admission Procedures
Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form.
Attach proof of Admission Requirements
Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.
Program Requirements
Working knowledge of current computer operating systems, office software, and an Internet Browser as well as access to a personal computer and an Internet service account are required.
Students must be accepted into the program to be eligible for the Practicum Seminar and Practicum Project courses.
How to Apply to the Program
Students may obtain a Conestoga College Program Application Form from any Conestoga College campus, OR by writing directly to the Registrar's Office, OR by using the college website at www.conestogac.on.ca/registrar/forms
Send completed applications to:
Conestoga College Admissions Office 299 Doon Valley Dr Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2G 4M4
How to Register for Courses
Go to How to Register for detailed registration information.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Conestoga recognizes prior learning of skills, knowledge or competencies that have been acquired through employment, formal and informal education, non-formal learning or other life experiences. Prior learning must be measurable at the required academic level and meet Conestoga standards of achievement for current courses. Challenge exams and portfolio development are the primary methods of assessment. Other methods of assessment may be available depending upon the nature of the course objectives. Successful completion of the assessment results in an official course credit that will be recorded on the student's Conestoga transcript. PLAR cannot be used by registered Conestoga students for the clearance of academic deficiencies, to improve grades or to obtain admission into a program.
This program will appeal to individuals who are engaged or interested in some form of career development work in professional settings. These include: self employment, working in community-based agencies, multicultural settings, schools, post-secondary and adult learning institutions, labour adjustment contexts, human resource departments and employment-related services programs in all branches of government.
96% of 2007-2008 graduates found employment within 6 months of graduation. Their average starting salary was $37,483.
For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities see the Government of Canada web site: http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca
For program information call the Information Centre for details at 519-748-5220 ext. 3656.
Program Courses
Click on the course code or title below for a full description of the course. If available for registration, clicking on "Register" in the status column will open a new browser tab or window in the Student Portal.
Refer to the planned delivery schedule given below if the course is currently unavailable for registration.
Description: This course explores the knowledge, skills, values and ethics inherent in being a successful counsellor. A review of counselling theories and how they relate to career development will be covered. The micro skills hierarchy will be presented as a framework for mastering basic interviewing and counselling skills. An ethical decision-making process will also be covered to increase the student's understanding of her/his attitudes about ethical decision-making and role as a professional helper. The final portion of the course will examine the process of personally integrating the counselling values, skills and knowledge that have been presented. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: This course will provide an overview of the nature of contemporary work dynamic trends. The influences of global trends, employment trends and issues, cultural diversity and demographic shifts on future work will be explored. Students will examine the impact of permanent economic change, new work patterns, and organizational learning demands and discuss the implications for career decision-making. Students will investigate these trends, and develop counselling strategies to clarify the economic contexts in which career decisions are made. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: This course explores the roles of intrepreneurs in career development oriented organizations and entrepreneurs operating their own counselling or consulting practices in career development. Students will assess their personal suitability for operating a consulting practice or abilities to act intrapreneurially within an organization. Market research techniques and marketing strategies will be developed. Students will prepare a business plan for a consulting practice or funding proposal for a career development program. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: The demand for group career development training is growing in both for-profit and non-profit contexts. In an approach that combines both theory and practice, this course will emphasize adult learning principles and the key elements of group training/facilitation. Students will have the opportunity to design and deliver a career development lesson plan for a client group of their choice and contribute to the development of a manual of group lesson plans they can retain for future use. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: The career practitioner can play a major role in assisting members of diverse populations to obtain satisfying work. These groups include: Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Ex-Offenders, Immigrants and Visible Minorities, Persons with Learning Disabilities, Persons Diagnosed with a Mental Illness, Older Workers, Persons with Physical Disabilities, Persons with Low Income, Men/Women, Persons Belonging to Sexual Minorities, and Youth. Students will become aware of the environmental, social, systemic and personal barriers faced by each of these groups and will learn strategies to motivate and assume advocacy roles when working with these clients. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: This course will provide an overview of the theory and practice of career counselling and development. Emphasis will be placed on an analysis of career development theories, career information, approaches to vocational assessment, the practice of career counselling and development and future trends in the evolution of the field. Students will engage in learning projects that will develop their appreciation for and understanding of both the theory and practice of career development. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: The core processes and outcomes of career counselling are delivered in this course. The focus of this course is to connect theory to practice and to develop a resource of strategies and activities for counsellors to use with clients in both individual and group settings. A five-step model of career counselling developed in Canada is learned in detail. This course provides the student with a challenging opportunity to apply skills that can be used with a variety of client groups. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: The core principles, processes, and outcomes of effective career marketing are learned in this course. The focus is to connect theory to practice and to develop a resource of strategies for counsellors to use with clients in both individual and group settings. Core topic areas include skills profiling, work search preparation, networking, resume and cover letter preparation, electronic work search, employment interviewing techniques and preparation and job offer negotiations. This course provides the student with a challenging opportunity to explain and apply a coherent model that can be used with a diversity of client groups. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: This course provides students with practice in using assessment tools for career counselling. Students will have the opportunity to examine the procedures for using and interpreting data from a variety of assessment inventories, and learn how to integrate assessment data in career counselling. Students will examine assessment tools, to evaluating statistical measures, the purpose of the assessment, format, administration procedures, norms, validity and interpretation of results. Ethical implications of administering tests will be discussed along with the limitations and cautions related to the use of tests. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: The Practicum field placement experience is a crucial part of the CDP program. It provides the concrete application component that enables students to integrate and experiment with the information learning in other courses. The Practicum consists of two elements:
· Organization: The actual experience location where the student has an on site agreed location; and
· Virtual Seminar: The virtual classroom where students write and share information about their experiences.
As the field of career development is primarily oriented to teaching clients to manage their own careers, the Practicum is designed to be learner driven. Whereas faculty will guide students, it is ultimately the responsibility of the learner to identify and negotiate the practicum organization. Students will enter field placements with objectives which have been agreed upon by the agency contact person, the Practicum Coordinator, and the student. The learner will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis at the end of the practicum relative to this set of objectives. Additional time will be required for transit, for reading, and for analyzing the experience.
Practicum 1 is designed for learners who are entering the field of career development. Hours: 200 Credits: 7 Pre-Requisites: CARD8070 CoRequisites:
Description: This course will build on the foundation of the knowledge and skills taught in other courses in the program and will encourage students to begin to integrate and apply what they have learned. The focus will be going in-depth in the areas of the student's own interest to further develop the components of professional counselling practice. Also, considered will be various organizational settings and trends where students may choose to practice their skills. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CARD1010, CARD1070, CARD1040, CARD1060 CoRequisites:
Unavailable
Electives: Program Option
Description: Student must complete a minimum of 45 Hours
Description: With the rapid proliferation of computer-based and in particular, Internet based career development resources over the past several years, it has been difficult for practitioners to stay current on the spectrum of what is available to them. This course takes students through every stage of the career development process - including self-assessment, occupational research, resume development and job search strategies - and outlines the wealth of Internet and computer-based resources that are now readily available to the practitioner. The course includes special sections on advanced Internet search strategies, cyber-counselling and the applicability of the Internet to special populations. The focus of the course is on Canadian resources, but also includes international sites and software where appropriate. This course is intended for career development practitioners in all sectors of the field who want to gain a better understanding of the availability and applicability of electronic resources and/or who want to teach their clients how to access and use these resources. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: Students will be introduced to how employment fits into the settlement/integration continuum and to the general characteristics of the process that allow newcomers to be full participants in society. A community development approach to providing services is explored involving initial settlement concerns, language instruction, specific employment services and long-term integration issues. Various best practices include advocacy, networking, coaching, cultural orientation, community building, and language referral training, will be reviewed. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: It is not uncommon for adults to feel out of touch with today's generation of youth, making our work with this age group challenging and sometimes even frustrating. This course will assist career development practitioners to form a clear portrait of what it means to be a young adult today and suggest counselling strategies to use specifically with youth. Special sections of the course will focus on: emotional intelligence and its importance to the success of today's youth; the career decision making difficulties of youth; and strategies to use when working with special populations of young adults; including employment bound youth. Other sections of the course detail career pathways and career planning programs for youth. This course is intended for career development practitioners in all sectors of the field who want to gain a better understanding of how to effectively work with diverse groups of adolescents and young adults. Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Description: This course begins with an overview of the history of women and work and will examine how both societal influences and individual choice impact the world of work for women. Topics covered are: women in transition, non-traditional employment, technology, dual career families, self-employment, spirituality, work-life balance and women as mentors and coaches. Models of practice are presented and critiques (e.g. Job Finding Clubs, pre-employment programs, transition programs like Women into Trades and Technology (WITT) and youth focused programs). Hours: 45 Credits: 3 Pre-Requisites: CoRequisites:
Unavailable
Annual Delivery Schedule : Career Development Practitioner #0869
Code
Course Title
S
F
W
CARD1010
Professional Ethics, Interviewing and Counseling
X
X
X
CARD1020
Trends And Issues In The New Work Dynamic
X
X
X
CARD1040
Group Training And Facilitation: Principles And Practices
X
X
X
CARD1050
Career Development With Special Needs Groups
X
X
CARD1060
Career Counselling And Development
X
X
X
CARD1070
Career Exploration
X
X
CARD1090
Career Marketing
X
X
CARD8030
New Canadians and the World of Work
X
CARD8040
Career Development for Adolescents and Young Adults
X
CARD8050
Assessment In Career Development: Formal Instruments
X
X
X
CARD8060
Practicum Project
X
X
X
CARD8070
Practicum Seminar (Career Development Practitioner Program)
X
X
X
ENTR1000
Consulting In Career Development: Entrepreneurial & Intrapreneurial Roles
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