Career Exploration: Engaging Teens in Their Own Career Development, Berryman, Summer 2026

Course Number:	EDU 5515 S10
Instructor:	Dr. Laurie Berryman
Location:	Montpelier VT-HEC office for two in-person classes and online
Dates and Times:	June 24 – August 16, 2026. Class meeting dates are June 24 and August 5 4:30 pm-7 pm. This class will be offered through a combination of two in-person meetings at the start and end of the course, as well as individual on-line work between these sessions, and group work for the preparation of a case study presentation for the last class.
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	Set by and payable to VT-HEC

Course Description

This course provides the theory and tools needed to engage students in their own career development while helping them find meaning and relevance in their high school experiences. Candidates explore the necessary steps for career planning and design practical applications that help students discover paths that align with their interests and motivations.

In this course, candidates learn the primary theories of career development and how they inform available tools and resources. They learn how to help students establish realistic career goals, create plans, and find experiential opportunities. Candidates also explore aspects of student self-assessment, including interests, abilities, values, and personality; examine tools for self-awareness and career exploration to utilize with students; gain strategies to spark student interests; and discover current resources to research career paths. The course explores decision-making strategies applicable to career choice. Participants complete this course using an individualized curriculum or program to implement with their students.

Audience: For students with an earned bachelor’s degree, pursuing more information about working with adolescents around career development. School counselors, special educators, teachers, and other school services employees interested in getting more information about the world of work in the 21^st century. This course is part of the required courses for the AOE’s license endorsement for a Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

Understanding Career Development Theory

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the primary theories of career development and explain how these theories inform career planning practices with students.

Facilitate Student Self-Assessment

Students will support school-aged students in identifying their interests, abilities, values, and personality traits to build self-awareness essential for meaningful career exploration.

Provide Career Planning and Decision-Making

Students will assist their school-aged students to set realistic career goals, use structured decision-making strategies, and create actionable plans that connect high school experiences to future pathways

Apply Career Tools and Resources
Candidates will evaluate and utilize career development tools (e.g., assessments, resources for researching careers, experiential opportunities) to engage students in active exploration.

Course Objectives:

To learn the primary theories of career development and to develop a program to implement with students, incorporating foundational theory.
To complete a process of personal career exploration to develop self-awareness and to gain experience with various career exploration activities to utilize with a chosen population.
To understand and learn decision-making skills and assist students in learning how to make informed decisions applicable to career choice.
To integrate course projects into tangible activities and curriculum to implement with students exploring career development.
To review current career and employment trends nationally and within Vermont and the application to our students.

Required Readings/Resources

Costs for required readings/resources may not be included in the course tuition. Please contact VT-HEC for more information.

Bolles, Richard N. What Color Is Your Parachute? Job Hunter’s Workbook, Seventh Edition, Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale, 2025.

Figler, Howard E., and Richard NelsonBolles. The Career Counselor’s Handbook. Ten Speed Press, 2007.

*(This is from 2007, and it has great information for your work)

Fleming, Kevin. “Success in the New Economy.” Kevin J Fleming PhD, Kevin J Fleming PhD, 19 Apr. 2025, www.kevinjfleming.com/post/success-in-the-new-economy.

Nadworny, Elissa, and Andee Tagle. “Finding Your Way to a (High-Paying) Trade Job.” NPR, NPR, 26 Apr. 2021, www.npr.org/2021/04/21/989609489/finding-your-way-to-a-high-paying-trade-job-without-college.

Sweet, Stephen A., and Peter Meiksins. Changing Contours of Work: Jobs and Opportunities in the New Economy. 4th ed., Sage, 2025.

Additional articles/videos/readings within the course online and as part of assignments due each week.

Other Suggested Readings/Texts:

The instructor will provide additional readings and materials and post them in VT-HEC Canvas.

For additional course information

Laurie Berryman

(802) 498-3350

For additional registration information

VT-HEC Team

This course requires registration with the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VT-HEC) first. Click on the Register Now button below.