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Career and Life Planning Certificate Program
Training for national certification by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) is provided through nine semester units of coursework provided either online or on campus by the Social Science Department at California State University, Chico.
The program is based on the NCDA's Career Counseling Competencies and Code of Ethics. It has been adapted and delivered in Asia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and the Middle East, as well as in North America.
These classes might be of interest to students who major in Social Science, Sociology, Psychology, Social Welfare, Education, and Human Resources.
Coursework
The three courses required to earn the certificate are each available once a year online.
SOSC 509 Principles and Techniques of Career Guidance
Offered during fall semesterSOSC 560 Career/Life Planning Seminar
Offered during fall semesterSOSC 510 Tests and Measurements for Career Guidance
Offered during spring semester
The courses may be taken in any order. Distance students must have 24 hours of real-time contact with the classes as they are being presented. The 24-hour requirement can be divided among the three classes.
Employment Opportunities
Professionals who earn the NCDA's Career Development Facilitator certificate work in a variety of career development settings. They may serve as career group facilitators, job search trainers, career resource center coordinators, career coaches, career development case managers, intake interviewers, occupational and labor market information resource persons, human resource career development coordinators, employment/placement specialists, workforce development staff persons, or school career center technicians.
Application & Enrollment
• The courses in this program may be taken as part of the online degree program BA Social Science - Specialization Studies Option.
Students who do not want to apply for admission to a degree program may enroll in the three courses as a non-admitted student through the Open University program.
• CSU employees who wish to enroll in these courses using the employee fee waiver program, should submit a job-related fee waiver application and a Career Advancement/Job-Related Graduate Admissions Application Form.
• For more information, contact the Social Science Coordinator, Dr. Diana Dwyre, at ddwyre@csuchico.edu.