Computer Science Technology Department
Houston Community College
Department Phone Number: 713.718.5731
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Houston Community College
LEAD 1200 Workforce Development and Critical Thinking
Course Syllabus
Instructor
Na me: Al b e rt F ra nk G oru p, J r .
O f f i ce: 7 13 .7 1 8. 5 73 1
Em a il: a lb er t .g or up@ hc cs .e du
Course Reference
Number (CRN)
83628
Course
Description:
Development of leadership skills and critical thinking strategies that promote employment
readiness, retention, advancement, and promotion.
Course
Prerequisite(s)
None. This course is designed to assist the student to perform successfully in college, and
in the workplace.
Course Semester
Credit Hours (SCH)
(Lecture, Lab)
Credit Hours 2.0 (Total Lecture 32)
Course
Location/Times
Katy, Rm. 203
Tuesdays, 12pm to 2pm
Instructional
Materials
Reaching Your Potential Personal and Professional Development Fourth Edition
Robert K. Throop, Marion B. Castellucci
Wadsworth Cengage Learning ISBN-13: 978-1-4354-3973-3 ISBN-10: 1-4354-3973-2
Instructional
Methods (select
one)
Face to Face
Course Length (number of weeks)
Computer Science Technology Department
Course Level
Total Course Contact
Hours
Type of Instruction
Beginning
32
Lecture
16 Weeks
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Course Requirements, Policy, and
Course Calendar
ATTENDANCE
Many of you are amazed to discover that the tuition that you pay to HCCS is only a small portion of
what your college course actually costs. The state of Texas is paying for most of your tuition.
Therefore, the state legislature requires you to attend this class. Class attendance is the responsibility
of each student. It is also the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor regarding your absence
from class, preferably prior to the absence.
Class attendance is recorded weekly by the instructor. A student may be withdrawn (1) if s/he is
absent for 12.5% of the class meetings or (2) if s/he does not turn in work assignments that total
more than 12.5% of the course work. 12.5% of total class meetings equals two absences because
this course only meets once per week. Any student who is more than 20 minutes tardy equates to one
absence from class. Reports of excessive absence will be sent, when appropriate, to the Veterans
Administration, the Social Security Office and/or other agencies responsible for aid to the student.
If you stop participating in this course before the Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals, you
may withdraw yourself, or ask instructor to withdraw you. After March 31st, the withdrawal date
deadline, the instructor is not able to withdraw you. If you stop participating in the course after the
Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals, you will receive an F. This will apply to all students.
Incomplete grades are rarely given.
Instructor's
Requirements
I am requiring you, as an adult learner, to be responsible for your own
grade in this class. I require that you balance your time obligations as an
adult: juggling work, family and other classes in which you are enrolled. As
an adult, each of us (including me) has personal circumstances outside of
this room for which we are responsible. Let us all, you and I, strive to
leave our personal problems outside this classroom, to bring our best
attitude into this classroom and to achieve our best efforts.
Although your instructor is a compassionate person, I cannot factor your
life’s “situations” into the grading process. You will earn your grade; I will
not ‘give’ you a grade. You should spend 2 to 3 hours studying for every
one hour that we spend in this room.
Assignment
Short Essay on Your Personality
Explore Your Career Aptitude
Explore Your Career Options
Present Your Book Chapter
Develop Your Personal Goals
Your Participation
Your Portfolio
Total
Instructor
Grading Criteria
Points
10
10
10
20
20
15
15
Due Date
02/11/14
03/04/14
04/1/12
as assigned
04/30/14
on-going
on-going
100
Grading RUBRIC will be distributed for each assignment, detailing exactly what type of
work is required to earn an A, B, C, etc.
Computer Science Technology Department
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COURSE CALENDAR
DATE
Jan 14
Jan 21
Jan 28
Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 18
Feb 25
Mar 4
Mar 11
Mar 18
Mar 25
April 1
April 8
April 15
April 23
April 30
TOPIC DESCRIPTION
Course Overview, Syllabus, Expectations
Reality Check
Your Personality – On-Line Assessments
Chapter 1 Presentation – The Power of Self-Belief
Have your Portfolio Ready to be Checked
Ch. 2 Goal Setting for Personal & Professional Life
Career Interests and Aptitude – On-Line Assessments
Personality Essay Due
Chapters 3 & 4: Thinking Skills, Study Skills
Chapter 5 & 6 Presentations: Eating Well and Staying Healthy
Portfolio Check
Department of Labor Career Clusters; Career Exploration using Texas WorkForce
Spring Break
Chapter 7 Presentation: Communicating Effectively
Chapter 8 Presentation: Improving Your Listening Skills
Chapter 9 Presentation: Improving Your Speaking Skills
Explore Career Options
Outline Due for Personal Goals
Chapter 10 Presentation: Getting Along with Others
Chapter 11 Presentation: Functioning in Groups
Portfolio Check
Chapter 12 Presentation: Handling Change and Stress
First Draft of Personal Goals is DUE
Chapter 13 Presentation: Managing Money
Chapter 14 Presentation: Your Career
Personal Goals DUE Today
Learning Objective, Students Learning Outcome, and
Program Spec
Note: This section of the syllabus provides the general course learning objectives, the expected
students learning outcome, the course scope in terms of the department program, and the instrument
used to evaluate the course. If you have any question, contact the instructor or the department.
HCC Grading Scale
Grade
A = 100- 90
B = 89 - 80:
C = 79 - 70:
D = 69 - 60:
59 and below = F
IP (In Progress)
W(Withdrawn)
I (Incomplete)
AUD (Audit)
GPA Points
4 points per semester hour
3 points per semester hour
2 points per semester hour
1 points per semester hour
0 points per semester hour
0 points per semester hour
0 points per semester hour
0 points per semester hour
0 points per semester hour
IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must
re-enroll to receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing
education courses. To compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade
Computer Science Technology Department
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points by the total number of semester hours attempted. The grades "IP," "COM"
and "I" do not affect GPA.
Course Student
Learning Outcomes
(SLO):
1.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
• Identify school policies and procedures
• Recognize sound practices to perform well in college
• Identify departments within the college such as Admissions, Counseling, Student
Support, Financial Aid, and Job Placement
• Identify effective communications techniques
• Recognize time management and prioritization techniques
• Demonstrate effective reading, listening and note-taking strategies
• Illustrate effective study and test taking techniques
• Demonstrate critical thinking strategies
• Describe roles, tasks, employment opportunities, and outlook for various workforce
careers
• Identify educational requirements, and licensing for various occupations
• Distinguish various degrees and certificate plans offered
• Enumerate various occupations involved in a given field (business, accounting,
health, education, engineering, transportation, construction)
• Match personal interests and abilities with careers and majors
• Describe long term growth and opportunities for various careers
Student Assignments
Refer to the course calendar
LATE ASSIGNMENTS and MAKE-UP POLICY
 You are expected to adhere to the weekly schedule of assignments printed in
the course syllabus. Assignments are correlated with student learning
objectives.
 It is your responsibility to obtain any handouts, material or course supplements
that were distributed in class or posted to the Internet during your absence. On
the COURSE SCHEDULE, the DUE DATE is the last possible date that an
assignment can be submitted. It is highly suggested that you submit
assignments SOONER.
 Any late coursework (including assignments and/or tests) will result in a 10%
deduction per class session. That is, if you earn a B but turn in the assignment 1
week late then that assignment’s grade becomes a C.

Make-up work must be completed within one week from missed date. After the
first week for make-up, the grade becomes “0”.
 Any assignment which is not submitted will earn a grade of zero.
Student Assessment(s)
Assessment criteria under development
1. Identify characteristics of employees who are qualified for employment and
worthy of promotion and retention in the workforce;
2. Explain critical thinking strategies within the context of strong leadership;
3. Apply effective business communication skills; utilize data and information to
make effective decisions; and
4. Identify roles and strategies used in group processes and team building.
Assessment criteria under development
Identify characteristics of employees who are qualified for employment and
worthy of promotion and retention in the workforce;
2. Explain critical thinking strategies within the context of strong leadership;
3. Apply effective business communication skills; utilize data and information to
make effective decisions; and
4. Identify roles and strategies used in group processes and team building.
Computer Science Technology Department
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Program/Discipline
Requirements:
Instructors will use syllabus that will satisfy CurricuUNET requirements and improve
on-going assessment of student-centered learning and teaching.
Academic
Discipline/CTE Program
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify characteristics of employees who are qualified for employment and
worthy of promotion and retention in the workforce
2. Identify the components of a computer system;
3. Use common business applications software
4. Explain the impact of computers on society
5. Identify computer careers; identify fundamental programming structures
6. Identify ethical use of computers
SCANS and/or Core
Curriculum
Competencies: If
applicable
SF1: Reading-locates, understands, and interprets written information in prose and
documents such as manuals, graphs, and schedules.
F6: Speaking-organizes ideas and communicates orally.
C8: Uses computers to process information
HCC Policy Statement
Student Services
Policies
http://hccs.edu/student-rights
Student Accommodations
Students experience difficulties in courses for a variety of reasons. "Any student with a documented disability (e.g.
physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must
contact the Disability Services Office at Southwest college at the beginning of each semester. Instructors are
authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office." If you need
course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please let me know as soon as possible.
For questions, contact Donna Price at 713-718-5165 or the Disability Counselor at Southwest College:
Dr. Becky Hauri – 713-718-7910.
To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, click Future Students, scroll down the page and click on the
words Disability Information.
At any point in the semester, if you encounter difficulty with the course or feel that you could be performing at a
higher level, consult with me. For problems with writing skills or time management, contact the Student Support
Services Program at 713-718-7799.
EGLS3 –
Evaluation for
Greater Learning
Student Survey
System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student
feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated
time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based
questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be
made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement
of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College
Student System online near the end of this term.
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