Business Administration: Management
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER: LEAD 1200
COURSE TITLE: Workforce Development with Critical Thinking
CREDITS: 2 (2 lecture)
PREREQUISITE / COREQUISITE: None
Syllabus developed by Dr. Soliz. Phone 713-718-6477. Email: rudy.soliz@hccs.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Development of leadership skills and critical thinking strategies that promote employment readiness, retention,
advancement, and promotion.
This course is designed to assist the student to perform successfully in college, and in the workplace.
Text: Becoming a Master Student by Dave Ellis
PREREQUISITES: this class requires certain basic academic skills. These skills and the remedial classes
needed to attain those skills are:
Reading—9th to 11th grade minimum – GUST 0342
Math
-- Basic Math – remedial – MATH 0308
English -- Sentences and paragraphs remedial –ENGL 0300 or 0349
END-OF-COURSE-OUTCOMES
Identify characteristics of employees who are qualified for employment and worthy of promotion and
retention in the workforce; explain critical thinking strategies within the context of strong leadership;
apply effective business communication skills; utilize data and information to make effective
decisions; and identify roles and strategies used in group processes and team building.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
Course Requirements
I. Grade Assignments
The following format will be used to assign your final letter grades. No deviations from this schedule will be made.
A:
B:
C:
90 - 100 D:
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
F:
below 60
II. Grading Standards
Home work and class assignments: All will be of equal value in the overall assessment of your final grade
Homework and in class assignments There will be various assignments given to you each week. The total number of
assignments has not been determined. Each assignment will be valued up to 100 points and will be of equal value in the
overall assessment of your final grade. You must be present in class and you must participate in order to get credit. I will
not take late assignments, or assignments that are emailed to me, or assignments which a classmate might turn in. Students
turning in other students work will result in both students getting zeros for those assignments. NO LATE
ASSIGNEMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
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COURSE 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 careers in various business fields
 Distinguish various degrees and certificate plans offered
 Match personal interests and abilities with careers and majors
 Describe long term growth and opportunities for various careers
 Recognize common uses and applications of computers
 Describe procedures required for the use of school computers, student email, and Blackboard
 Demonstrate familiarity with various career resource guides
 Write a résumé
 Describe effective job search and interviewing techniques
Attendance
Be Here
This course is a microcosm of the world of work, so I expect you to behave as an employee. Come to class
consistently on time and be prepared to participate. You will earn new knowledge and skill that put you on the
fast track toward success in your career.
“Being late showed disrespect for me, disrespect for the members of our team, and perhaps worst of all, disrespect for time
itself. I wouldn’t allow a casual attitude about this most valuable commodity. One of the ways I could signal my reverence
for it was to insist on punctuality and give no quarter when someone violated this simple directive. It was a rule I would
not allow anyone under my leadership to trifle with.” (John Wooden, Wooden on Leadership 2005)
Students will be dropped from a class due to excessive absences. Excessive tardiness will be considered
absences. Students are responsible for subjects, assignments, and projects covered during their absences.
Consult the Student Handbook for more details or visit http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students/studenthandbook
Academic Honesty
Scholastic dishonesty is treated with the utmost seriousness by the instructor and the College. Academic
dishonesty includes, but it is not limited to the willful attempt to misrepresent one’s work, cheat, plagiarize, or
impede other students’ scholastic progress. Consult the Student Handbook for more details.
Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office at his / her
respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. For Central College, call 713 – 718 –
6164.
Cell Phones
All cell phones must be turned off during class.
Student ID
Students are required to obtain a Student ID. For additional information, consult the Student Handbook.
Parking Rules and Regulations
Students are required to follow HCC’s regulations regarding parking and permits. For additional information, visit
http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/about-hcc/police/parking/parking-rules-and-regulations
Books, Tools and Supplies
Students are required to purchase and bring to class the required textbooks, tools, notebooks, supplies, and
writing instruments as required by the instructor.
Dress Code
Dress code must be appropriate for the class. Students must dress in a way that clothing and accessories do
not compromise their safety, and the safety of others. Proper foot wear is required in all laboratories.
Classroom & Laboratory Conduct
Proper behavior is expected in all classes and laboratories. Foul language and horseplay are not allowed.
Making or receiving cell phone calls during class are not allowed. Sleeping in class is not allowed.
Course Withdrawal
It is the responsibility of the student to officially withdraw from a course before the official withdrawal deadline. A
student who does not withdraw from a course by the deadline will receive an “F” as the final grade. Also note
that under Section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, an institution of higher education may not allow a
student to drop more than six courses.
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TOPICAL OUTLINE
The content of this outline and the attached schedule are subject to change at the discretion of the
professor.
WEEK # 1: COURSE RULES AND ORIENTATION
Weekly assignment: When is the last day you can drop a class?
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Introduction
Purpose of the course
Required materials, Notebooks or P.C.
Disability Support Services
Registration, schedules, receipts, and student ID
Importance of updating and maintaining student data (Name, Address, ID #, phone numbers, emails)
Classroom Behavior
Course withdrawal. Student Responsibility
Understanding the Official Day of Record (OE)
Understanding new State regulations regarding course withdrawals
Academic honesty
Instructor information
Campus orientation
WEEK # 2: STUDY SKILLS
Your study time log. Keep a log of when, and where you are studying.
Importance of understanding a syllabus (bring an example to class)
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Introduction to study skills
Learning styles
Study guides and strategies
Reading skills
Note taking
Memory aides
Improving memory skills
Time management applied to study skills
Improving concentration skills
Prioritizing significance of information in a reading assignment
Test taking skills
WEEK # 3: STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES
HCC library resources (Field trip)
Weekly Assignment: Research assignment: Group think; self fulfilling prophecy
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Counseling services
Financial Aid services
Scholarship resources
Tutoring services
Bookstores and additional textbook resources
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Recognizing the role of low grades in the student GPA
Withdrawals and their limitations
Student organizations and activities
Applying for graduation
Group assignments: research web resources for various topics
WEEK # 4: TIME MANAGEMENT
Weekly Assignment: What is the last day to apply for Federal Financial Aid?)
Review everyone’s study time log.
 Introduction to time management
 Effective time management techniques
 Prioritizing tasks and assignments
 Importance of meeting deadlines in college and in the workplace
 Planning ahead
 Personal scheduling
 Effective calendars
 Effects of procrastination
 Goal setting
 Activity logs
 Backward goal setting techniques
 Using modern technology and tools for effective time management
Group activities:
 research various time management techniques
 web based time management tools
WEEK # 6: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
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Introduction to communication skills
Importance of first impressions
Elements of effective communication
Effective listening
Effective speaking
Ice breakers
Questioning techniques
Role of charts and graphs for effective presentations
Speaking to an audience
Effective writing
Preparing for a presentation
Group assignments: write an effective email to your instructor
WEEK # 7: STUDENT ACCESS & INFORMATION
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Accessing HCC website for general information
HCC catalog, degree/certificate plans, and course descriptions
Student Handbook
Student ID and password
Accessing HCC email
Accessing People Soft
Student records and enrollment
Accessing computers at HCC labs
Accessing Blackboard Vista
Understanding Grade Point Average
Computing GPA's
Importance of degree plans
Transfer resources
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Student activity: retrieving passwords
Group assignments: using email to communicate with other students and instructor
WEEK # 8: MIDTERM
 Student group presentations on given subjects/assignments (discipline specific)
 Student critique and feedback
WEEK # 9: LEADERSHIP SKILLS
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Introduction to leadership skills
EQ
Importance of leadership in college and in the workforce
Qualities of a leader
Leadership styles
Delegating and mentoring
Cross cultural leadership
Team effectiveness
Leadership models and resources
Micromanagement
Group activities: team building, and delegating tasks to solve a given situation (discipline specific)
WEEK # 10: CAREER EXPLORATION
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Introduction to career exploration
Role of various career/occupations in a society: business, accounting, health, education, engineering,
public/ human services, hospitality, information technology, transportation, construction, fashion, food
service, etc
Personal interests and abilities required in various careers
Employment requirements, education, and licensure for various careers
Employment outlook and compensation for various careers
Degrees and certificates plans for discipline specific careers
Career advancement and long term growth for discipline specific careers
Transfer options for discipline specific careers
Student activities: Identifying a degree plan
Group assignment: Researching employment outlook and compensation for discipline specific
occupations
Group activities: Student discussion of various discipline specific careers
WEEK # 11: CAREER & EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
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Employment resources
Internet career sites
Effective job search techniques
Keywords for effective job search (discipline specific)
HCC Job Placement Services
Job search assignments
Group presentations: Research of employment outlook and compensation for discipline specific
occupations (assigned on week # 10)
WEEK # 12: RESUME WRITING, PART I
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Resume basics
Effective resume styles and techniques
Recommended information to be included / excluded from effective resumes
Research various styles for resume writing
Dos and Don'ts in a resume
Discuss samples of effective resumes (discipline specific)
Gathering pertinent information prior to writing a resume
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WEEK # 13: RESUME WRITING, PART II
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Write a resume
Keywords for effective resumes (discipline specific)
Group presentations of various resumes
Discuss resumes strengths and weaknesses
Prepare a cover letter
WEEK # 14: INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
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Effective interviewing techniques
Filling out a Job Application
Relevant information for job applications
Preparing for a job interview
Proper attire for a job interview (discipline specific)
Dos and Don'ts in a job interview
Role Playing
Group discussions: student feedback on interviewing techniques
WEEK # 15: REVIEW & FINAL EXAM
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Review
Final Assessment
WEEK # 15: CRITICAL THINKING
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Introduction to critical thinking
Common terminology used in critical thinking
Hypothesis, theories, points of view, explanations, conclusions, and evidences that can be used in a
classroom subject or context
Conceptualization, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information
Application techniques in problem solving and decision making
Group activities: study cases (discipline specific)
Group assignments: web based critical thinking exercises
WEEK # 16: COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE
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Overview of the role computers and software in today’s world
Common software utilized in college and in the workplace
Brief overview of Word Processing software (MSWord)
Brief overview of Spreadsheets (MSExcel)
Student activities: perform a simple budget using Excel
Discipline specific software