The University Certificate in Career Development is a 30-credit (one-year full-time study) program. It is intended primarily for practitioners who have some related work experience in a human services field. The certificate builds on competencies already developed to enhance the practitioner's effectiveness.

Graduates will learn about:

· career development concepts, principles, and theories
· the career development implications of social, cultural,
  economic, and work trends
· using career resources and communication skills creatively to
  provide ethical and effective assistance in a variety of   settings
· critically evaluating their practice
· engaging in practitioner research.

Because most core and psychology elective courses in this program assume a basic background in psychology, it is strongly recommended that students have credit in PSYC 289 and PSYC 290 or their equivalent before registering in senior-level courses. Please note, however, that PSYC 289 and PSYC 290 are extra to this program. The program courses also require students to have third-year university-level writing ability or higher. To assess your readiness for writing in 300- or 400-level courses, please contact a Write Site staff member.

Program Plans

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University." Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.