HS2MC2-My Career: Wider Horizons

Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Kate Williams
Email: k.r.williams@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module is recommended for History with Study Abroad students who gain only 50 (rather than 60) credits during their Part 2 Autumn Term abroad.

Aims:
This module aims to enhance personal career-development within the Part 2 History with Study Abroad degree programme by providing students with an opportunity to consider the extent to which their experience of study abroad has widened their career horizons and to develop strategies for building successful careers after graduation. The emphasis will be on critical thinking, identifying the transferable skills arising from the History with Study Abroad degree programme, and developing additional skills directly relevant to successful job applications, including compiling a CV and reflecting productively on previously undertaken employment and/or voluntary work experience.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:
• Reflect on the relevance of the History with Study Abroad degree programme for future career planning and think critically about career development and employability
• Identify and evaluate the transferable skills that they are developing through their degree studies
• Identify and evaluate the particular personal qualities that they would bring to the workplace, both strengths and weaknesses, in the light of personality tests, and constructive, critical reflection on previous work experience
• Compile an effective CV and gain an understanding of how to extend and adapt it for future work applications.

Additional outcomes:
The module also aims to develop:
• Employability skills through reflecting on the experience of living and studying abroad and previous employment or voluntary work experience
• Written communication skills, including the ability to organise material and articulate critical reflections effectively
• IT skills through use of digital technologies and online resources
• An understanding of recruitment and selection processes
• Awareness of the services and opportunities offered to students by the university’s Careers, Placement and Experience Centre.

Outline content:
The module will introduce students to the wide range of careers options open to History graduates, the use of personality tests by employers to assess what applicants can bring to the workplace, and the art of writing an effective application. Assessment will be by coursework comprising a reflective report of up to 3,000 words, and an accompanying CV. Under specified sub-headings, the report should discuss career ideas and preferences, what has been learned from the experience of living and studying abroad and previous employment and/or voluntary work, the potential of the transferable skills developed on the History with Study Abroad degree programme to enhance career prospects, and an analysis and assessment of the personal qualities that the student can bring to the workplace.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
In small-group sessions, Careers staff will cover career options and planning, personality testing and effective CV compilation and reflective writing. Additional supervision and feedback on coursework will be provided by the History Department, normally (in the case of Single and owned-Joint students) by personal tutors.