EUQ641 Career Development Theory and Policy
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | EUQ641 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | LCN637 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $578 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,216 |
| International unit fee | $4,344 |
Unit Outline: Session 2 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | EUQ641 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | LCN637 |
Overview
In this unit you will consider career development theory, practice, policy and research. Career development is a broad and constantly evolving field which is relevant to all individuals. Recent developments in education and employment highlight the importance for all educators and related career practitioners to be equipped to effectively prepare people for a rapidly changing world of work. This unit provides an overview of the field and an introduction to areas developed in subsequent units. The unit is designed to be studied at the beginning or close to the beginning of the overall course of studies with a career major, as it provides foundational information and scope for the other careers units which are in the Graduate Certificate and Master of Education qualification. The breadth and depth of the material creates a solid platform on which students can build their career major and enhance their knowledge of this field.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of career development (CLO1.1).
- Demonstrate cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship relating to the field of career development (CLO2.1).
- Use technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments in career development that contribute to professional practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
- Apply knowledge and skills of career development with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Content
This unit will cover the following topics:
- Career development in Australia – role and salience
- Australian career development policy – history and initiatives
- Career service delivery contexts
- The changing world of work
- Theoretical accounts of career development processes
- Professional and ethical practice
- Working with diverse client groups
- Professional development – lifelong learning for self and clients
- Technology and the profession.
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Activities
- Evaluation exercises.
During the unit you will be required to understand, critically reflect, analyse, synthesise and apply the presented concepts to your own practice as a professional career practitioner.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain feedback in this unit by participating in regular online discussion forums and collaborative learning activities with peers and the teaching team. You will receive feedback on your contributions which will directly relate to and inform both pieces of assessment. Assessment will receive criteria-based grading and comments and the criteria will be considered by the cohort prior to assessment submission.
Formative feedback in this unit will include feedback on your analysis of two career development policies designed to support your learning and to provide a foundation for both assessment tasks.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit enables you to reflect upon your own experiences of career development and to expand your theoretical knowledge of this field through research and utilisation of online resources.
Assessment 1 requires you to discuss theoretical constructs relevant to your own career development and to develop a personal thematic statement about “career”.
Assessment 2 enables you to critically analyse Australian career development policy and to advocate for a course of action in this regard.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Reflection
Assessment: Presentation
In this assignment, you will record a presentation analysing the ethical challenges which may arise for counsellors working in career services which provide support to members of diverse client populations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
Access to Internet
Resources
The following resource materials will be used throughout this unit.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Arthur, N., Neault, R., & McMahon, M. (2019). Career theories and models at work: Ideas for practice. CERIC.
Patton, W., & McMahon, M. (2021). Career development and systems theory: Connecting theory and practice. (4th ed.). Brill.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with general participation in this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols associated with computer use will apply.
Students must comply with netiquette guidelines agreed at the outset of the unit and ensure they are professional throughout and respect others in all interactions. Please refer to QUT guidelines on communication.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EQ60 Graduate Certificate in Education
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of education (CLO 1.1).
Relates to: ULO1 - Use cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship in the field of education (CLO2.1).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
Relates to: ULO3 - Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Relates to: ULO4
EQ71 Master of Education
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of education (CLO1.1).
Relates to: ULO1 - Use cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship in the field of education (CLO2.1).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional education practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
Relates to: ULO3 - Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional educational practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Relates to: ULO4
Unit Outline: Session 4 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | EUQ641 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | LCN637 |
Overview
In this unit you will consider career development theory, practice, policy and research. Career development is a broad and constantly evolving field which is relevant to all individuals. Recent developments in education and employment highlight the importance for all educators and related career practitioners to be equipped to effectively prepare people for a rapidly changing world of work. This unit provides an overview of the field and an introduction to areas developed in subsequent units. The unit is designed to be studied at the beginning or close to the beginning of the overall course of studies with a career major, as it provides foundational information and scope for the other careers units which are in the Graduate Certificate and Master of Education qualification. The breadth and depth of the material creates a solid platform on which students can build their career major and enhance their knowledge of this field.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of career development (CLO1.1).
- Demonstrate cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship relating to the field of career development (CLO2.1).
- Use technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments in career development that contribute to professional practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
- Apply knowledge and skills of career development with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Content
This unit will cover the following topics:
- Career development in Australia – role and salience
- Australian career development policy – history and initiatives
- Career service delivery contexts
- The changing world of work
- Theoretical accounts of career development processes
- Professional and ethical practice
- Working with diverse client groups
- Professional development – lifelong learning for self and clients
- Technology and the profession.
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- Online modules
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Activities
- Evaluation exercises.
During the unit you will be required to understand, critically reflect, analyse, synthesise and apply the presented concepts to your own practice as a professional career practitioner.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain feedback in this unit by participating in regular online discussion forums and collaborative learning activities with peers and the teaching team. You will receive feedback on your contributions which will directly relate to and inform both pieces of assessment. Assessment will receive criteria-based grading and comments and the criteria will be considered by the cohort prior to assessment submission.
Formative feedback in this unit will include feedback on your analysis of two career development policies designed to support your learning and to provide a foundation for both assessment tasks.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit enables you to reflect upon your own experiences of career development and to expand your theoretical knowledge of this field through research and utilisation of online resources.
Assessment 1 requires you to discuss theoretical constructs relevant to your own career development and to develop a personal thematic statement about “career”.
Assessment 2 enables you to critically analyse Australian career development policy and to advocate for a course of action in this regard.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Reflection
Assessment: Presentation
In this assignment, you will record a presentation analysing the ethical challenges which may arise for counsellors working in career services which provide support to members of diverse client populations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
Access to Internet
Resources
The following resource materials will be used throughout this unit.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Arthur, N., Neault, R., & McMahon, M. (2019). Career theories and models at work: Ideas for practice. CERIC.
Patton, W., & McMahon, M. (2021). Career development and systems theory: Connecting theory and practice. (4th ed.). Brill.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with general participation in this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols associated with computer use will apply.
Students must comply with netiquette guidelines agreed at the outset of the unit and ensure they are professional throughout and respect others in all interactions. Please refer to QUT guidelines on communication.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EQ60 Graduate Certificate in Education
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of education (CLO 1.1).
Relates to: ULO1 - Use cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship in the field of education (CLO2.1).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
Relates to: ULO3 - Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Relates to: ULO4
EQ71 Master of Education
- Demonstrate a body of knowledge including understanding recent developments in the field of education (CLO1.1).
Relates to: ULO1 - Use cognitive and critical reflection skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice or scholarship in the field of education (CLO2.1).
Relates to: ULO2 - Demonstrate technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional education practice or scholarship (CLO2.4).
Relates to: ULO3 - Demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional educational practice and/or for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability (CLO3.1).
Relates to: ULO4