Course Syllabus

Summer 2026 | DEV-0270-VO01 - Introduction to College & Careers

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Philip Crossman
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: James Wolfe

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course provides high school and new students with the opportunity to explore the college experience within the context of their future career goals. Students reflect upon their strengths, interests, values, and goals by focusing on three key questions -- Who am I? What are the habits of effective people? What will I do after high school? -- and learn about the expectations necessary to succeed in academic and professional settings. Students will learn how disability is defined and viewed within the context of a college community and will examine social issues through the lens of the individual and society. In addition to the core curriculum, students will complete four or more modules on a variety of topics, such as time management, test taking, personal budgeting and communication skills. This course also provides students with an introduction to online learning, including an overview of the College's portal environment.

Essential Objectives

1. Engage in self-discovery activities including short versus long-term goal setting, educational and career planning, and personal strengths and values.
2. Develop strategies for personal growth, empathy, communication, and collaboration in diverse settings.
3. Practice college and career success skills such as time management and prioritization, and develop strategies for reading textbooks and complex materials, note-taking, test-taking and using informational resources for research.
4. Practice techniques for self-advocacy regarding the use of resources and disability accommodations in college versus high school.
5. Develop strategies for making educational, career and financial decisions that align with personal goals and values and create a personal budget and money management plan.
6. Use online college resources to locate and request information and participate in an online learning environment.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Summer 2026 textbook details will be available on 2025-12-01. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

DEV-0270-VO01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Integrated: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges the use of AI is an essential skill in today's world. By using genAI for specific purposes, students become equipped with relevant skills and tools necessary to thrive in a technology-driven society. Emphasizing the mastery of generative AI should empower you to harness its potential, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities. Be aware, however, that any time generative AI is used at any point in the assignment without attribution it may be considered a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

It is important to understand that the use of LLMs (Large Language Models) can only be justified when it is used as an accessory to learning. It cannot be used as a substitute for learning. Whenever AI is used in this class, it is an absolute expectation that the use will be explicitly noted by the student. Readers should have no question who the author of any portion of the material they are reading is.

Methods

This course aims to provide a wide array of educational experiences for students with various learning preferences. You will be reading from a textbook periodically, reading some short stories, interpreting poems, accessing websites, taking some diagnostic tests, and learning to use tools helpful to those with decisions to make regarding college and careers. We will have plenty of opportunities for reflection and discussion.

Evaluation Criteria

Student learning in this class will be assessed using a number of different assessment tools: The principle categories that will constitute your final grade will be made up from the following:

• Weekly Discussion Forums & Assignments (10 weeks) -50%
• 2 Exploration Journal Assignments - 20% (10% each)
• A Final Cummulative Project - 20%
• Participation Grade - 10%

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Students in this class are expected to participate regularly. A participation grade will be calculated on the basis of the following criteria:

• Was work submitted according to stated deadlines?
• Did the work demonstrate a thorough reading and accessing of assigned materials?
• Did the student contribute to the learning community discussion forum several times a week?
• Was the student responsive to the follow-up questions asked by the instructor and peers?
• Did the student maintain a consistent presence in forums and journals?

Missing & Late Work Policy

Students will be expected to submit work in accordance with instructions and deadlines. Scores are reduced for work submitted late. Students should not expect to get grades for work submitted more than two weeks late without advanced permission. This is not a course where large amounts of work can be submitted at the end as the work we will be doing together will be scaffolded.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/student-support/accessibility-services/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.