We recommend that you utilize your requirement to take classes to make yourself as competitive as possible for your future career. This means two things:

a) Have a prioritized list of career goals

Many students obsess with one career goal and are left out in the rain if, for whatever reason, they will ultimately not pursue this goal. Therefore, we advise you to design a Plan B and, possibly, a Plan C for your future careers and to incorporate your desires, strengthes, and abilities within these plans. You will then be able to build a portfolio of courses which will enable you to competetively pursue all three: your first priority as well as your second and third alternates.

b) Build a second skill set

Many students focus exclusively on their required coursework (e.g. they take electives exclusively in the sciences). While there is nothing really wrong with this, GenEd requirements as well as the option to take courses as General Electives provide you with opportunities to build additional skills. And an additional skill set might be what sets the balances off in your favor when you apply for a job. Which is not only true for students which desire employment right after graduation but also for those of you who go on to veterinary, medical, grad, or other professional schools.

In order to build a second skill set we advise you to take a minimum of four courses in an area you are interested in and which you would like to pursue. It would then be very helpful to top your respective portfolio with a practical application. For a skill set in computing this might be done through building a nifty web-page, maybe as a volunteer project for a clinic or a non-profit organization (Humane Society, Brewster Center, Casa de los Ninos, etc.). Similar portfolios can be build for any other second skill set, be it in documentation/photography, writing, communication, accounting, law, marketing, etc. If you would like to learn more about this please contact Janet Decker (phone: 520-621-6892)

Example:

The following are examples of courses from among which you could choose if you would like to build a second skill set in communication or in computer skills. More to follow ...

Communication Skills

Agricultural Education (621-1523)
422 - Communicating Knowledge in Agriculture and the Life Sciences (3; Fall)
439 - Non-Formal Education (3; Spring)
Communication (621-1366)
100 - Fundamentals of Communication (2; Fall/Spring)
102 - Public Communication (2; Fall/Spring)
103 - Communication in Small Groups (2; Fall/Spring)
104 - Interpersonal Communication (2; Fall/Spring)
105 - Introduction to Nonverbal Communication (2; Fall/Spring)
111 - Critical Thinking in Communication (3; Fall)
112 - Introduction to Organizational Communication (3; Fall/Spring)
312 - Applied Organizational Communication (3; Fall)
(318 - Persuasion)
(325 - Argumentation)
(411 - Communication and Conflict Management (3; Fall/Spring))
(414 - Verbal Communication (3; Fall/Spring))
(415 - Non-Verbal Communication (3; Fall/Spring))
(425 - Scientific Argument in Public Discourse (3; Fall))
English (621-1836)
307 - Business Writing (3; Fall/Spring)
308 - Technical Writing (3; Fall/Spring)
(414 - Advanced Scientific Writing (3; Fall/Spring))
Family Studies (621-1075)
401 - Basic Skills in Counseling (3; Fall)
428 - Professional Presentations and Techniques (3; Fall/Spring)
Journalism (621-7556)
205 - Reporting the News (3; Fall/Spring)
208 - Law of the Press (3; Fall/Spring)
PHPR Pharmacy Practice and Science* (626-5730)
(404 - Interviewing and Counseling Skills (1-2; Fall))
(416 - Patient Assessment (2; Spring))
(487 - Public Speaking and Teaching Techniques for Health Care Professions (2; Fall))

Computer Skills