Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

Psychology 307 Final Paper

Part 1: Career #1.
[Make sure that you research career #1 thoroughly enough to address the
following questions.]
My Career #1 – Human Resources Manager
(a) What does this person do, both in general and on a day to day basis? What are the
expected hours and time off (if available).
 Human resources managers are responsible for ensuring that the administrative
components of a company are functioning properly. Additionally, individuals in
this position are also in charge of recruitment, interviews, and new staff hires,
while also mediating interpersonal conflicts and termination of employees. Daily
job duties of this position include examining employment records that could be
used for hiring or firing, transfers, or promotion, explaining the rules of the
company or business to employees, and informing applicants of the policies and
procedures of the business. Additional responsibilities may include: addressing
conflicts that may arise in the workplace, and overseeing hiring processes and
ensuring that everyone is feeling supported in their role. Often, individuals in this
position will typically work a 40 hour work week, usually 8-9 hours per day, five
days a week, often Monday through Friday. Variation may occur if a human
resource manager has to attend a conference or training that requires travel or
additional responsibilities. It is common for individuals in these positions to get
full (or almost full) benefits with their job, from the company that they are
working for.
Sources:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm
- https://www.humanresourcesedu.org/hr-specialist/

(b) What is the starting pay range for a person in this field?
 For people in this field, pay is often pretty good. The role of human
resources manager is a step above human resources specialist, and that is
often represented in pay and responsibilities.
 The median annual salary for this position was around $110,120.
 There is pay variation depending on the state, or region an individual is
working in, as well as the amount of experience someone in the field has.
 Sources:
o https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-
managers.htm
(c) What is the demand for a person in this field?
 Demand is pretty high, around 7-9%, which is great news for me. There is
often a need for skilled professionals in these fields.

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

 https://www.allbusinessschools.com/human-resources/salary/

(d) How do the goals of this career fit with your values, interests, skills and needs? (Tie this
back to any/all of your self-assessments from this course and/or Psychology 207 with
references to the particular checklist or chapter).
 In this career, there is opportunity for growth, and that is something that is very
important to me. Additionally, I would be doing many different things each day,
work with people, and have consistent hours. Attainment of the position of human
resources manager requires a greater skillset and greater level of experience than
human resources specialist, so I would likely have to spend several years working
my way up to the position. The salary for a human resources manager is usually
around six figures, but that of human resources specialist is lower, so I would
need to expect to have a lower salary for several years before working my way up.
I think that I have many skills working with people, as I have worked in various
customer service positions since age 16. Additionally, I have experience in
conflict mediation and resolution, which could be very beneficial for handling any
interpersonal conflicts that arise in the workplace. This position would require a
great deal of organization and dealing with paperwork, two areas in which I
believe that I would thrive in. As I mentioned previously, individuals in this
position typically work consistent 40 hour work weeks, which would be very
important for me. Overall, I think many of the components of a position in human
resources aligns well with my interests.

(e) What education beyond a bachelor’s degree is required for this field? Are there licensing
requirements or certification requirements in the state, and if so, what are they? If no
degree is required beyond a bachelors, are there specific skills that you will need? Should
you consider completing a minor or dual major to get these skills?
 Often for this career, only a bachelor’s degree is required. A bachelor’s degree in
human resources, communications, business management, or psychology is
preferred. A degree in psychology can be very beneficial as it can provide an
additional insight into how people work, and can give someone an upper hand in
mediation and conflict resolution. For some positions, a master’s degree may be
essential, but for many, it is not required. That being said, having a master’s
degree in anything from a psychology related field, human resources, to business
administration, may be incredibly beneficial in providing someone with a wider
skillset that will help them to thrive.
 Sources:
i. https://study.com/articles/
How_to_Become_a_Human_Resource_Manager_Education_and_Career_
Roadmap.html

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

(f) If you can start this career after a bachelor’s degree, please answer the following.
 What are some ways that you can learn more about this career while you are an
undergraduate?
i. By shadowing someone in a human resources or management
position, this would allow me to gain valuable insight into what the
career would entail. Additionally, working in any customer service
related field would be helpful in giving me an understanding of some
of the duties and responsibilities of the career.
 What are some ways that you can acquire some skills that will make you
attractive to people hiring for this career while you are an undergraduate?
i. I think it is important to make sure I have a good understanding of
the policies and morals of the companies that I am planning on
working for. It will be good for me to research the company and the
position prior to the interview process, as it will make the hiring
committee see my dedication and commitment to the position. I think
it will also be helpful for me to get more experience in customer
service positions so that I can increase my skillset in professional
interactions with others. Another way I could acquire more skills that
will make me desirable will be through taking more leadership
positions. Leadership positions will help me to see the difficulties that
come with being a leader and how to thrive best and help others while
being in that role.
 What opportunities are there for advancement with this career? Are those of
interest to you?
i. A position in human resources starts with the role of human resources
specialist. After a few years in that position, an individual may be
eligible for a position higher up, as human resources manager.
Human resources managers typically have more responsibility and
oversee more than human resources specialists are, but both are
incredibly valuable to ensuring a corporation is running smoothly. I
would definitely be interested in advancement in this career, as
human resources manager would be my ultimate goal. I want to have
sufficient experience and feel capable before moving to that position,
but ultimately, I want to have more responsibility in that role and the
“manager” title is very appealing to me.

Part 2: Career #2.

[Research Career #2 enough to address the same questions. ]
My Career #2 - Position in Student Affairs at a University
(a) What does this person do, both in general and on a day to day basis? What are the
expected hours and time off (if available).

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

a. Student affairs is a very varied field, and can include many different
departments. Some of these roles could include Residence Hall Director, Dean
of Students, Academic or Career Advisor, and many more. There are many
different departments of a university that an individual may work in, including
Financial Aid, Career Services, Residential Life, Orientation, and many more.
Day to day job activities vary on the position, but many work typical 40 hour
work weeks, often 8-5, Monday through Friday. Some positions, such as
Residential Life, may run on very different schedules, but may offer benefits,
such as free housing, that other positions are not able to offer. Student Affairs
has a lot of flexibility and allows for a lot of opportunity to move around in
different departments, depending on one’s interests. It is common for
individuals in these positions to work throughout the year, with shorter breaks
around the holidays.
Sources:
o http://www.myacpa.org/considering-career-student-affairs

(b) What is the starting pay range for a person in this field?
a. There is variation in pay as there are many different positions. For the higher
end of the spectrum (a director of student affairs) an annual salary could be
around $60,000. The website below provides a much more detailed list of
what different positions may make.
https://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/salaryDisplay.cfm?SurveyID=23

(c) What is the demand for a person in this field?

 Higher education is a constantly evolving field, so new ideas and new
people are always going to be beneficial. Some universities may be
affected by budget cuts and may lack positions, but that varies by state and
by institution.
 https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/working-in-higher-education-
careers-and-trends/

(d) How do the goals of this career fit with your values, interests, skills and needs? (Tie
this back to your self-assessments from Psychology 207 with references to the
chapters).
a. As stated previously, there are many different opportunities within Student
Affairs. Many of the skills that are transferrable for nearly all positions in
student affairs include: working in a team, being a leader, being an effective
communicator, professionalism, and passion for what you do. These are all
characteristics that are important to me, and I think I possess most of them
(although I always have more to learn, and I have a desire to improve my
abilities).
b. Sources:
i. http://reslife.web.unc.edu/2012/10/22/top-10-skills-employers-seek/

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

ii. https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/working-in-higher-
education-careers-and-trends/

(e) What education beyond a bachelor’s degree is required for this field? Are there
licensing requirements or certification requirements in the state, and if so, what are
they? If no degree is required beyond a bachelors, are there specific skills that you
will need? Should you consider completing a minor or dual major to get these skills?
a. Typically, a master’s degree is necessary to work in the field of higher
education. For some positions, a bachelor’s degree may be acceptable. It is
important to have experience working with people, communicating, and being
professional. There are no certification or licensure requirements that are
necessary.

(f) If the job requires further education, read about 2 programs where you might get that
education and summarize what you find.
University Name and
Program Name
Degree offered
Admissions requirements
Degree requirements
Educational format
Most interesting parts of the
curriculum to you
Parts of the curriculum that
are not appealing to you
Any placement data
provided on the website?
Program 1
Missouri State University
Department of Counseling,
Leadership and Special
Education
Student Affairs in Higher
Education Graduation
Program
GPA of at least 2.75, GRE
score of 290 combined,
statement of purpose,
completion of necessary
forms
45 hours with GPA = 3.0 or
above
Qualification Exam,
Research
In person, full time
Everyone has to complete a
portfolio of their
accomplishments
The price
None found
Program 2
University of Missouri-
Kansas City School of
Education
MA in Higher
Education
Administration
GPA of at least 3.0
Completion of
Bachelor’s degree
Completion of
necessary forms
6-9 credit hours per
semester, often
completed in 5
semesters
Online and in person,
evening, designed for
the working person
They have different
special interests areas,
which is cool
The UMKC website is
difficult to navigate and
it can be difficult to find
information
none

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

Cost: Around $15,000 per year; They don’t lay it out

typically completed in three specifically
years
Funding provided for Students must have either a They discuss options for
students: graduate assistantship or a scholarships and loan
position in student affairs at forgiveness possibilities
the university to be admitted
to the program
(g)
Overall I am very intrigued by this program, I think Seems interesting, definitely
though it has a lot of great components to it and it worth looking into a bit more
ts is definitely an option for me to consider
about
this
progra
m:
Websit https://education.missouristate.edu/ https://education.umkc.edu/
e StudentAffairs/assistantships.htm students/scholarships-and-
used: financial-aid/
Did No No
you
contact
anyone
to get
more
inform
ation
about
this
progra
m?

Part 3: Evaluation
In one paragraph (100-150 words), summarize which of these two options is more appealing to
you at the moment and why. Make sure you refer to the relevant data from your analyses.
I think that a position in Higher Education and Student Affairs is most appealing to me
currently. While it is a position that requires a Master’s degree, there are often a lot of
opportunities to get involved in their field while obtaining that degree. Higher education is
always a very growing field, and there are lots of positions available. That being said, with
budget cuts that may be happening in a state, universities are very susceptible to having a lack of
funding, which may mean that positions get cut. If I make sure to get engaged in the field, I think

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

I may have a good shot at getting a position. I am open to moving around, which I think could
help my chances at a career in this field. There is a lot of opportunity for growth in this field
which is very appealing to me.

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 Psychology 307 Final Project Directions

Scoring Rubric: (Total is out of 60 points)

Does not meet Marginal Proficient/ Meets Exceeds

expectations Expectations expectations
(0-5) (6-7) (8-9) (10)

Completeness The assignment is Intermediary The assignment is The assignment is

Evaluated twice— missing major between the two largely complete or is complete and the
once for Career 1 sections. categories technically complete responses reflect
and once for Career but with responses that serious attention to
2 are minimal. what was being
asked.
Documentation The assignment is Intermediary The assignment is The assignment is
/Research mostly the student’s between the two grounded in the clearly grounded in
Evaluated twice— opinion and does not categories available information the available
once for Career 1 reflect a serious but there are areas information,
and once for Career amount of thought where the depth of the provides all
2 and research. research that was done citations, and
is adequate but not reflects efforts to
exemplary. For provide the most
example, people thorough answers
research national possible.
trends but provide no
information about the
job market they are
planning to work in
(e.g., KC or MO)
Evaluation (Part 3) The evaluation Intermediary The evaluation is The evaluation is
expresses an opinion between the two generally thorough; it thorough and
but the “why” of the categories draws on draws on
opinion is not information relevant information from
grounded or to both careers but all aspects of the
minimally grounded may ignore multiple two careers (e.g.,
in the data collected aspects. (e.g., fit, fit, education,
for Parts 1 and 2 education, required, required, values,
values, cost, etc.) cost, etc.)
Communication There are numerous Intermediary There are some errors The document is
(Graded once for errors in between the two but they are not well-written and
the entire punctuation, categories serious enough to easy for the reader
document) capitalization, detract from the ability to understand.
grammar etc. or to understand what the There are minimal
there are writer is trying to errors to detract
ambiguous communicate. from the intended
/incomplete communication.
sentences that make
it difficult for the
reader to
comprehend what is
attempting to be
communicated.