INTL 499: Senior Seminar

This course is designed to be a "capstone" course as you complete your studies at VCU with a major in International Studies. To that end, we will look back on what you have done and learned while participating in the International Studies Program, and look forward to the practical matters of application to graduate programs and/or entering the job market with the skills that you have developed over the past years at VCU.

This is a 1-credit course that will meet over the span of the spring semester. There will be four major assignments.. Satisfactory completion of all four will earn a grade of "A." Satisfactory completion of 3 a "B," of 2 a "C," 1 a "D."

We will meet together on the dates highlighted below. Additional meetings may be added depending on our progress in working toward the course objectives, as they are outlined in the course description:

Class procedures: http://international-studies.net/VCUpages.htm

Please notice that this largely a self-directed course which, at the same time, provides full opportunity for guidance. We hope that these features,, in combinaation, will provide an excellent learning experience in your senior year at VCU.

. .......Kazan

Assignment 1 (due Feb. 29): Develop a portfolio collection of syllabi, papers, exams, and assignments that correspond to the courses you have taken to fulfill the INTL major requirements. Reflecting on what you have learned and what questions/ideas continue to stimulate your interest and imagination, compose a 1.5-2 page paper. The guidelines below may help, and I will be happy to meet with you and discuss original conceptualizations or problems/challenges you may encounter. Also assemble documentation related to your experiential learning (internship, study abroad, service learning) and compose a 1 page paper reflecting on that experience including thoughts on how it may relate to or serve future work and/or study interests. This assignment, submitting your written reports on the portfolio is due Feb. 29. You should send it to me by email, and we will discuss your work on the 29th. Please come prepared to to make a 5-10 minute presentation in which you discuss learning and insights that have resulted from this assignment.

You may find resources such as these useful:

"Creating the Ultimate Teaching Interview Portfolio" (http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/employment/portfolios/)
"Caareer Portfolio" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_portfolio)

Assignment 2 (due March 7):: Identify your goals of graduate study and/or career/employment. List concrete places of interest to you for further study or work. Make at least three contacts, gathering information from particular graduate schools and/or job profiles and expectations at potential employment sites. This assignment, your list and notes concerning the contacts you made is due March 7 and should be submitted electronically by email.

Assignment 3 (due April 4): Visit the VCU Career Center to learn generally what they can do for you as a senior student and soon to be alumnus. Write a resume with the help of people at the Career Center. Compose a single page narrative about your interests and qualifications for graduate study and/or about your interests and skills relevant to work that you seek. This assignment is due April 4 and should be submitted electronically by email.

Assignment 4 (due April 25): Complete a web site that focuses on a theme in international studies that is important to you. Meet together on April 25 to discuss your work for the seminar.

Other projects are posssible for this assignment. Tell the class what you're thinking!