Course # / Title:	MBU 4015.01 Senior Capstone
Semester:	Summer 2009
Instructor:	Larry Wacholtz, Ph.D.
Instructor Contacts:	Office 460-5437 Email: larry.wacholtz@belmont.edu
Instructor Office Hours:	Room 224 M-F 8:30-9:30 am
Course Credit:	1 Credits
Class Location:	TBA and on line @ blackboard
Meeting Time(s):	TBA and on line @ blackboard
Final Exam:	Career Development Plan

Course Description: Prerequisites: Senior standing and approval of academic advisor. To be taken the final semester in residence before graduation.  This course is designed to be a culminating experience in the major, and also addresses the goals for the Senior Capstone as defined in the BELL Core curriculum, including reflection on the student's academic experience and on their transition from the university setting to professional life. This course comprises an in-depth integration and application of the student's personal experiences, opportunities, and ambitions as related to their anticipated career and life objectives within the global entertainment industry. Through the use of analysis and discussion of texts, case studies, guest speakers, field trips, written assignments, and personal journal reflections, this course examines the student's goals within the introspection of the Belmont Experience. Course assignments are due Friday of each week on line and not accepted late.  Test will be available on Friday of the specific week and must be taken by 5 pm.  Students will not be given a second opportunity to take any on line tests.  A final project incorporates the discussion of short- and long-term goals and a plan for the realization of these goals through three- and five-year timelines that are reflective of personal and professional ambitions. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to integrate the spiritual and ethical aspects of their goals as well as their transition from the university towards lifetime learning and professional growth. Course credit is Pass/Fail only.

Course Learning Outcomes: Students will demonstrate:

ú An ability to communicate effectively with contemporaries

ú An ability to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities within the music industry

ú A respect for diversity and a knowledge of contemporary professional, societal and global issues

ú A commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement

ú An appreciation for life through the arts, humanities, religion, social sciences, and natural sciences

Performance Criteria: Students will:

ú Exercise written and oral communication skills

ú Observe guidelines of social responsibility in the leadership role

Honor Code:  It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code.  “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

Accommodation of Disabilities:  In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

Course Requirements:

A.  Attendance:  Missing more than 2 Friday online session/classes will result in failure of class by student. 

B.  Materials: 

Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer.

Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl

C.  Assignments:

1. Write a reflection paper (2-3 pages) on each of the required texts and video.

2. Write a short paper on the charity of their choice.

3. Prepare a professional resume if you do not have one.

4. Attend two Belmont and Beyond events (see attached list).

5. Complete a Career Development Plan-See Attached.

6. Complete the money part of the Career Development Plan or The Business Plan Pro software for starting a business.

D.  Testing:  

Each textbook will have an on line test that must be completed by 5pm Friday of the specific week.  Make up exams are not allowed.  A grade of 70 is required for passing.

E. Basis of grade evaluation:

Course is a pass/fail course. In order to pass, students must successfully complete all on line assignments and pass the on line exams with at least a basic score of 70.  Students must also attend and participate in Friday class discussions.  Failed assignments will be returned to the student to be redone once.  If an assignment is not passed the second time you will not pass the class.

Class Schedule: on line by week

Class Schedule: classroom meeting (my office-Friday’s at 11:30)

Week		Week	Due		Assignments	Required work on line by to be completed by Friday
June 8-12		1^st  Week	One-Line		(1) Read Man’s Search for Meaning (2) Push the button Assignment	(1) Write Reflection Paper Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl (2) Test on Frankl Book (3) Write your Obituary
Friday June 12 In the classroom (my office)		1^st Week	Classroom		(1) Man’s Search for Meaning-Class Discussion (2) Who Am I? (3) Push the Button-Exercise (4) Purpose of a Resume
June 15-19		2^nd Week	On-Line		(1) Read Who Moved My Cheese- (2) Write an advertisement About yourself for a dating service. (3) Write a Professional Resume	(1) Write Reflection Paper on Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson. (2) Submit the advertisement about yourself for a dating service (3) Submit your professional resume (4) Test on Who Moved My Cheese
Friday June 19, In the classroom (my office)		2^nd Week	Classroom		(1) Who Moved My Cheese-Class discussion (2) Discuss your one, three, five, and ten-year career goals. (3) Giving Back
June 22-26		3^rd Week	On-Line		(1) Watch Maxed Out (2) Finances, Marriage, Children and other grown up things. (3) Dealing with Change.	(1) Write and submit your 1, 5, and 10 year career goals (2) Write a reflection paper on the video Maxed Out (3) Select a charity and write a short description on why you support it.
Friday June 26, In the classroom (my office)		3^rd Week	Classroom		(1) Discussion of video Maxed Out (2) Career Development Plan-Introduction
	June 29-July 3	4^th Week	On-line	(1) Read Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer. (2) Work on Your Develop Plan and answer questions as listed below.			(1) Write Reflection Paper on Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer (2) Complete on-line test on Let Your Life Speak. (2) Work on your Career Development Plan
	Friday July 3, In the classroom (my office)	4^th Week	Classroom	(1) Discussion on book Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. (2) Review progress on Career Development Plan Project
	July 6-9	5^th  Week	On-Line	(1) Finish Career Develop Plan			(1) Submit on-line you Career Develop Plan and any additional Paper (course requirements) by Thursday July 9 by 5pm.

Career Development Plan

Assignment-Complete your own Career Development plan using the following steps.  Papers are due July 9, 2009 on-line.

1. Define your professional career.  (Push the button)

2. Research the Industry-go to www.firstgov.gov and use the government figures to determine the size, number of employees, gross income, for the career path you have selected.  Second, explain the operational definition of the business (what they do and how they do it.

3. List and describe the exact career position (entry level) you may be applying for.

4. What is your competitive advantage-List the variables that you perceive as making yourself a leading candidate to be hired.

5. List the top five companies in the industry you have targeted, provide a brief description of their mission, vision statements, corporate plans for the future (see the website for corporate annual reports).  Also provide their corporate headquarter addresses, website information and phone numbers.

6. Name the top CEO, COO etc., of each company and give a brief description (Paragraph) of their career paths and goals (see website for leadership personal descriptions).

7. List the current positions available at the five corporations/businesses your have selected.
8. List your one-year short-term goal(s).
9. List your three-year short-term goal(s)

10. List your five-years long-term goal(s).

11. List your ten-year long-term goal(s)

12. Attach your resume.

13. Complete the attached personal expense sheet.

14. In no more than two paragraphs explain your strategic plan for successfully landing a desired position at one of the five selected companies (how you plan to get the job-tied to your image) and: (2) explain your strategy and define how you are qualified for the position-shameless self promotion tied to publicity, promotion, and knowledge.