By RAYMOND ADEEKO

Staff Writer

A new course will be offered this spring by Counseling Services to teach students about career development and decision making.

EDCI 289B will be taught by Ron Cathey, coordinator of career development programs and a master career development professional.

Cathey said the program will be a two-hour credit class designed for students who desire to know more about choosing careers.

"The course is not only for students who need to decide on a major or career, it is also good for somebody who's made a decision on a career," Cathey said.

The program will focus on providing students with the opportunity to learn and nurture essential skills needed to engage in life or career planning, Cathey said. He also said the students will be taught vocational concepts and applications that deal with self-assessment, professional exploration and decision making.

"We study about good decision theory and apply it on making good decisions," Cathey said. "We also learn how to evaluate social, economic and family relations and how changes in these aspects could affect career choices."

Ashley Metcalf, a freshman basic and career studies major, said she likes the idea of the class because with the help of licensed professionals, it makes career decision making easier for students.

"The class gives a jumpstart on deciding what [the students] need to do," Metcalf said. "It's good to have people who know what they are doing to help you decide what to do."

Cathey said the course also teaches tactics for applying educational development plans as well as possessing employability skills.

He said this portion of the class will be taught in collaboration with the Career Center.

"The [Career Center] will help the students develop writing cover letters and resumes for job applications," Cathey said. "They are experts who can help fine tune your resume to get the job you want."

Robert Burt, coordinator of study skills program and national testing program, said he approves of the program because of the career consciousness it will provide for the students.

"It will be beneficial, because it moves [students] towards vocational awareness, and they learn in a short period who they are, what they like," Burt said. "It also gives them an idea about vocational careers."

Cathey said the class is a good opportunity that offers students an academic avenue for career development.

He said the class is a 200-level course open to all majors and classifications, but the emphasis is on freshman and sophomore students.

However, upper classmen are welcome to attend.

The course will be taught Thursdays from 4 until 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Cathey at 257-2488 or rcathey@latech.edu.