This course provides an overview of professional development for business students. It will be a combination of online and in-person sessions held once per week. The course objectives are for students to discuss competencies in a business ecosystem, research current business issues, create a professional brand and portfolio, collaborate to provide feedback, and develop a professional development plan. Assignments include discussions, informational interviews, resumes and cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and presentations. The final project is a brag book and portfolio of professional materials for students' career development.

1. 1
Central Washington University
College of Business
BUS 301: Professional Development in the Contemporary Business World
Spring Quarter (Classroom & Online)
In-Person Instructor: Angela Engel, M.A.
Email: EngelA@cwu.edu
Phone: 206-439-3800 extension 3841
Office Hours: by appointment, Room 208
Online Instructor: Ashlee Norris, M.Ed., Ed.D.
Email: ANorris@cwu.edu
Phone: 206-439-3800 extension 3818
Office Hours: by appointment
Overview of this Course
This course will be a combination of classroom and online sessions. As a student of this course,
you will be encouraged and expected to research and learn about modern business,
corresponding issues, and your own preparation to professionally navigate your development in
the business world. Your final work products will be your own real-world portfolio of
professional development resources you can use to jumpstart your career.
This course will be a combination of online work and classroom sessions. Classroom sessions
will be held once weekly. Online sessions will be a combination of synchronous and
asynchronous learning held between classroom sessions.
In-person class, online engagement and assignments consist of:
● Links to short videos
● Peer and Instructor feedback
● Articles and case studies
● Classroom lecture and activities
● Reflection questions
● Guided practice
Course Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
● Discuss the various competencies in a typical business ecosystem and how your future
role may relate.
● Demonstrate capability to research and discuss current business issues and events.
● Create and maintain your professional brand, goals, cover letter, resume, and professional
connections.
● Collaborate with instructors, classmates, and other professionals to give/receive feedback
on your work to build a portfolio of your professional work.
● Chart a future facing professional development plan.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.

2. 2
Participation and Attendance
You will be expected to attend and participate in all classroom sessions and to arrive BEFORE
the start of class. If you need to miss a classroom session, please email your instructors at least 2
hours before class. If you do not email the instructor, points will be deducted. If you attend
class, but arrive late or do not participate such as putting your head down or keeping your
headphones in, points will be deducted.
Cellphones and texting are NOT permitted during class.
Late Policy
You may submit assignments late. For each day that your assignment is past the due date, 1
point will be deducted. For online assignments, you can submit the late assignment through
canvas. For in person assignments, you can submit late assignments to your instructor.
Technology Requirements
This course relies heavily on streaming media. You must have easy access to a computer with
strong internet capabilities and a high-speed internet connection, since you will expected to
stream video regularly from online sources. The standard software to use during this course is:
● Microsoft OFFICE 2007 or higher (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
● Access to Canvas
● Highline College computer login capability
Visit Highline College Building 30 to obtain your HCC sign-on permission.
Required Resources
● Wildcat Career Network (Students have automatic access.)
● Required readings will be available on Canvas.
Optional Texts
• Student can either utilize the CWU library or research requested information online.
• Other information can be found on Canvas and will be noted by instructor.
Academic Dishonesty
The above grading policy is based on the student's strict observance of WAC 106-102---
STUDENT JUDICIAL CODE, especially Part II, Sub-part B, regarding ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY. A student who is in violation of the Code WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF
"F" IN THIS CLASS, and will be subject to further disciplinary action in accordance with
University Policy (WAC 106-72-005).
Students with Disabilities
Students wishing to request disability accommodations should contact Disability Services (DS)
to first register as a student with disabilities, then accommodations are determined on an
individual basis by DS staff. For Des Moines students contact Ashlee Norris, Associate Director
for Westside Student Life, Anorris@cwu.edu

3. 3
Accommodations for Religious Observances: It is the responsibility of the student to notify the
instructor in a timely manner concerning an accommodation. If any student will require
academic accommodations for a religious observance, please provide the instructors with a
request by the end of the second week of the course or as soon as you are aware of the need, such
as a funeral service.
Assignment Submission Guidelines
Assignments listed under In-person, you will need to print out the assignment and bring it to
class with you. Assignments listed under Online, you will submit those using Canvas. Be sure
to include your name, section, course number at the top of your assignment. All assignments
will be grading using Canvas. We encourage you to access the Writing Center for support at
http://www.cwu.edu/des-moines/writing-center
Grading Expectations
All assignments will be grammatically correct, no spelling errors, and must be submitted in a
professional format in order to receive the full points. Assignments turned in late will have points
deducted.
Grade Scale:
A (4.0): 93.0-100%
A- (3.7): 90.0-92.9%
B+ (3.3): 87.0-89.9%
B (3.0): 83.0-86.9%
B- (2.7): 80.0-82.9%
C+ (2.3): 77.0-79.9%
C (2.0): 73.0-76.9%
C- (1.7): 70.0-72.9%
D+ (1.3): 67.0-69.9%
D (1.0): 63.0-66.9%
D- (0.7): 60.0-62.9%
Less than 60%: F (0.0)

4. 4
Course Overview
*More details can be found on Canvas. Some items will be only be visible and others will be
unlocked as we progress throughout the quarter.
Week Day In-person/
Online
Topics/Assignment/Activity
Week 1 29-Mar Online Review Syllabus, Discussion 1, Sign up for Puget Sound
Business Journal, and Extra Credit Opportunities
31-Mar In-person Course Introduction and Dependable Strengths
Week 2 5-Apr Online Discussion 2 and What can I do with the major worksheet
Assignment
7-Apr In-person Dependable Strengths in Class Activity
Week 3 12-Apr Online Professional Brand Assignment and Discussion 3
14-Apr In-person Wildcat Career Network & Conducting Industry Research
Week 4 19-Apr Online Elevator Speech and Peer Review Assignments
21-Apr In-person Resumes and Cover Letter Writing
Week 5 26-Apr Online LinkedIn Overview, LinkedIn Assignment, and Discussion 4
28-Apr In-person LinkedIn: Design Your Profile Presentation & Profile Picture
Taken
Week 6 3-May Online SMART Goals Assignment and Informational Interview
Assignment
6-May In-person 2nd
Drafts of Cover Letter and Resume Writing
Week 7 10-May Online Discussion 5
12-May In-person Interview Preparation
Week 8 17-May Online Thank you Note from your Informational Assignment
19-May In-person Preparing for Mock Interview and Salary Negotiation
Week 9 24-May Online Mock Interview Preparation
26-May In-person Mock Interview In-Person Assignment
Week
10
31-May Online Prepare for your Final Presentation
2-Jun In-person Final Presentations
Week
11
7-Jun Online Prepare for your Final Presentation
9-Jun In-person Final Presentations

5. 5
Assignments
*More details can be found on canvas. Some items will be only be visible and others will be
unlocked as we progress throughout the quarter.
Assignments Due Date
Total Point
Value
In-Person or
Online
Submission
Attendance and Participation Every in
class
period
100 In-Person
Sign up for Puget Sound Business Journal 5-Apr 10 Online
Discussion 1 5-Apr 10 Online
Dependable Strengths Story Building
Worksheet
7-Apr 20 In-Person
What can I do with this major worksheet 12-Apr 10 Online
Discussion 2 12-Apr 10 Online
Professional Brand Statement Worksheet 19-Apr 10 Online
Discussion 3 19-Apr 10 Online
Find Job Announcement related to your career
field using the Wildcat Career Network system
and print out.
21-Apr 10 In-Person
Update Profile on the Wildcat Career Network 21-Apr 10 Online
Employer Research Worksheet 21-Apr 20 In-Person
Elevator Speech Video 26-Apr 20 Online
Resume Preparation Portfolio 28-Apr 50 In-Person
Peer Review of 2 Elevator Speeches 3-May 10 Online
SMART goals worksheet 10-May 10 Online
Discussion 4 10-May 10 Online
Draft 1 Resume 12-May 50 In-Person
Draft 1 Cover Letter 12-May 50 In-Person
Discussion 5 17-May 10 Online
Interview Preparation Worksheet 19-May 20 In-Person
Meet with Career Counselor to Review Cover
Letter and Resume drafts
May 17-
May 24
20 In-Person
LinkedIn Profile 26-May 50 Online
Informational Interview 26-May 50 In-Person
Mock Interview in class assignment 26-May 50 In-Person
Draft 2-Targeted Resume 26-May Grade will be
factored into
the final draft.
In-Person

6. 6
Assignments Due Date
Total Point
Value
In-Person or
Online
Submission
Draft 2-Targeted Cover Letter 26-May Grade will be
factored into
the final draft.
In-Person
Thank you note from Informational Interview 31-May 10 Online
Final-Targeted Resume 6-Jun 50 In-Person
Final-Targeted Cover Letter 6-Jun 50 In-Person
Final Presentation 9-Jun 20 In-Person
Brag Book 9-June 20 In-Person