Semester One:

The first semester is composed of three modules: self-advocacy, fundamentals of reading, and the foundations of communication.  The modules are designed to build skills that will create success in the workplace.  The advocacy module identifies personal strengths to increase self-efficacy relative to persistence and responsibility.  The reading module includes fundamental skill development designed to improve comprehension in a typical workplace setting.   Communication I is designed to focus on communication and relationship skills building in personal and later workplace interactions.

Self-Advocacy
    Personal strengths and their relationship to success in college and work
    Individual preliminary education goal setting
    Strategies for self-advocacy, self-disclosure
    Public speaking
    Personal wellness

Fundamentals of Reading
    Reading comprehension
    Vocabulary development
    Active reading
    Reading strategies

Communication I
    Elements of communication – listener, sender, non-verbal cues
    Personal skills
    Interpersonal relationships – communication for the situation, conflict resolution.  

Semester Two:

The second semester of the program builds on the skills the students mastered in the first semester.  Acceptance into the Institute and completion of the CSI I or equivalent as determined by the program coordinator is required for registration.  Career Skills Institute II is composed of 3 modules: English Composition, Self-Management, and Consumer Math. These modules are designed to build skills that will create success in this program and later, in the workplace. 

English Composition
    Sentence structure, working on paragraphs
    Basic composition skills 
    Grammar

Self-Management
    Computer and technology skills
    Health and well being
    Decision making and prioritization
    Conflict resolution
    Relationships and socialization

Consumer Math
    Computation including percentages, fractions
    Time and elapsed time
    Money including credit and debit cards
    Budgeting, income, expenses, and needs vs wants

Semester 3:

Semester III is composed of career exploration, employment/life survival skills, and workplace communication.  These modules are designed to build skills that will create success in the workplace.  Students will learn self-assessment of career interests and qualifications, interviewing skills, and use of written and spoken communication in the workplace.  Career Skills Institute III builds on skills the students have mastered in the first two semesters.  Acceptance into the Institute and completion of year one (or equivalent as determined by the program coordinator) is required for registration

Career Exploration
    Understanding Strengths and creating Personal Biography
    Personal and job assessments
    Education and work experience, resume refinement
    Career Interests balanced with strengths, capabilities and skill enhancement
    Job search
    Application and Interview Process

Employment / Life Survival Skills
    Time Management
    Stress Management
    Appropriateness in the workplace
    Employment practices:  protocols, benefits, employee handbooks
    Job retention

Workplace Communication
    Workplace applications
    Communication formats – phone, email, social media, written
    Interpersonal relations, working as a team 


Semester 4:

Career Skills Institute IV is the fourth and final semester of the Career Skills Institute program at Harper College and builds on skills the students have mastered in the first three semesters.  Career Skills Institute IV is composed of two modules: Career Exploration II and Workplace Experience.  Career Exploration II focuses on creating resumes, finding work opportunities, filling out applications and interviewing tips. Workplace Experience gives students the opportunity to apply learned skills in a workplace setting. These modules allow for discussion of experiences and workplace practices. They are designed to build skills that will create success in the workplace and take advantage of the students’ strengths and capabilities. 

Workplace Experience/Internship on campus
    Orientation
    Individual internship experience with one of twenty internship sites on campus
    Employer expectations
    Skill development and capability advancement
    Resolving workplace challenges

Career Exploration
    Resume building and refinement
    Communication methods with hiring managers and employees
    Application process
    Improving interview skills
 

To Apply to the CSI program, please fill out this application. Once completed, the application will be routed directly to Admissions.

For more information or to schedule a private tour and student interview, please contact:
Eric Wiebe, Program Manager, we38933@harpercollege.edu or 847-925-6161

Thank you for your interest.