At the annual Summer Institute hosted by the Faculty Center For Teaching and Learning, faculty across disciplines recently shared how they redesigned courses for the Career Foundations designation—and their biggest takeaway was clear:
You don’t need to start from scratch to make a meaningful impact.
This session was organized by Classroom to Careers track leaders Emily Flositz with the Dixon Career Development Center and Dr. Saleem Sahawneh from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Faculty Fellow with Career Services for 2025-2026. They invited faculty members who successfully submitted a course to receive the Career Foundations Course Designation from Career Services in fall 2025 to speak on their experience and offer advice and insights into aligning curriculum with career readiness.
Featured speakers:
Anne Prucha & Kacie B. Tartt | College of Arts and Humanities | Modern Languages and Literatures
Bethany Coz | College of Health Professions and Sciences | Health Sciences
Dr. Carlos Valdez | College of Business | Integrated Business
Dr. Michelle Dusseau | College of Sciences | Communication
Dr. Sharon Woodill | College of Community Innovation and Education | Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. Amy M. Gregory | Rosen College of Hospitality Management | Foodservice and Lodging Management
Visit https://career.ucf.edu/career-foundations to learn more about the course designation program and expectations. Submission deadline is September 4th.
THEIR INSIGHTS AND ADVICE:
1. Start with What You Already Do
Most faculty found they were already teaching career-relevant skills like communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. The key was making those connections explicit.
- Add reflection or career-focused prompts to existing assignments
- Align activities with NACE competencies
- Emphasize how coursework builds professional skills
Tip: Don’t reinvent—refine and reframe.
2. Use the Rubric as Your Blueprint
The Career Foundations rubric serves as a practical guide for course design.
- Build or adapt assignments to meet each requirement
- Use small, intentional activities to cover competencies
- Prioritize alignment over complexity
Tip: You only need to meet the requirements—enhancements to course content can come later.
3. Design Assignments That Mimic Real Career Tasks
High-impact courses asked students to do what professionals do.
Examples include:
- Researching employers or graduate programs
- Creating SMART goals and career action plans
- Mapping career paths (“reverse engineering” a dream job)
- Practicing interviews, presentations, or role plays
Tip: Focus on how students can apply what they’re learning.
4. Make Career Connections Visible
Students don’t always recognize career development unless it’s clearly communicated.
- Explain the purpose behind assignments
- Link activities directly to career skills
- Label competencies in your syllabus or assignments
Tip: If students don’t see the value, they’re less likely to engage.
5. Leverage Resources and Partnerships
You don’t have to do this alone.
Faculty highlighted the value of:
- Career Services tools (e.g., VMock, workshops, Handshake)
- Ready-to-use assignments and templates
- Guest speakers, alumni, and employer engagement
- NACE Career Readiness Competency Framework (https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/)
Tip: Many resources from the Dixon Career Development Center are plug-and-play, reducing faculty workload.
Final Takeaway
Infusing career readiness isn’t about adding more—it’s about making learning more intentional, visible, and connected to students’ futures.
Want to learn more about the Career Foundations Course Designation at UCF? Contact careereducation@ucf.edu.
