UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
                          STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

                       WOMEN'S STUDIES INTERNSHIP SEMINAR
                             A WSS 392-SPRING 1994
                                 Carol Reichert

This course is a requirement for Women's Studies Majors.  It is offered
to all students who have completed WSS 210, Introduction to Feminisms, with
permission of the instructor.

                                SEMINAR OUTLINE
                                ---------------

The purposes of the Seminar are:
     (a) To give interns a forum for putting their work experience into a
         broader context.
     (b) To help interns understand the variety of challenges facing women
         individually and collectively in the work world.
     (c) To test careers by exploration or confirmation of career choices
         leading to self-understanding and the use of career assessment skills.

The required books are:

     Betty Lehan Harragan, Games Mother Never Taught You.
                           -----------------------------
     Gerri Bloomberg & Margaret Holden, The Women's Job Search Handbook.
                                        -------------------------------
     Ann Wilson Schaef, Women's Reality.
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All of these are available in the campus bookstore.


January 20
       Topics: - Introduction and expectations.
               - The Internships

January 27
       Topics: - The concept of "career personality type."
               - Skills assessment.
     Readings: - Schaef, Ch.1, 1-20
               - Bloomberg & Holden, Ch.1,2
   Assignment: - 1. Hand in sheet with your name, mentor's name, hours and
                    duties for internship.
                 2. Following the discussion of "The Party", write a minimum of
                    2 vignettes and 2 corresponding skills lists.

February 3
       Topics: - Skills assessment, continued.
               - Prioritizing the "where."
     Readings: - Schaef, Ch.2, 23-50

February 10      Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Personal Power.
     Readings: - Bloomberg & Holden, Ch.3,4

February 24      Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Interviewing
     Readings: - Schaef, Ch.3,53-66
  Assignments: - Action Plans due.

March 3          Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Individual and Personal Power
               - Resume writing
     Readings: - Bloomberg & Holden, Ch.5
  Assignments: - Assessment of internship strengths and weaknesses due.

March 10         Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Organizational norms and culture
     Readings: - Harragan, 19-65

March 17         Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Organizational Power
     Readings: - Harragan, 66-95
  Assignments: - Resumes due.

March 24         Panel
       Topics: - Multiple Roles and Superwomen
     Readings: - Bloomberg & Holden, Ch.6
               - Harragan, 117-139; 227-257
               - Schaef, Ch.4, 69-80; 85-87

April 7          Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Individual Strategies for Change
     Readings: - Harragan, 143-173
               - Bloomberg & Holden, Ch.7
  Assignments: - Construct an organizational chart of your internship.

April 14         Mentor's Reception
     Readings: - Harragan, 325-384
               - Schaef, Ch.5, 99-124
  Assignments: - Informational Interviews due.

April 21         Guest Speaker
       Topics: - Political Strategies for Change
     Readings: - Schaef, Ch.5, 124-145; Ch.6 & 7, 147-169

April 28
       Topics: - wrap-up
               - course evaluation
               - self evaluation



                           INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Devise and write up your action plan for the semester.
   Due February 24; 25% of grade.

2. Develop a written assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as manifested
   in your internship experience to date.  Include a discussion of how you
   plan to build on your strengths and address your weaknesses.
   Due March 3; 15% of grade.

3. Write your resume, lay it out, and type it.  When you submit it in class, it
   should be in the form you expect to present to employers.
   Due March 17; 15% of grade.

4. Conduct an information interview with a person outside of your internship.
   Write up the interview, discussing: What you were trying to find out;
   what you did find out; which questions you would add, subtract, or multiply
   next time and why.
   Due April 14; 10% of grade.

5. Host, with a partner, one of our guest speakers.  Four responsibilites
   include:
     Contacting the speaker to give her information about:
        - where and when the class meets
        - how long she will spend with us
        - what the topic is we want to focus on
        - where to park and how to find the classroom
     Greeting the speaker
     Introducing her to the class (for this you will need information from her)
     Facilitating discussion with her
     Thanking her in class and with a follow up letter
   10% of grade.

6. Conduct a written evaluation of your semester's work, including:
     How well you completed your action plan.
     How well you built on strengths and addressed weaknesses.
     A career action plan:
        (a) for the next 6 months
        (b) for the next 5 years
   Due April 28; 25% of grade.


Please remember you are expected to spend a minimum of 9 hours per week at
your internship.  Mentors will be evaluating you using the "Mentor Evaluation
Form" at mid-semester and semester's end.  The internship is graded S/U.  In
order to pass, you must have at least a satisfactory rating on 80% of the
items.

You are expected to be at your internship without fail according to your
understanding with your mentor.  You must make up any time missed.
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