Effectiveness of an Online Psychology Career Course on Undergraduates’ Career Decision Self-Efficacy, Self-Perceived Career Knowledge and Career-Related Knowledge

Abstract

Many universities have established career courses in psychology, with such goals as increasing students’ knowledge of career opportunities, alleviating anxiety about and increasing students’ confidence in the career decision-making process, and helping students learn to identify and articulate their competencies related to the workforce and/or graduate programs. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured career course in psychology/neuroscience recently moved to the online modality and extended to a full semester.  One hundred and seventy-eight students enrolled in a career planning course required for undergraduate psychology and neuroscience majors completed assessments at the beginning and end of the semester. Results showed students’ career decision self-efficacy and self-perceived knowledge of career opportunities increased significantly from the beginning to the end of the course.  Additionally, students displayed significantly more accurate career related knowledge at the end compared to the beginning of the semester. Gender differences were found, with women scoring lower than men on career decision self-efficacy and self-perceived knowledge of career opportunities at the beginning of the semester; these differences disappeared by the end of the semester. The results of this study provide further support for the effectiveness of career courses, the online modality, and the need for additional universities, as well as majors, to incorporate career courses in their curriculum