Take Harvard and MIT Classes for Free!

July 9, 2012

Two Elite Academic Institutions Are Using a New Online Education Initiative to Offer Students Free Courses
By Sarah Shemkus, Salary.com contributing writer

Two of the country’s premier academic institutions — the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University — have joined forces to launch an online education initiative that might just “reinvent education,” according to Anant Agarwal, president of the new program.

Dubbed edX, the program is based on MITx, a similar initiative launched by the science and technology school earlier this year. EdX will act as a sort of umbrella organization, allowing participating institutions to offer free, online courses from their curricula. Harvard and MIT are the initial partners in the program, but already other universities are expressing interest in participating, Agarwal said.

“We’ve had an extraordinary amount of interest from a large number of universities, in the United States and around the world,” he said.

There will be no admissions requirements; anyone with an internet connection and the drive to learn can enroll. The online courses are intended to be as rigorous as the versions offered to full-time students at Harvard and MIT. The online learning software platform used by edX was developed at MIT; courses will include videos, reading materials, and discussion forums that allow students to interact with instructors and each other.

Upon completion of courses, students will be able to pay a small fee to receive a certificate attesting that they mastered that material.

To learn more about this unique program and opportunity, or to read the article in its entirety, please click here.

Cougar Career Workshop Series – Fall 2011

September 5, 2011

Due to the popularity we saw in the Spring semester, the Career Center will be bringing back it’s Thursday night Cougar Career Workshop Series. In an effort to try and reach out to students and alumni that may not be able to access the Career Center during the day, the Career Center will be hosting workshops that focus on a different topic each week, including new topics not offered during the Spring.

Below is a list of the Fall 2011 workshops along with a flyer with more information on each. All workshops will be held in the Career Center (Lightsey Building, Room 216) from 5:30 – 6:30pm. For those workshops requiring registration, you can sign up for them by viewing the Events Calendar in CISTERNonline, and if you should have any questions about them, please contact Eric Anderson, Career Center Advisor, at 953-5693 / andersone@cofc.edu or Katie Smith, Internship Coordinator at 953-5694 / smithkl@cofc.edu.

Flyer: Fall 2011 Cougar Career Workshop Series

Fall Schedule

September 8th – Resume and Cover Letter 101

September 15th – Experience Matters – Internships

September 22nd – Is Graduate School Right for Me?: Preparing for Admission*

September 29th – Workplace Etiquette and Professional Image*

October 6th – What Employers are Saying about your Resume *

October 13th – How to Land a Great Job*

October 20th – Preparing for the Career Fair

October 27th – Recruiters Tell All – Panel*

November 3rd – Linked In: What Is it & How To Utilize it for Career Networking

November 10th – Tips for Sealing the Deal in a Big Interview

November 17th – Taking a Year off between School and Work: Pros & Cons

December 1st – Working for a Nonprofit: Dispelling the Myths*
In conjunction with the College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement

*Workshop space is limited and requires pre-registration.

How to Choose a Major

September 28, 2009

Click the link below to view an informative article on how to choose a major.

http://www.quintcareers.com/printable/choosing_major.html

For a more in-depth look at majors at the College of Charleston, please attend the “Choosing a Major at CofC” on October 6th, 2009 from 7pm until 8pm. The workshop will take place in Liberty Residence Hall Community Room. For more information, contact the Career Center at 843-953-5692.

Majoring in School!

March 16, 2009

What is a major? Not a hard question to answer is it? According to Dictionary.com it is “a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest and upon which a large share of his or her efforts are concentrated.” For example, if you are majoring in Business then you will primarily be studying the business world including market trends, management, advertising, and much more!

But did you catch the first part of the definition? It says “principal interest.” This means you should find an interest in what you are studying. I have talked with several students who claim they chose their major because it was recommended to them by family or friends. Or they chose biology because it makes a great degree to get into medical school. You should not choose your major based on other people’s suggestions, likes and dislikes, but based on your likes and dislikes.

Remember that a major does not equal a career. Just because you choose to study journalism does not mean you have to go into that career field. While in school you will have the opportunity to study a variety of subjects to build your knowledge and skill base; opportunities to complete internships and study abroad trips. It is those activities that will help you land the job of your choice. So if you want to major in art, theater, or some other subject area that you find enjoyment in then do so. Just remember to gain relevant experience in your other activities because those will go a long way to help you with your career goals.

Here are some things to consider when you are choosing your major:

  • What do you enjoy doing? Remember, you do not want to choose an area where you hate doing the work even if you are good at it.
  • Research different majors. Talk with faculty, students, and your career counselor about different majors you are considering. Get all the facts.
  • And last and most importantly remember that if you do not like your current major it is ok to change to another one. Most students switch majors while they are at school so you will not stick out if you do. Just remember the more you change your major the longer you may potentially be in school.

Have you had in Major dilemmas that you want to share?

Undecided about your major? Attend the Major/Minor Fair!

October 6, 2008

The Major/Minor Fair, hosted by the SGA, will be held on October 16th from 11am – 2pm on Physicians Promenade. This is an great opportunity for you, the undecided student, to learn about the variety of majors and minors offered at CofC. Also, it’s a chance for you to speak with faculty and other students about their respective major(s) – Ask questions, pick up some info, and who knows what else you may walk away with (freebies?!)…

Even if you’re not truly undecided, but have an idea about which major you intend to declare (or just haven’t committed to it on paper because you don’t know where the department is located) – this event is for you, too! Stop by and check it out on the 16th.

If you’re still having difficulty choosing a major after attending the fair, please contact your academic advisor in the Academic Advising and Planning Center or contact us at the Career Center for an appointment – we’re here to help!

Physics: A Major

October 17, 2007

Exactly what is a Physics Major?

Once again the course catalog has a wonderful description of this major: “[Physics] investigates the properties, changes, and interactions of matter and energy. The study of physics does not involve following a recipe; rather, it entails developing an attitude or way of looking at phenomena and asking questions.” This is a great degree for anyone who loves science and solving problems. You learn to ask the right questions to determine the different phenomena around the world. Why is the sky blue? Why does the Earth travel around the sun? And other phenom

But where can you go with this degree? Anywhere! Over the next month we will be delving into the different aspects of the Physics degree and how you can utilize it. You will have the opportunity to learn more from alumni who chose this major. Other features will include loads of links to aid you in discovering the different possibilities. So take a moment and come discover the different quarks of the Physics degree.

Visit the Department of Physics and Astronomy website for lots of great information. The Alfred P Sloan Foundation has provided a great overview of the field of physics, click here for a pdf summarizes different opportunities.

 

Now What to Do with a Physics Degree

There are a lot of options for the physics major but you do have one choice to make first: do you want to work or do you want to go to graduate school? This decision will help you decide what you want to do later on in life. If your dream career is working at NASA then I do suggest going to graduate school. A lot of different career fields in the sciences require a higher degree beyond the bachelors.

While it is a little difficult to pinpoint actual job titles I can give you a taste of the different types of employers you can look forward to with a degree in physics.

o Colleges and universities

o Meteorological organizations

o Commercial industry

o National Aeronautics and Space Administration

o Research

o Planetariums Continue reading »

Resources for the Arts Management Major

September 19, 2007

One of the biggest resources a student in any discipline can have is their professors.  These are the people who have studied in certain areas to a great extent and have numerous contacts and resources in the field.  Please contact them for more in-depth information.

In the Career Center we have several print resources that have great information about possible career fields for the art major by Blythe Camenson.

  • Careers in Art
  • Great Jobs for Art Majors
  • Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors

There are hundreds of others books that may also peak your interest.  Remember a major does not equal a career so even if you have that Arts Management degree you are not necessarily pointed at the art industry as seen in our alumni Arts Management majors.

The Internet is another great resource to use when trying to find more information about a field of study or career interest.  Here are some great websites that may interest you:

These are only a few of the thousands of websites out there for the Art Management major.  Explore the links at the Arts Management Program for more great sites.  Do you know of other sites that may interest Arts Management majors?  Share them!

Skip to toolbar