Technical College Graduates Career Decisions at Four Southern Technical Colleges: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
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Authors
Payton, Alvin, Jr.
Issue Date
2016-12
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Dissertations , Career development , Technical education , Political Science
Alternative Title
Abstract
The following research was a mixed-method study exploring the relationship between career counseling and career choices of graduates at four southern technical colleges. Selection of an appropriate career is important for the graduates of technical colleges to obtain satisfactory and fulfilling employment. As the cost of post-secondary education increases, a graduate's career selection must be a wise decision. Whether it be a 4-year liberal arts university or a 2-year technical college, many changes in career choices become cost prohibitive halfway into a program that do not match a student's goals. More tragic for a graduate would be to complete the program and obtain employment in a chosen career, only to learn that it fails to match the graduate's mental, physical, or academic make-up. The researcher employed qualitative research methods to determine ways to improve knowledge and use of career service opportunities by technical college graduates. Roles of social pressure and state governmental policies influencing career selection were analyzed in graduates of four medium sized, 2-year technical colleges in South Georgia. The mixed-methods study involved use of surveys to assess levels of satisfaction with career counseling services provided by the institution, the graduates' happiness with their career selections, as well as how the graduates made their career selections. This research also involved interviews with five administrators in Academic Support and Career Counseling at four southern technical colleges.
Description
Citation
Payton, Alvin, Jr. Technical College Graduates Career Decisions at Four Southern Technical Colleges: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? (Dissertation) Valdosta State University, December 2016.