Career Exploration Using Psychology preps students to become career-ready graduates.
For many students and new graduates, navigating career options can feel overwhelming and uncertain. This fall, a new course offered by the Department of Psychology at UBC aims to address this challenge.
PSYC 203: Career Exploration Using Psychology is a new undergraduate course designed to help students explore career pathways early in their degrees.
Taught by Dr. Catherine Rawn, a professor of teaching in UBC’s department of psychology, this course provides students with structured, evidence-based approaches to career exploration, grounded in psychological science.
“Students are thinking about careers and it can feel like a big, overwhelming process. This course provides a structured way for students to explore different career paths and think about how to use their time at UBC intentionally, in order to prep for their future.”
Through PSYC 203, students will learn how to apply core psychological concepts, such as motivation, self-knowledge, and experimentation to personal career exploration. Through guided activities, students will identify their interests, assess career opportunities, and develop strategies for navigating uncertainty.
Dr. Catherine Rawn
Dr. Rawn says the course also reframes how students think about setbacks.
“I want students to feel empowered with strategies to manage uncertainty,” says Dr. Rawn. “I hope the course lessens the burden of failure and helps students see it as part of a learning process that’s expected and necessary.”
A key feature of the course is its emphasis on applying psychological methods to personal decision-making.
“We can think about career exploration as a series of hypotheses that need testing,” says Dr. Rawn. “Students can gather data on their own interests and track what’s working for them over time.”
The course responds to increasing demand for career guidance among undergraduate students. Many psychology students are unsure how to translate their studies into future opportunities and are looking for practical ways to move forward.
“Not every psychology student wants to go to graduate school or become a researcher—and that’s a good thing. There are many different career paths, and part of this course is helping students explore that range.”
Positioned at the 200 level, PSYC 203 is intended for students early in their academic journey, but welcomes people at all stages. Its one-credit format also complements other experiential learning opportunities. Students will be able to choose how deeply they want to engage in this course by tailoring their assignments.
PSYC 203 was developed through collaboration across UBC, including contributions from the Department of Psychology, the Faculty of Arts, and the UBC Career Centre.
Key contributors include:
- Dr. Sunaina Assanand, Professor of Teaching, UBC Psychology
- Christine Lee, Associate Director, Alumni Engagement, UBC Faculty of Arts
- Kimberley Rawes, Manager, Career and Professional Development, UBC Career Centre
- Robyn Stalkie, Career Strategist, UBC Faculty of Arts
- Julie Walchli, Executive Director, Work Integrated Education and Student Engagement, UBC Faculty of Arts
This interdisciplinary approach brings together academic insights, career development expertise, and real-world perspectives. Ultimately PSYC 203 aims to help students connect their academic experiences with future career goals early and with confidence.
Dr. Rawn is aiming to share details of the course, such as assignments and readings, in August. If you’re interested, sign up in Workday!
