Chapter 19: A Synopsis Of Career Development Literature and Resources In Higher Education

Selecting a career path as a young high school graduate can be an intimidating task. Students are introduced to careers as early as the preschool years; however, the college-bound student often faces overwhelming pressure and confusion when the time comes to select one specific program or pursue one specific career. As the costs of higher education continue to rise for both students and institutions, counselors face increasing pressure to provide career development services to high school and college students to increase college admissions and retention rates, and to prepare graduates for the world of work. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the history of career development in higher education, including an overview of vocational guidance programs, career counseling theories and several current assessments and techniques. The chapter includes examples of career counseling centers at the collegiate level, examples of how technology can be used to advance career development and the technology available to assist students with disabilities.