Senior Seminar brings together the knowledge and skills students have learned throughout the Career Certification Program. This course is unique in its rigorous design, giving students control over their learning and building in significant time for students to interact and work with business and community representatives. It is closely tied to academic standards and requires students to complete research and demonstrate learning to outside evaluators. The Senior Seminar class is also recognized and approved by the University of California as an English elective course that is accepted for UC admission.

Students focus on the following areas:

Internship: Students are placed at a local business where they work after school in a non-paid position for 36 hours over a 7-week period to gain practical experience in their career interest area. Using a rubric, employers evaluate student work.

Research Project: Students design and complete a project that demonstrates advanced knowledge related to their area of specialization.

Presentation: Students prepare and present an oral presentation of their project to an audience of professionals for review. To view sample presentations, please click one of the following:
Arts & Communications - Business - Family & Consumer Sciences - Health & Medical Services - Public & Human Services - Technology

Portfolio: Students assemble a portfolio containing a collection of work representing their four years of study. The portfolio is presented in an exit interview to a panel of professionals for evaluation.

These outside evaluations are an important addition to teacher assessments of proficiency. Out of the six overall areas in which students are rated, five must be at the proficient level or above.

Parents can support their students' efforts for success in the Senior Seminar by:


Working with the student to acquire clothing to dress appropriately for seminar activities.
Providing or identifying reliable, consistent transportation to the community site when the student completes the internship (a minimum of 36 hours over a 7-week period).
Encouraging students to finish what they start by making a commitment to successfully complete the Senior Seminar class to earn a program certificate.
Encouraging the student to complete projects and meet required deadlines.
Supporting the student's efforts to prepare and complete project requirements beyond school hours. Additional time after school and on weekends will be needed to complete assigned work.

For additional information, please copy and paste the following link to your browser:

http://careerpathways.rowland.k12.ca.us/index.html