Course	ECE 6960-090
Department	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Pre-Requisites	Graduate status (or provisional graduate status) in ECE
Credit Hours	0-3 credits (variable). In future, we may offer both a 1credit (information only) and 3 credit (information + practice). Students and team members may also register for 0 credit (and pay no tuition) this semester, and most likely in the future as well.
Semester	Fall 2024
Description	The purpose of this course is for graduate students to explore a variety of career options (industry, academia, national labs, policy), and the skills that can lead to strong career success and technical leadership. The course covers Career Development, Research Development, and Network/Mentoring Development and is variable credit, allowing students to select assignments from each area to best fit their interests and needs. Career Development includes creation of an Individual Development Plan (IDP), team and leadership skills, preparation for career fairs, interviews with stakeholders to explore career options, and more. Research Development is based on the Lean Canvas approach which encourages research students to explore their research area not only in the traditional way (professional literature) but also business and patent literature, and direct interviews/visits with professionals working in their field who may later be users of their research output. Network and Mentoring Development helps students develop a formal mentoring plan, find people to help guide their individual areas of growth, and learn skills to effectively engage with mentors and their professional network throughout their careers.
	Course Content   RESEARCH MODULES Research problem identification Using standard reference management software Identify stakeholders that could help you understand the problem Stakeholder mapping Curate a literature citation collection Conduct a scholarly literature review of the problem/suggested innovation Learn about the intellectual property landscape Explore patent searching through case examples Be able to find five patents relevant to your idea Introduction to the resources available through the Marriot Library Connect the problem you identified to the existing solutions and perceived value Steps to conducting a stakeholder interview Team work   MENTORING MODULES Understanding definition of mentoring Identify your level of readiness to begin a mentoring relationship Recognize bidirectional nature of mentoring Identify how personal characteristics and values influence your mentoring relationships or work within a team Understand types of mentoring relationships Psychological, social, and cultural influences on your life as a student Learn about the imposter syndrome Identify your expectations and boundaries in mentoring relationships Recognize the significance of peer mentoring Learn about culturally responsive mentoring Explore how your personality type and interpersonal style may be influencing your professional relationships Learn about the cultural dimensions of mentoring Having candid conversations Effective communication within a mentoring relationship Strategies for addressing negative interactions within your mentor-mentee relationships Understand implicit bias Learn about the Calling In Toolkit and how it can assist you in recognizing and addressing implicit bias   CAREER DEVELOPMENT MODULES Importance of intentional career planning Process of creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) Develop and present a concise elevator pitch Understand how the nature of work is changing and the need to develop “future work” skills Identify ways to raise low self-efficacy beliefs Adopt a growth mindset and a “Not Yet” attitude towards feedback Understand the value of conducting informational interviews with people in industry Learn helpful interviewing tips Assess your interviewing strengths and weaknesses Improve interview skills and speak with confidence Attend a career fair at the U Gain tips for interacting with employers at a career fair Learn about the components of an effective thank-you note Create a compelling resume Learn how your social media presence can positively or negatively influence your job search Attend a career panel with recruiters from various industries Understand the five most important time management skills and how to acquire them Gain a deeper understanding of procrastination and ways to stop putting things off School-Work-Life Balance Self-Care Time Management Stress Management Mindfulness Meditation Developing leadership skills Active listening Emotional intelligence Speaking assertively Conflict resolution

At the end of this course, students will have a formal process for and be able to:

• Research Development Outcomes
  
  • Identify a research area of potential interest to them, and begin to narrow it down to a research question of interest.
  • Complete an initial review of professional literature (journals, conference proceedings, workshop and textbook information). Identify areas of potential research.
  • Complete an initial review of business literature (patents, business surveys, etc.). Identify areas of potential innovation.
  • Prepare an initial research development plan.
• Career Development Outcomes
  
  • Prepare an Individual Development Plan (IDP), and create a plan for continual progress towards this plan.
  • Identify multiple potential career paths of interest, and what is needed for each.
  • Identify key skills to work on during graduate school, and specific methods to reach these goals.
• Mentoring and Team Development Outcomes
  
  • Identify key mentors to match the research and career development skill goals.
  • Instigate mentoring and networking interactions in academia, industry, etc.
  • Identify team development skills, and healthy team skills.
  • Prepare a mentoring / network development plan.

Materials required for this course are available in each module. No additional materials need to be purchased. You will need a computer or tablet to access Zoom.

Please review the communication methods and requirements for this course:

Preferred Contact Methods

The easiest way to contact your instructor directly is to use the    Inbox, located in the far left Canvas menu.

You can also contact your instructor in the following ways:

• Dr.Cynthia Furse cfurse@ece.utah.edu
• Dr. AJ Metz AJ.Metz@utah.edu
• Dr. Karen Tao  u0781821@utah.edu
• Donna Ziegenfuss donna.ziegenfuss@utah.edu

Office Hours

TBD

Or By appointment

Virtual Meeting Rooms(s)

By appointment. See Zoom link on left canvas bar.

Recommended weeks for each module are listed in the title of the module and recommended due dates for assignments. Assignments will be accepted at any time. Modules will be posted prior to their indicated weeks.

Your performance in this course will be evaluated by the assignments you complete. The point value for each assignment is listed. Each 10 point assignment will take roughly 1 hour of preparation and 1 hour of activity on your part.

There will be no exams.

 

All assignments, unless otherwise announced, must be submitted to the designated area of Canvas. Do not submit assignments via email.

Late assignments will be accepted without penalty, however you will get the most out of this course if you keep up with the assignments.

Grading for this course

Each assignment will be graded as noted in the module.

The course is variable credit. We have assigned points to each assignment based on the general (VERY general) formula that 1 hour of effort = 10 points. You can do any combination of assignments of your choosing to get credits, which will be applied in this way:

• For 1 credit, 150 points = A, and 120 = B.
• For 2 credits, 300 points = A, 240 points = B
• For 3 credits, 450 points = A, 360 points = B
• If you are taking half credits, scale these numbers accordingly.
• If you have fewer points than for a B in your number of credits, let's talk. It may be better to take an incomplete than a lower grade.

If you have previously taken this course, you should do assignments different than you did before (except the in class participation, where you can count that again).

Disclaimer

Accommodations will be considered on an individual basis and may require documentation.

Please contact your instructor and/or teaching assistant as soon as possible (preferably shortly before the semester begins) to request accommodations of any kind.

Extreme Circumstances

Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if an extreme personal circumstance
(hospitalization, death of a close relative, natural disaster, etc.) is interfering with your ability to complete your work.

Religious Practice

To request an accommodation for religious practices, contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Active Duty Military

If you are student on active duty with the military and experience issues that prevent you from participating in the course because of deployment or service responsibilities, contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Disability Access

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services (CDS). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

Center for Disability Services
  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.edu
  162 Union Building
    200 S. Central Campus Dr.
     Salt Lake City, UT 84112

This syllabus is not a contract. It is meant to serve as an outline and guide for your course. Please note that your instructor may modify it to accommodate the needs of your class.

You will be notified of any changes to the Syllabus.

Though the online format allows students greater flexibility to complete their work, this course does have a structure and timeline! As such, the following is expected of all students in this class:

• Students must be self-motivated, organized, and willing to stay on top of their schedule. Students should take control of their learning while in this course.
• Students are expected to follow the Core Rules of Netiquette at all times while participating in the class and communicating with others.
• Students will log in to the course a minimum of 3 times per week.
• Students are not expected to interact with their classmates in person. Students may be expected to work with classmates via online communication options like Canvas Discussions, video conferencing, or another communication technologies of choice (Groupme, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, etc).
• Students will regularly check for course updates and will update their Canvas notification settings to ensure they receive timely notifications from the course.
• Students will contact their instructor or teaching assistant in a timely manner if they have any questions, are struggling with course materials, or need further assistance from their instructor.
  • If you do not hear back within 3 days after sending a message, please contact your instructor/TA again.
• Students will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, academic dishonesty, and other rights and responsibilities of students outlined in the University of Utah Student Handbook and Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
  • If you have any questions about this, please contact the Dean of Students.

Your course instructor is an expert in the topics you will learn about this semester. Your instructor is your mentor and facilitator of the classroom experience, aided by teaching assistants. Instructors are committed to:

• The instructor will design the course to include lectures, learning materials, and assignments that are accessible and provide students with opportunities to learn and practice course content.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will ensure that the course remains a safe space where students can engage with difficult content thoughtfully and respectfully.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will interact with the class regularly via announcements, virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), emails/the Canvas Inbox, feedback on assignments, and comments on Discussions, among other methods.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will respond to students in a timely manner: within 48 hours, not including weekends and holidays.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will be available for individual consultation via virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), email, or phone and will not require students to meet in person.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will provide relevant feedback in a timely manner.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, accommodations, and other important duties.