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The Business Profession

A Mandatory, Noncredit, Cocurricular Career Preparation Program for Undergraduate Business Majors

Xavier University, clarkt{at}xavier.edu

Designed to guide those who want to replicate a similar program at their institutions, this article examines Xavier University’s experience with The Business Profession, a required, noncredit series of career-related events that business majors take over a 4-year period. This program was developed in response to research indicating that early career decision making and excellent career communication skills lead to better student employment choices. The Business Profession differs from traditional university career education programs in several ways. It is (a) developmental: It offers learner-centered programming over a 4-year period covering topics that match students’ growing career maturity; (b) cocurricular: It is offered as a cocurricular supplement to the academic business program; (c) mandatory: Business majors are required to complete this program as a graduation prerequisite; and (d) faculty directed: A tenured business communication faculty serves as director. Evaluations indicate students find the program valuable in helping them create a career plan that relates academic learning to real-world needs.

Key Words: career • business communication • pedagogy

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