Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

Advisor

David Weintraub

Committee Member

Gina L. Peyton

Committee Member

Kimberly Durham

Keywords

career readiness, first-year experience, faculty experience, career competencies

Abstract

This applied dissertation was designed to examine faculty perception of career curriculum for first-year students at colleges and universities. Eighty percent of faculty report incorporating some type of career readiness component in their curriculum, yet only 12% of students currently participate in career readiness education course in their first-year of college. Guided by Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, the researcher explored the faculty members’ behavior towards voting in favor of a new immersive career course. Faculty needed to see an advantage of adopting the new curriculum in order for them to take on additional responsibilities. The researcher used a phenomenological study design to explore in detail eight faculty members’ perceptions of immersive career readiness curriculum as it relates to adopting an immersive career readiness course. In-depth data were collected through semistructured interviews from the faculty members about their lived experiences teaching career curricula in their first-year seminar course. Research questions sought to explore challenges and barriers to adopting career curriculum, faculty’s ability to teach career curriculum, and alternatives available if career curriculum is not adopted in the form of a required course.

The study findings point to the need for a comprehensive, campus-wide approach to career readiness education. The findings also highlight the need for early, ongoing career development programs, faculty professional development, and expanded experiential learning opportunities. Research findings have several implications for the field of higher education and career readiness education in terms of theory, research, and practice. The research reveals a direct correlation between career readiness education and retention, as well as student self-awareness.

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