Themes of the Young Adult Career Development

Year
0
Academic year
2025-2026
Code
01018787
Subject Area
Psychology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not definied.

Teaching Methods

1. Oral presentation and discussion in class

2. Career development exercises.

3. Review of selected texts and scientific papers addressing issues associated to some perspectives or ‘metaphors' of career,

4. Introduction and experience with methodologies for collecting and analyzing work / career histories

5. Analysis and discussion of case histories in light of theories / models and discussion of implications for intervention (case study methodology).

Learning Outcomes

(1) To identify issues of theoretical and applied significance for students in the human relationship with work and career; the psychological functions of work; To acquire an historical and contextualized understanding;

(2) To develop a systemic view by distinguishing a multiplicity of referents and issues about careers (organized in light of the 'metaphors' proposed by Inkson, Dries & Arnold, 2015) according to which to identify, understand and /or apply psychological and psychosocial models, research methodologies and outcomes.

Introduction to recent and integrated models of career development and intervention

(3) To be able to apply the theoretical frameworks in the analysis and discussion of cases or situations

i. To know and apply interview (s) to collect career history data;

ii. Apply concepts and theories in the analysis of a case;

(4) To reflect and identify own career development needs and to experience career development exercises.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Concepts, psychological functions, meanings of work; Meanings; Motivation and self-determination

2.Concept and dimensions of career

3.Socio-historical context; contemporary career environments

4.Systemic perspective:

a.Social roles and identity: negotiation, transition, conflict and conciliation

b.Vocational personality, person-environment interaction in occupational choice, adjustment

c.Developmental processes and cycles over the life-span (young adult)

d.Agency, self-concept implementation, adaptability skills and processes; social cognitive beliefs and processes

e.Socio-structural factors and influences of gender, social class, race, family background and education

f.Trajectories and ‘topography’; the ‘new careers’

g.Relationships, career networks and communities

h.Autobiographical construction, narrative identity and rhetorical function in career

5.Integration and practice of career development/ management.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria São João Castilho Breda

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Inkson, K., Dries, N., & Arnold, J. (2015). Understanding careers (2nd ed.). Sage.

Blustein,D. (2006). The Psychology of Working: A new perspective for career development, counseling, and

public policy. Lawrence Erlbaum

Hartung, P. & Subich, L. (eds)(2011). Developing self in work and career. Concepts, cases and contexts. APA

Brown, S.D. & Lent, S.W. (2005). Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work.

Wiley & Sons.

Greenhaus, J.H., Callanan, G.A. & Godshalk, V.M. (2010). Career Management (4th ed). CA: Sage.

Brêda, SJ & Santos, A.(2017). Estudo sobre efeitos das influências interpessoais nos projetos de jovens do ensino secundário: modelos de papel e “escultores”. IV Congresso Nac Conversas de Psicologia. APCDP, Coimbra, Novemb, 2017

Galvão, I.(2017). Papel da família no ajustamento académico em percursos com predominância de género.

Tese de Mestrado em Psicologia, FPCE-UC.