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Co-Curricular Record Certification in Career Development in Psychology

CCR Certification in Exploring Psychology Careers

The Psychology Department is thrilled to announce a Co-Curricular Record Certification in Career Development in Psychology.  This opportunity allows students to explore a variety of career-related topics through participation in our various activities.  This certification will appear on a student's Co-Curricular Record, which students can choose to send along to companies or graduate schools, along with their transcript.

To earn this certification, students must complete the following tasks within one academic year (Fall-Spring):

  • Register for the CCR Certification in Career Development in Psychology
  • Participate in 5 psychology career-related workshops during Fall-Spring.
  • Attend two Careers in Mind Sessions in the Winter and Spring. 
  • Participate in a 30 minute informational interview with a professional in the field of psychology or related field. 
  • Submit a 2-page reflection paper. 

Important Deadlines: 
Registration Period: August 20th, 2024 - January 17th, 2025
Deadline to Complete Program Requirements: June 6th, 2025 


Register

Registration Period: August 20th, 2024 - January 17th, 2024

Students interested in registering for the Career Development in Psychology Program must complete this form. 

Information Session

Career Development in Psychology Information Session
Date/Time: Tuesday, October 8th 2pm-3pm (Virtual)
Description: 
The Psychology Department is offering the Co-Curricular Record Certification in Career Development in Psychology. This opportunity allows students to explore a variety of career-related and graduate school topics. Attend our information session to learn more!
Register 

Requirement #1: Attend 5 Psychology Workshops

Students must attend 5 Psychology Workshops or Events from our approved list below. Attendance will be monitored by a Psychology Advising Staff during each session to keep track of participants. 

FALL 2024:

Psychology Majors and Career Pathways 

  • Date/Time: Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm (Virtual) 
  • Description: Discover what careers you can pursue with a bachelor's degree and learn about our ten psychology undergraduate majors.  
  • Register

Career Fair: Industry, On-Campus Employment and Professional Schools

  • Date/Time: Thursday, October 10th 2024, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm PDT (In-Person)
  • Location: Main Career Center, Lion Tree Arena  
  • Description: Students may obtain credit for 1 CCR-certified workshop by attending the Career Fair and speaking with at least two recruiters. Students must submit proof of attendance (i.e., pamphlet, brochure, or picture) by filling out this form.
  • Register
Resume & Cover Letter

Graduate & Professional Schools Fair 

  • Date/Time: Thursday, October 17th, 2024, 10am - 2pm (Virtual)
  • Location: Handshake virtual platform 
  • Description: Students may obtain credit for 1 CCR-certified workshop by attending the Graduate School Fair and speaking with at least two recruiters. Students must fill out this form after attending the fair to earn credit. 
  • Register

Exploring Psychology Research Opportunities 

  • Date/Time: Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 2:00pm-3:00pm (In-Person) 
  • Location: Mandler Hall 3545 
  • Description: This event will provide a comprehensive overview of the various research avenues you can pursue, from lab-based opportunities to psychology research programs, and how these experiences can enhance your academic and professional journey. Participants will learn about research opportunities offered by the Department of Psychology, the Undergraduate Research Hub, and hear from a panel of students who completed research in psychology. 
  • Register

Undergraduate Research Hub Information Session

  • Date/Time: Thursday, October 24, 2024 7:00pm-8:00pm (Hybrid)
  • Location: McGill 1350 or using Zoom ID: 293 396 4735
  • Description: The Undergraduate Research Hub (URH) empowers undergraduates seeking to become integrated in the UC San Diego research community with the skills to be successful in a post-baccalaureate career. Hosted by UCSD Psychology Club/Psi Chi Chapter.

Networking & LinkedIn Workshop

PSYC Graduate Programs Information Session by Azusa Pacific University 

  • Date/Time: November 6th 2pm-3pm (Virtual)
  • Description: Are you interested in psychology graduate programs? Learn about the different Psychology degrees (M.S. M.F.T, Psy.D.) Azusa Pacific University offers! This event will count as 1 workshop credit for the Career Development in Psychology Program.
  • Register 

Research Assistant Panel with Psychology Students in Labs 

  • Date/Time: Thursday November 7th 7:00pm-8:00pm (Hybrid)
  • Location: McGill 1350 or using Zoom ID: 293 396 4735
  • Description: Join the UCSD Psychology Club/Psi Chi Chapter for a panel with psychology research assistants. We will do a deep dive into how they all found their research opportunities. We will also learn about what it is like to work in particular labs, part of different areas of psychology ranging from clinical, developmental, social, and more! Questions are encouraged and welcomed!

Job Search Strategies

 Professor Spotlight with Caren Walker

  • Date/Time: Thursday, November 14th 7:00pm-8:00pm (Hybrid)
  • Location: McGill 1350 or using Zoom ID: 293 396 4735
  • Description: Join the UCSD Psychology Club/Psi Chi Chapter for a Professor Spotlight with Dr. Caren Walker! Dr. Walker leads the Early Learning and Cognition Lab, where they investigate basic questions about the mechanisms underlying learning and, in particular, how children come to acquire abstract concepts and theories about the world. We will do a deep dive into Dr. Walker's academic background and journey, followed by an overview of her research and other involvements on campus. Questions are encouraged and welcomed!

Interviewing

Requirement #2: Careers in Mind Symposium

Students must register and participate in the Careers in Mind Symposium and attend at least two sessions. The Careers in Mind Symposium happens every Spring quarter only. To find out more information, please visit our Careers in Mind page.

Requirement #3: Informational Interviewing

Students must participate in one 30 minute informational interview with a professional in the field of psychology or related field. It must be with someone who works in a career of interest to you. 

Students are responsible for identifying the professional they plan to interview and must prepare questions in advance to ask the interviewee. It is recommended that you take notes during the interview since you will be required to share your experience in your reflection paper. 

Students can consider using the Take a Triton to Work, Alumni Advisor Network,Tritons Connect or LinkedIn to find potential leads to interview. 

Informational Interviewing Tips:

  • Request an informational interview through email. 
  • Create an email that is professional, concise, and addresses why you are contacting them. 
    • Briefly introduce yourself 
    • How you found them
    • Acknowledge their accomplishments and achievements 
    • Ask for an informational interview 
  • Send them a calendar invite to make the invitation official. 
  • Do your research about your interviewee and prepare some questions in advance about their experience, their day-to-day job responsibilities, company, educational background, etc. 
  • Confirm your meeting time and location a few days in advance.
  • On the day of the meeting, dress professionally, have your questions ready, and have a pen and paper to take notes. 
  • After the interview send them a thank you email. 

Requirement #4: Two Page Reflection Paper

You must write a two-page reflection paper about your experience in the program. 

Criteria: 

  • The two-page paper needs to be single-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font, and have one-inch margins.
  • At least one page should focus what you discovered about yourself while you engaging in the program and your key takeaways from the CCR workshops and events you attended.
  • At least one page should focus on the informational interview that you participated in, and include the name of the interviewee and the date of the interview. 

This paper is due to the Psychology Advising Office via this google form by June 6, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is CCR Certification?

The Co-Curricular Record, or the CCR, is an official document sent with your transcript which taillights your involvement in activities outside the classroom.  Activities included on the CCR must meet specific guidelines set forth by the university and CCR-certified students demonstrate their mastery of a set of core competencies valuable to future pursuits. 

For more information about the campus's CCR and the certification process, please see the campus's CCR website.

Do I need to submit proof for the Informational Interview I conducted?

You will show proof of completing the informational interview by writing about your experience in your two-page reflection paper. At least one page of your reflection paper should focus on the informational interview that you participated in, and you must include the name of the interviewee and the date of the interview. 

What are the requirements for the two page reflection paper?

Criteria: 

  • The paper needs to be a two-page single-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font, and have one-inch margins.
  • At least one page should focus what you discovered about yourself while you engaging in the program and your key takeaways from the CCR workshops and events you attended.
  • At least one page should focus on the informational interview that you participated in, and include the name of the interviewee and the date of the interview. 

This paper is due to the Psychology Advising Office via this google form by June 6, 2025.

What happens if I do not finish my CCR requirements within one academic school year?

If you do not finish your CCR requirements within one academic school year, you will not be eligible to earn the certification at the end of the Spring quarter. 

Students who did not complete the PSYC CCR have the option to register again the following academic school year, but the requirements that have been previously completed will not carry over. 

Can I register for the PSYC CCR again if I already received a certification?

No, students who have already earned a Co-Curricular Record Certification in Career Development in Psychology will not be able to register again.