Professional Development Seminar

Overview

Nichols has developed a unique Professional Development Seminar (PDS) program to help students transition to college, learn successful study skills, and position for that first job!

The PDS program is a series of four one-credit required courses offered during every year you attend Nichols.

At each step of your education from your first year to your fourth year, a PDS coursework will help you write a winning resume, build a work portfolio and successfully interview.

At the end of your degree (and the program), you will have the confidence you need to leap into that first job.

Career Services Interns

Students Attend Nichols
10th Annual Career Fair

Human Resources Club

The Professional Development Seminar (PDS) program was created at Nichols College to ensure that the end of the college experience is as promising as the beginning. The college recognized a need to teach students the professional skills required in the workforce, but not included in the typical college curriculum. Faculty and staff custom-designed a program that cultivates “real life” skills needed in the professional arena while supporting the college mission “…to provide the best practically oriented business education in New England.” The PDS program prepares each Nichols undergraduate student to achieve success in his/her professional life.

The PDS program is a sequence of four one-credit required courses designed to meet the unique developmental needs of our students from freshman through senior year. To demonstrate that they have acquired skills and abilities while in the program, each student must develop a portfolio of his or her best work and learning experiences. The program outcome is a confident, qualified student prepared for both the professional challenges ahead and the lifelong learning opportunities that necessarily occur in the professional world Nichols students graduate prepared for their “professional” lives.

Facts and Figures

History of PDS

Freshman PDS began fall of 1985
Sophomore PDS began spring of 2000
Junior PDS began spring of 2001
Senior PDS began fall of 2001

Course Schedule

Courses are taught on the following schedule:

Freshman fall semester
Sophomore spring semester
Junior spring semester
Senior fall semester

There is usually a "trailer" section of each course running the following semester so that transfer students and students who need to repeat the course are able to catch up to the correct level.

Faculty/Instructors

All faculty/instructors typically hold at least a Master’s degree and are members of the faculty or staff of the college. In Freshman PDS the faculty member/instructor is assisted by a Teaching Assistant, an upperclassman who is trained to assist with the course.

Training

The faculty/instructors teaching PDS participate in training for the course prior to the beginning of the semester. Additionally, training continues on a weekly or bi-weekly basis throughout the semester.

Class Environment

The PDS courses are taught as seminars – in a less formal atmosphere with a maximum number of 22 students per section.

Course Materials

Testimonials

Mike Scott (center) from
America Express

Peg Cote (far right) from
Commerce Insurance

From Corporate Recruiters:

“ Excellent students! Good preparation and communication skills, as well as overall appearance.” - Jodi Morgan, Small Business Service Bureau

“Our experience working with Nichols College interns and college hires has been a positive one. They are well spoken, confident, professional, and work well within different team environments.” - Mary Martin-Somers, Allmerica Financial

“The caliber of students at Nichols is always among the highest of the schools we recruit at.”
- Ed McKenna, One Stop Business Centers

“Students are well prepared, professional and motivated.”
- Peg Cote, Commerce Insurance Company

“Your students are top notch!” - Shaun Beauregard, Accountemps

From Recent Graduates:

“ I thought the idea of the (PDS) program was really helpful, especially in the junior and senior year. Mock interviews, job searching, and the programs that were offered senior year were most helpful. During my interview with (my current employer), I was asked many of the questions we prepared for. I was also aware of what to talk about on the first interview and then what to talk about on the second. I don’t think I could have been any more prepared for the types of questions I was asked – the mock interviews both in class and with recruiters were really beneficial. Yes, the Internet helps too but role-playing really makes the difference.”

“I used my portfolio in a major scholarship competition and became one of the finalists. The judges were amazed - they had never seen anything like it before from a business student. The PDS was particularly helpful in our sophomore year when we looked at the past, our future goals and what we need to do to achieve them.

“The PDS sharpened my professional skills. My internship supervisor was extremely impressed with my interviewing skills, especially with the questions I asked - an area that is stressed in the PDS. I also can’t say enough about the support we received for resume construction. I learned more and more each year and have developed a power resume.”

" My portfolio brings together everything I am proud of – papers, presentations and other interests as well, such as art and photography. I am very glad that I did it.”