SWOT Analysis

Courses I have taken:

• ENGL 1010
• ENGL 2010
• ECON 1740
• PES 1097
• HUM 1010
• ART 1350
• PSY 1010
• BIOL 1010
• GEO 1010
• BIOL 1500
• BUS 1000
• CLSS 2100
• ECFS 2410
• GEO 1015
• HLTH 1020
• HLTH 1300
• ISYS 1350
• MAT 1010
• SPAN 3050
• SPAN 412R

Remaining courses I have to take:

• MATH 1050

After I take the above math class (Summer 2011), I will graduate with my Associate’s degree. I need to pick a major for a Bachelor’s degree, but I’ll be moving in August (due to my fiance’s work), and am not sure where we will be. I’m hoping that after taking this careers class, I will be able to narrow it down to 2 majors. If I am still living in Utah Valley for Fall 2011, I will continue taking the pre-requisites for the major I choose. (For the following major, I would be taking a full-load of spanish classes that are required in order to apply for the major.)

A possible major would be a BA in Spanish Education.

Remaining courses for this degree:

• SPAN 3510 or 3520
• SPAN 4050
• SPAN 4100
• SPAN 4900
• LANG 4200
• SPAN 3610
• 12 credits of Upper Division SPAN not previously taken
• 22 credits of anything 1000 level or higher
• EDSC 2540
• EDSP 3400
• EDSC 3000
• EDSC 3050
• EDSC 3250
• EDSC 4200
• EDSC 4250
• EDSC 4440
• EDSC 445G
• EDSC 4550
• 8 credits in EDSC 4850
• Global Intercultural Requirement

STRENGTHS:

• I will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree
• I will be able to provide for my family in the future if the need arises
• Bilingual teachers are in high demand, so I would always have a job
• There are other career options that I could explore within this major
• It will help me maintain my ability to speak the Spanish language
• If I had to work while being a mom, my work hours would coincide with my children’s school hours
• Also, relating to the comment above, I would be able to have summers off with my children

WEAKNESSES:

• I’m not sure if it is an occupation that I could only do part-time
• Teachers do a lot of lesson preparation and grading outside of class
• Educators must continue to further their learning by taking classes and keeping up on curriculum
• If I didn’t work continuously as a teacher, I could lose my ability to speak Spanish fluently
• There are a lot of pre-requisite classes that I still need to complete, so the degree would take me even longer than 2 years to finish
• Having to come up with the money to go to school for another 2+ years

OPPORTUNITIES:

• I would be able to serve in the community due to my knowledge of the Spanish language and teaching degree
• Possibly teaching ESL classes for adults in the community
• I would be able to help others learn to communicate and manage their lives better
• Going to South America to do service and humanitarian aid

THREATS:

• Paying tuition for 2+ years will be financially difficult, especially since I may be moving out of state and tuition elsewhere is far more expensive than Utah
• Being able to spend time with my (future) husband while going to school and working
• Not being able to start a family until I’m done with school
• If we end up having kids while I’m still in school, would I be motivated enough and have enough time/money to finish?
• Different career options don’t vary much from teaching Spanish- would I get bored or be limited in opportunities for jobs or advancement?