Career Services Professional Development Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible for this scholarship, the recipient must: 

• Be a full-time undergraduate student at The Master’s University, enrolled in at least 12 units. 

• Be classified as a freshman, sophomore, or junior during the academic year.  

• *Students who are classified as seniors but are returning for an additional semester of undergraduate study are also eligible.  

• Remain in good academic, disciplinary, chapel, and financial standing with The Master’s University.  

• Complete 100% of the scholarship requirements by the published deadlines.  

• Submit all required assignments and documentation through Canvas. 

• Maintain all normal academic, chapel, athletic, employment, and extracurricular responsibilities while participating in the scholarship program.  

• Participation in this scholarship does not excuse students from class attendance, chapel, athletic commitments, employment, or any other university responsibilities. 

Program Requirements 

• Complete all required submissions through Canvas.  

• Meet all scholarship requirements by the published deadline.  

• All deadlines are firm. 

• Career Services reserves the right to verify participation, attendance, internships, mentor meetings, and other scholarship requirements as necessary.  

• Career Services reserves the right to modify scholarship requirements, approved reading lists, forms, deadlines, and evaluation criteria for future academic years.  

• Students are expected to complete each requirement with excellence. Career Services reserves the right to require revisions or additional work if submitted assignments do not demonstrate satisfactory effort or completion. 

• All scholarship assignments and reflections must represent the student’s own work. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to write, rewrite, generate, or substantially assist with any scholarship submission is prohibited. Any use of generative AI in completing scholarship assignments will result in automatic disqualification from the Professional Development Scholarship, regardless of whether all other requirements have been completed. 

Qualifying Events 

Qualifying professional development events are listed in Canvas. Only events specifically identified as qualifying are eligible for scholarship credit. 

Additional Opportunities 

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in The Master Interview and/or The Leadership Initiative. Participation in these programs will satisfy several of the scholarship requirements while providing additional opportunities for professional growth and employer engagement. 

Estimated Completion Time  

The estimated time required to complete all scholarship requirements is approximately 60 hours throughout the academic year (approximately 30 hours per semester), averaging approximately two hours per week. Students are encouraged to work steadily throughout the academic year rather than waiting until the end of the semester to complete requirements. Most activities are designed to complement, rather than replace, your academic coursework and other university responsibilities. 

Program Deadlines 

All deadlines are 11:59 PM on the date listed. 

The milestones below provide a recommended order and pace for completing scholarship requirements. Students may complete requirements earlier or in a different order; however, all requirements must be completed by their applicable milestone or final deadline. 

A deadline is the final date to complete all the work that is due before the deadline date. There is one each semester, if these deadlines are missed it is an automatic disqualification from the scholarship. They are not suggestions like milestones. 

All required Career Services appointments must be booked by Milestone 1 (Friday, October 9), even if the appointment itself is scheduled for a later date. 

Professional Foundations 

Networking Tools 

• Create a professional, non-TMU email address. 

• What is your professional, non-TMU email address? 

• Schedule and complete a Professional Headshot with Career Services.  

• Complete your Master’s Connect profile.  

• Upload your professional headshot to your profile.  

• Create and complete your LinkedIn profile.  

• Upload your professional headshot to your profile.  

• Build your professional network by sending at least fifty (50) LinkedIn connection requests to professionals you know or have met through work, church, school, internships, networking events, or Career Services programs. 

Career Exploration  

• Carefully read the Career Exploration Guide in its entirety and complete the worksheet on pages 7-8.  

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document. 

• What career(s) or specific job(s) interest you that you would like to pursue upon graduation? If you are uncertain what you would like to do, list anything that you think you might be interested in. 

• Select one specific role that you have listed above.  

• Identify at least three (3) job descriptions for that role from three (3) different companies. 

• What are the similarities and differences between the three jobs descriptions you have found? 

• What job functions/responsibilities in the job description interests you? What doesn’t interest you? 

• What are the required and recommended education and experience qualifications? 

• What knowledge or skills do you need to cultivate now to prepare yourself for this role in the future? 

Biblical Worldview  

• Listen to at least four (4) approved sermons during the academic year, at least two (2) per semester. 

• A Theology of Work by John MacArthur must be your first sermon, due by Milestone 2 (Friday, October 30). 

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document. 

• What was the main point of the sermon? 

• What three ideas or principles most impacted you? 

• What was one concept that challenged your thinking? 

• How will you apply what you learned to your professional life? 

• One (1) reflection is due each semester. Write on A Theology of Work in the fall and one additional sermon in the spring. 

Listen to this first.
 

• A Theology of Work — John MacArthur 

Choose three (3) additional sermons. 

• Divine Design for the Workplace — John MacArthur 

• God’s Plan for Employees — John MacArthur 

• Submission in the Workplace, Part 1 — John MacArthur 

• Submission in the Workplace, Part 2 — John MacArthur 

• Kingdom Seating — H.B. Charles 

• Brothers, Work Hard for God’s Approval — Andy Naselli 

• Respectable Sins — Austin Duncan 

• Vocation Series — Jonny Ardavanis 

• Work Unto the Lord: A Biblical View of Work, Diligence, and Responsibility — Bruce Mrachek 

Professional Documents & Interview Preparation  

Resume & Cover Letter 

• Schedule a one-on-one Resume Meeting with Career Services OR attend a Resume Workshop.  

• Submit an updated resume incorporating the feedback received during your meeting or workshop.  

• Schedule a one-on-one Cover Letter Meeting with Career Services OR attend a Cover Letter Workshop.  

• Submit an updated cover letter incorporating the feedback received during your meeting or workshop.  

• *Use an actual job or internship description that genuinely interests you as the basis for both your resume and cover letter. 

Interview Preparation  

• Schedule and complete a one-on-one Mock Interview with Career Services. 

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document. 

• What job interviews have you had in the past? 

• Where were you strongest during your mock interview? Where do you believe you have the greatest opportunity for improvement? 

• What feedback did your mock interviewer provide to you? 

• What is one piece of feedback that you will implement in future interviews? 

Professional Engagement  

“A Look Inside”  

• Attend at least five (5) total “A Look Inside” sessions for the academic year, at least two (2) per semester.  

• You must ask at least one (1) question during at least one “A Look Inside” session each semester.  

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document. 

• Choose one (1) “A Look Inside” session that you attended this semester. 

• What company or organization was represented?  

• What most stood out to you about the speaker or organization?  

• What did you learn about this profession or industry that you did not know beforehand?  

• What aspects of this career interest you? What aspects do not? 

• One (1) reflection is due each semester.  

• *Attendance will be taken during each event. Please be sure to sign-in to get credit for your attendance. 

Company Visits  

• Attend at least three (3) total Company Visits for the academic year, at least one (1) per semester.  

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document.  

• Choose one (1) Company Visit you attended this semester.  

• What company did you visit?  

• What products or services does the company provide?  

• What most impressed you about the organization?  

• What career opportunities exist within the company?  

• Could you see yourself working for this organization? Why or why not?  

• One (1) reflection is due each semester. 

• *Attendance will be taken during each event. Please be sure to sign in to get credit for your attendance. 

Guest Speaker Events  

• Attend at least two (2) Career Services Guest Speaker events during the academic year, at least one (1) per semester. 

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document.  

• Who was the speaker?  

• What were the primary lessons or themes presented?  

• What professional or biblical principle most impacted you?  

• What is one practical takeaway you intend to implement? 

• One (1) reflection is due each semester. 

• *Attendance will be taken during each event. Please be sure to sign in to get credit for your attendance. 

Career Fair Employer Engagement 

• Attend both the Fall and Spring Career Fairs.  

• Dress in professional business attire appropriate for networking with employers. 

• Obtain employer verification using the Career Services Employer Engagement Card.  

• Speak with at least five (5) employer representatives at each Career Fair.  

• Send LinkedIn connection requests to the employer representatives you spoke with. 

• Send a follow-up thank-you email or LinkedIn message to at least three (3) employer representatives you met.  

• Reflection: Please answer the following in a 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document after each Career Fair.  

Note: This reflection may be up to two (2) pages. 

• What employers did you speak with?  

• What industry is each employer in?  

• What positions or internships are they hiring for?  

• Select two (2) employer interactions and discuss what you learned from each conversation (1–2 paragraphs per employer).  

• Which employer interested you the most and why?  

• What skills or experiences did employers consistently mention they were seeking? 

Professional Reading 

• Read approved professional development books totaling at least ten (10) reading points during the academic year.  

• Students must complete at least five (5) reading points each semester.  

• At least two (2) books must be designated as three (3)-point books.  

• *Books must be selected from the approved Career Services Reading List.  

• *A list of approved books and their point values will be provided by Career Services.  

• * Books completed for this scholarship must be new readings. Previously completed books may not be counted toward the reading point requirement. 

• Professional Reflection: Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document for two (2) books completed.  

• What was the central message of the book?  

• What three ideas or principles most impacted you?  

• What was one concept that challenged your thinking?  

• How will you apply what you learned to your professional life?  

Career Services Approved Professional Development Book List 

3 points 

• God at Work — Gene Edward Veith Jr. 

• Called to Lead — John MacArthur 

• The Power of Integrity — John MacArthur 

• Calvin and Commerce — David W. Hall & Matthew D. Burton 

• The Ideal Team Player — Patrick Lencioni 

• The Advantage — Patrick Lencioni 

• The Effective Executive — Peter F. Drucker 

2 points 

• William Tyndale’s Accomplices — Eric Weathers 

• The Passionate Entrepreneur — Steve Adams 

• An Uncompromising Life — John MacArthur 

• Just Do Something — Kevin DeYoung 

• Whose Money Is It Anyway? — John MacArthur 

• Don’t Waste Your Life — John Piper 

• On Being Presidential — Susan Resneck Pierce 

• The Conviction to Lead — R. Albert Mohler Jr. 

• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals — John Piper 

• Get to Work — Jonny Ardavanis 

• Outliers — Malcolm Gladwell 

• Business for the Glory of God — Wayne Grudem 

• Spiritual Leadership — J. Oswald Sanders 

• The Lean Startup — Eric Ries 

1 point  

• Found: God’s Will — John MacArthur 

• The Art of Self-Discipline — John MacArthur 

• From Pride to Humility — Stuart Scott 

• Anger, Anxiety, and Fear — Stuart Scott 

• Communication and Conflict Resolution — Stuart Scott 

• Help! I’m in a Conflict — Ernie Baker 

• Stress — David Powlison 

• Guidance — James C. Petty 

• Priorities — James C. Petty 

• Agape Leadership — Robert L. Peterson & Alexander Strauch 

• Procrastination — Walter Henegar 

• Who Am I? Identity in Christ — Jerry Bridges 

Professional Relationships  

Mentor Connection  

• Establish a professional mentor.  

• Your proposed mentor must be submitted to Career Services for approval by Milestone 1 (Friday, October 9). 

• Meet with your mentor at least four (4) times during the academic year, at least twice (2) per semester, either in person, via Zoom, or by phone 

• Submit a Mentor Verification Form.  

• *Students are responsible for initiating contact with their mentor, scheduling each mentoring meeting, and maintaining communication throughout the academic year. 

• *Career Services will provide the mentor’s contact information but will not coordinate or schedule meetings on the student’s behalf. 

• *Career Services will pay for your first meeting with your mentor if you meet at Trophy Coffee. Please see our office for details. 

• *Need help finding a mentor? Career Services can connect you with qualified professionals from our alumni and employer network. Please stop by our office for assistance. 

• To receive credit, your mentor must verify, either by completing the Mentor Verification Form or by email, that you met at least four (4) times during the academic year. 

• Mentor Qualifications: Your mentor should be a mature Christian professional with significant career and life experience. Mentors should not be immediate family members, roommates, or fellow students. Career Services reserves the right to approve or deny proposed mentoring relationships for the purposes of this scholarship. 

Professional Reflection  

Please answer the following in a 1-page, 12pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced, Word document. 

• Who is your mentor?  

• What have you learned about your mentor’s background, career, and life experiences?  

• What advice or insight from your mentor has had the greatest impact on you?  

• What is one area of personal, professional, or spiritual growth you have experienced through this mentoring relationship?  

• What specific action(s) will you take as a result of your mentor’s guidance?  

Suggested Mentoring Discussion Topics 

The purpose of this mentoring relationship is to learn from the experience, wisdom, and Christian example of your mentor. The topics below are intended to help facilitate meaningful conversations throughout the academic year. They are not a required list of questions or discussion topics. Feel free to discuss other topics that are beneficial to your professional, personal, and spiritual growth. 

Getting to Know Your Mentor 

• Their background and upbringing  

• Their testimony and spiritual journey  

• Their family  

• Their educational background  

• Their career journey  

• Influential people who have shaped their life  

• Significant decisions that have influenced their career or life  

• Lessons they wish they had learned earlier in life  

Career & Professional Development 

• Why they chose their profession  

• Major career decisions and transitions  

• Successes, failures, and lessons learned  

• Skills and characteristics that contribute to long-term success  

• Qualities employers look for in young professionals  

• Advice for someone entering their industry  

• Industry trends and future opportunities  

• Books, podcasts, or other resources that have influenced them professionally  

Faith & Life 

• Living faithfully in the workplace  

• Integrating faith and work  

• Balancing work, family, church, and other responsibilities  

• Leadership and servant-hearted influence  

• Integrity and ethical decision-making  

• Maintaining spiritual disciplines during busy seasons  

• Ways the Lord has demonstrated His faithfulness throughout their life and career  

Mentoring & Next Steps 

• Feedback on your career goals and aspirations  

• Skills and experiences you should pursue while in college  

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth  

• Questions about your future career  

• Ways you can encourage and pray for one another