The document is part of a series that reports the findings and accomplishments of the Models for Career Education in Iowa project which was initiated to research, define, and describe an emerging concept of career education and to suggest possible approaches for implementation in primary and secondary education. One of the basic components in the career development model used as the basis for the project is the learner.s self-concept which is influenced by the roles of significant others (parents, teachers, and peers) and society. How the student acquires knowledge and the environment under which this knowledge is gained are also important aspects in both self-concept and career development. Program objectives are outlined for the primary, intermediate, junior high school, and high school levels geared to the awareness, accommodation, exploration, and preparation-exploration phases respectively. The importance of self-concept is discussed in relation to these phases. A list of 29 generalizations about how an understanding of self-concept is acquired is given. A selected bibliography is included. (Author/EC)