Students will use employment outlook resources to conduct an investigation of potential professional career settings that might be pursued with their specific Bachelor of General Studies degree.
Objective
Career Exploration
Students enrolled in UNIV 4301, the Bachelor of General Studies capstone course, will identify three professional career opportunities available upon completion of their BGS degree and provide employment trends and outlook, salary expectations, and potential employers for those careers.
Indicator
Career Exploration Evaluation
The career exploration objective will be evaluated using the career exploration rubric provided.
Criterion
Career Exploration Criterion
Ninety percent of BGS students enrolled in UNIV 4301 will complete the career exploration assignment with a score of 8 or greater as scored by the career exploration rubric.
Finding
Career Exploration Performance
In the 2014-2015 academic year, 23 students were enrolled in UNIV 4301 – the Capstone Course for the Bachelor of General Studies degree. Seven students were enrolled in the fall 2014 semester and 16 students were enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester. Performance on the Career Assessment Assignment fell short of the criteria set at 90 percent. Only 17 of the 23 (74 percent) students scored 8 out of 10 possible points or greater on this assignment.
Action
Action For Career Assessment
An email will be sent to each student enrolled in UNIV 4301 prior to the Career Assessment Assignment emphasizing the value of this assignment to the potential career of each student. They will be strongly encouraged to complete this assignment at a high standard.
Goal
Integration Of Concepts And Content Related To Academic Minors
Students enrolled in UNIV 4301 will submit a research paper that integrates content and concepts from at least two, preferably three, of their minor fields of study.
Objective
Capstone Paper
Students enrolled in UNIV 4301 will demonstrate integrative writing skills by writing a paper integrating content and concepts from at least two of the three minors.
Indicator
Capstone Paper Evaluation
The capstone paper objective will be evaluated using the career exploration rubric provided.
Criterion
Capstone Paper Score - At Least 75%
Ninety percent of BGS students will demonstrate a minimum level of critical thinking and writing ability by achieving a score of at least 75% on the integrated minor paper.
Finding
Capstone Paper Performance
In the 2014-2015 academic year, 23 students were enrolled in UNIV 4301 – the Capstone Course for the Bachelor of General Studies degree. Seven students were enrolled in the fall 2014 semester and 16 students were enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester. Performance on the Capstone Paper met the criteria set at 90 percent. Seven students scored 60 out of 60 points. Other scores ranged from 5 – 58, but only 2 of the 23 (9 percent) students failed to score 75 percent on the Capstone paper. Ninety-one percent of the students scored 75 percent or greater on the Capstone Paper.
Action
Integrative Writing Skills
No additional action will be taken to improve the performance on the Capstone Paper. The required English writing course will soon be implemented (that request is currently in the Registrar’s Office) so that all newly declared BGS students will have the additional degree requirement to enhance their writing skills.