Stacy's Interview
More Information about Guidelines
Refer to the Degree Guidelines & Requirements section of these resources for more information, including videos about working with ESC's Area of Study Guidelines.
More Information about Degree Structure
Refer to the page on Degree Structure and Design in these resources.
Guidelines & Educational Expectations
The essay discussion of how you're addressing ESC Area of Study Guidelines and other educational expectations is one of the most important in the rationale, as it presents your evidence, backed up by research, to show that your individually-designed degree is academically valid.
Make sure to include the following information to fully address educational expectations in the rationale essay:
- name of your area of study and concentration (if you have a degree with a concentration)
- summary or paraphrase of the appropriate Empire State College Area of Study guideline (a condensed version, in your own words) to show that you understand the college's general academic expectations for your type of degree
- explanation of how you've chosen to address appropriate ESC guidelines (e.g., It's not enough to say "I've addressed guidelines." You'll need to give examples and evidence to show how you've addressed them.).
- explanation of how you've addressed SUNY General Education Requirements
- summary of your research into other colleges, as appropriate, if you needed to look at multiple programs to get a better sense of how to structure your own
Above all, think of this section as your logical argument for the validity of your degree choices. Provide enough specific evidence so that your readers (members of an Assessment Committee) will be convinced that you've 1) done your research, 2) understood your research, and 3) addressed Empire State College and general academic expectations thoughtfully and thoroughly.
Degree Structure and Design
In addition to writing about guidelines, the essay discussion of academic or educational expectations may explain the overall pattern of your degree. Do you have courses that link with one another and fit into an overall framework?
Answer the following questions to help address degree structure and design in your rationale essay:
- do you have certain courses that link with, support, and/or enhance one another (e.g., do some pieces of the general learning relate to and enhance studies in the concentration?)
- how do you have breadth of study in your degree, through courses fhat fulfill the SUNY General Learning Requirement, through a variety of courses in your concentration?
- does learning, especially in your concentration, show progression from introductory to advanced (in a bachelor degree concentration)?