American Studies
Business Administration
Child Studies
Criminal Justice
Early Childhood Studies
Health Care Administration
History
Individualized Studies
Information Systems Studies
Liberal Studies
Organizational Leadership
Paralegal Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Public Safety Administration
Sociology

Not Applicable

1) Communicate effectively using Standard English, read and listen critically, and write and speak thoughtfully, clearly, coherently and persuasively;
2) Organize, interpret and evaluation of ideas;
3) Locate, evaluate, synthesize and use information from a variety of sources and understand the ethical issues involved in accessing and using information;
4) Use critical thinking skills to make ethical decisions;
5) Demonstrate an understanding of the ideas and processes that shaped the history of the United States;
6) Demonstrate an understanding of major developments in the history and culture of other countries;
7) Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of nations, regions, and cultures upon other nations, regions, and cultures and the impact of these interactions on individuals;
8) Demonstrate an understanding of the arts and literature and gain an appreciation of its impact on our heritage and culture;
9) Demonstrate an understanding of self and the world, of social and cultural insitutions, and the interdependent nature of the individual, family and society in shaping human behavior;
10) Demonstrate an understanding of mathematics beyond the entry-level requirements for college;
11) Demonstrate an understanding of a subject area discipline or of an interdiciplinary program of study.

All students seeking a bachelor's degree from Charter Oak must have a concentration plan of study approved by faculty and must successfully complete an "academic autobiography", a written assignment that measures their critical thinking, writing skills, and the cohesiveness of their degree and its relation to their personal or professional life. The academic autobiography is assessed by faculty with expertise in the concentration area on a Pass/Fail basis (Pass is a grade of C or better). Faculty use a grading rubric, which the students are also given. Faculty have been trained on the rubric and evaluate a number of academic autobiographies as a group for inter-rater reliability. Students who do not successfully complete the academic autobiography may rewrite it. If they fail the second time, they must take another writing course before they are allowed to resubmit. If they fail, the third time, they do not graduate.

Since the policy was put in place in July 1, 2005, eight students have either failed the academic autobiography or have left without completing it and, therefore, have not graduated.

Note: Since the beginning of the academic autobiography requirement, Charter Oak has had capstone courses in a few of our concentrations. Our assessment committee has reviewed the products of those courses and found that they met the outcomes of the concentration. Beginning July 1, 2009, a capstone course will be required in all concentrations and we will be moving away from the academic autobiography.

Not Applicable