Portfolio and Current Project
About the Portfolio
During an Adult and Professional Studies program, all students must create a portfolio that summarizes the learning acquired from academic, personal, and professional experiences. Students receive materials on developing the portfolio before classes begin. Program representatives and assessment counselors assist students in completing this portion of the program.
The portfolio serves several purposes:
- Provides a means by which students may petition for life-learning credit applicable to their degree.
- Assesses extracollegiate learning.
- Determines the progress of the student's career and personal development.
- Provides a vehicle to explore growth patterns and formulate future academic and career plans using this knowledge.
The portfolio consists of five sections:
- Section 1: Autobiography
- Section 2: Transcripts and A.C.E./military documents
- Section 3: Résumé
- Section 4: Professional/technical experience and continuing education
- Section 5: Experiential learning essays
Since it is an integral part of the coursework, all students must complete the portfolio. Students must write at least two experiential-learning essays. This is mandatory regardless of the number of transcript credits accumulated prior to the program. Essays are used to determine the significance of the learning experiences. Documentation is required to verify the experiences described in the essays.
Letter grades are not assigned to prior learning credit earned through the portfolio. They appear on the APU transcript as "CR" for credit received. Students may earn a maximum of 30 units through portfolio assessment. Credit awards may differ among individuals.
Concurrent Project
All APS programs deliver practical, relevant skills. Each student participates in a major project throughout the program which applies theory and knowledge to real-world situations.
Students in the Management Information Systems/Computer Information Systems Program complete a major Capstone Project, integrating the knowledge and methodology learned by designing, developing, and implementing a software project or a comprehensive institution related project. This project serves as a connection between study and experiential learning and develops problem-solving skills utilizing concepts from both MIS and CIS.
The Capstone Project allows students to:
- Work as a member of a team to develop a relevant, state-of-the-art, Web-based software product.
- Creatively contribute to the production of all parts and aspects of the Capstone Project, including problem selection, feasibility study, requirements, planning, specification, design, coding, testing, integration, and implementation.
- Learn software engineering and systems analysis by creating a practical, real-world product for an Internet business.
- Investigate, analyze, select, and learn powerful Internet programming tools and methods.
- Integrate and apply skills and knowledge from prior learning, experience, course work, research, and other class members.
- Learn team dynamics and strategies from actual involvement and course teaching.
- Develop insight, skill, and knowledge about Internet businesses and sites from various levels and perspectives.
- Participate in team presentations and defense of the Capstone Project and its various deliverables.
The primary instructor and a full-time faculty member evaluate projects. This
evaluation provides the student with helpful feedback and ensures consistent
high quality.
