At the time students declare their major or minor in American Studies, program advisors will encourage students to keep a file of course syllabi, important papers from all American Studies courses, personal notes from internships and records from five extra-curricular activities sanctioned by the Director.

 

Advisors will also solicit brief paragraphs assessing personal progress and program effectiveness during regular semester advising sessions. In the Advanced Seminar, the instructor will require that students use these files to define areas of special interest. At this point, the files become portfolios that demonstrate the way course work and program experience outside the classroom have contributed to research projects undertaken by both majors and minors in the Advanced Seminar.

 

During the Senior Capstone Course, majors will compose a brief narrative overview of the three most significant courses plus a selection of extra-curricular activities directly related to inPidual research culminating in the final capstone project.

 

Upon approval by the American Studies Director, portfolios will be copied and used for program assessment. Students will also retain copies of their portfolios that they can use for job applications and for admission into graduate programs.

 

Course Reflections-Portfolio

 

Please describe your American Studies course work for the past semester. How did it advance your understanding of your interests? What do you plan to take next semester?

 

Extra-curricular Activities Response

 

(Five of these are required for your portfolio)

 

Please give the title, date, and brief description of the activity you attended. If appropriate, please include personal reflections that show how the activity informed your American Studies interests.

 

American Studies Capstone -Final Assessment Statements

 

Please provide brief answers to each of the questions below on a separate page. Typed or computer printed answers are requested. Please put your NAME AND THE TITLE OF YOUR CAPSTONE PROJECT at the top of your assessment response.

 

1. Do you feel that your chosen project served successfully as a capstone to your American Studies major at Utah State University? Please explain briefly.

 

2. During the spring semester how did the schedule of meetings and deadlines work for you? Do you have suggestions for changing the organization of the seminar? Do you have ideas about improving the capstone experience?

 

3. What suggestions or words of advice would you provide for the next group of students in the American Studies Capstone Seminar? What do you feel is the most important information that these students will need as they start their capstone projects?