Event Title

Assessing a New Psychology Department Capstone Requirement

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

12-4-2022 10:00 AM

End Date

12-4-2022 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Emily Stark

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Recently the Department of Psychology changed the capstone requirements for undergraduate psychology majors in order to ensure that students were gaining information about preparing for careers and/or graduate school. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of these new capstone materials in preparing undergraduate psychology students to use the skills and knowledge gained in their undergraduate experience after graduation. The new capstone materials contain career and graduate school modules where students interact with readings, mini-lectures, and assignments relevant to their personal goals. This poster presents an online survey that was sent to 96 students who completed a Psychology capstone course in Fall semester, 2021. The survey included a number of open-ended questions about their memory of the capstone materials, skills and knowledge they gained from the materials, and which aspect of the materials was most beneficial to them. We will examine whether capstone materials are effectively preparing undergraduate students to enter the workforce or graduate school after graduation. Results may also show that capstone materials are not helping students prepare to enter the workforce or begin graduate school, indicating that the Department of Psychology should change their presentation of capstone materials or the materials themselves. Understanding the impact of capstone materials on undergraduate psychology students is important in order for the Department of Psychology to best prepare their students for the future.

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Apr 12th, 10:00 AM Apr 12th, 11:30 AM

Assessing a New Psychology Department Capstone Requirement

CSU Ballroom

Recently the Department of Psychology changed the capstone requirements for undergraduate psychology majors in order to ensure that students were gaining information about preparing for careers and/or graduate school. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of these new capstone materials in preparing undergraduate psychology students to use the skills and knowledge gained in their undergraduate experience after graduation. The new capstone materials contain career and graduate school modules where students interact with readings, mini-lectures, and assignments relevant to their personal goals. This poster presents an online survey that was sent to 96 students who completed a Psychology capstone course in Fall semester, 2021. The survey included a number of open-ended questions about their memory of the capstone materials, skills and knowledge they gained from the materials, and which aspect of the materials was most beneficial to them. We will examine whether capstone materials are effectively preparing undergraduate students to enter the workforce or graduate school after graduation. Results may also show that capstone materials are not helping students prepare to enter the workforce or begin graduate school, indicating that the Department of Psychology should change their presentation of capstone materials or the materials themselves. Understanding the impact of capstone materials on undergraduate psychology students is important in order for the Department of Psychology to best prepare their students for the future.

Recommended Citation

Weinberger, Halley; Megan O'Connor; and Anastasila Antonova. "Assessing a New Psychology Department Capstone Requirement." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 12, 2022.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2022/poster-session-01/6