for smithx2888Unit 3

Your Customized Degree Plan

Unit 3 Reading Assignments

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Instructor: Review the Excel spreadsheet template with students

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Read: University course catalog course descriptions for the elective courses offered in the Public Safety department: http :// catalog.kaplanuniversity.edu/Program.aspx

Find your program and then read the program information on the tabs labeled Description & Outcomes, and Degree Plan.

On the Descriptions & Outcomes tab, you will find a description of your program and the Program Outcomes.

On the Degree Plan tab, you will find information based on your chosen track and specialization including a list of courses for your degree, the emphasis areas and course descriptions. Select each course in the degree plan separately to read the course descriptions. This will help you further understand the skills and knowledge that are needed for the courses available.

Unit 3 Reading Assignments

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Instructor: Review the reading assignments with students

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The Comprehensive Track and Applied Research Track

Discuss your plans for completing your degree through either the Comprehensive Exam Track or the Applied Research Track within the graduate program. What benefits does each process offer? How will your choice impact your academic and career plans?

What information did you find under the “Additional Program Requirements” link on the degree information page from the reading assignment? What electives are you considering for your individual degree plan? Explain how each of these will be beneficial to you in your career field.

Unit 3 Discussion Topics

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Unit 3 Discussion

The Comprehensive Track and Applied Research Track

Discuss your plans for completing your degree through either the Comprehensive Exam Track or the Applied Research Track within the graduate program. What benefits does each process offer? How will your choice impact your academic and career plans?

What information did you find under the “Additional Program Requirements” link on the degree information page from the reading assignment? What electives are you considering for your individual degree plan? Explain how each of these will be beneficial to you in your career field.

Writing Center Workshop

For this discussion, attend two of the KU Writing Center’s live workshops, or view the past workshops from the video archives. Write 2-3 paragraphs discussing the content covered in each of the workshops that you attended. What new information did you learn, and how will it be beneficial as you complete your graduate degree. Provide an APA citation for the workshops accessed.

To find the workshops, navigate to the KU Writing Center Workshop page at https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingWorkshops.aspx

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Writing Center Workshop

Attend two of the KU Writing Center’s live workshops, or view two of the past workshops from the video archives. Write 2–3 paragraphs discussing the content covered in each of the workshops that you attended. What new information did you learn, and how will it be beneficial as you complete your graduate degree? Provide an APA citation for the workshops accessed. 

Find workshops at KU Writing Center Workshop page:

https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingWorkshops.aspx

Unit 3 Discussion Topics

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Unit 3 Discussion

The Comprehensive Track and Applied Research Track

Discuss your plans for completing your degree through either the Comprehensive Exam Track or the Applied Research Track within the graduate program. What benefits does each process offer? How will your choice impact your academic and career plans?

What information did you find under the “Additional Program Requirements” link on the degree information page from the reading assignment? What electives are you considering for your individual degree plan? Explain how each of these will be beneficial to you in your career field.

Writing Center Workshop

For this discussion, attend two of the KU Writing Center’s live workshops, or view the past workshops from the video archives. Write 2-3 paragraphs discussing the content covered in each of the workshops that you attended. What new information did you learn, and how will it be beneficial as you complete your graduate degree. Provide an APA citation for the workshops accessed.

To find the workshops, navigate to the KU Writing Center Workshop page at https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingWorkshops.aspx

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Your Customized Degree Plan

In the Unit 3 Assignment, you will use the information provided about the program and classes, combined with your intended career and academic goals, to review and select the elective classes for your Customized Degree Plan. This will give you a preliminary academic map to work toward your degree goal throughout your study at Kaplan University.

This Assignment has two parts:

In Part I you will create your Customized Degree Plan in an Excel® spreadsheet and select your electives.

Part II asks you to explain the reasoning behind your choices in your degree plan.

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Part I: Customized Degree Plan

As you may have noticed, your degree plan has both required courses and courses that you get to choose, called electives. To create your Customized Degree Plan, you will choose each of the elective classes that will fulfill the elective credit hour requirements in your degree plan. The point of this exercise is to get you actively involved in your class choices based on your career plans. 

Think about the career plan you have made for yourself and decide whether you are more interested in pursuing a more general knowledge of the public safety field or perhaps a more specialized area. Cater your elective choices to fit your career needs. You may choose to follow the sample degree plans provided or create your own elective choices.

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Download Sample Degree Plan

In Doc Sharing, there are sample degree plans provided for the Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) and the Master’s Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management (MSHSEM). Go to Doc Sharing and click the “Sample Customized Degree Plan” category. You should see a list of documents similar to the following.

MSHSEM Degree Plan.xlsx

Student Template for MSHSEM Degree Plan.xlsx

MS Criminal Justice Degree Plan.xlsx

Student Template MSCJ Degree Plan.xlsx       

Download and review the sample degree plan for your respective program and the associated student template for the degree plan. You will use the student template to create your customized degree plan.

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Choose Electives

Choose each of the elective courses that will fulfill the elective credit hour requirements in your degree plan.

For help in choosing electives, go to the Kaplan University course catalog and read the descriptions for all the elective courses that seem of interest to you. These course descriptions should help you to further understand the skills and knowledge that will be featured in the courses available.

http://catalog.kaplanuniversity.edu/Program.aspx

Make elective choices and use the student template to complete your customized degree plan. Be sure you have met the appropriate amount of credits for your elective options. Remember your customized degree plan will serve as a guide for ongoing conversations with your advisor.

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Part II: Explanation of Your Choices

To complete this portion of the Assignment, go to Doc Sharing, click the “Sample Customized Degree Plan” category and download the file CJ550 Unit3 Part II Assignment Template.doc. You will use this template to record your answers to the questions below about your Customized Degree Plan:

Why have you chosen the elective classes included in your degree plan?

What skills and knowledge do you expect to learn from these classes?

How will these individual skills and knowledge help you in your field?

How will these electives further your career goals in general?

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Directions for Submitting Your Assignment

Submit 2 documents with name, class, and section number:

Your degree plan should be in an Excel spreadsheet

Your explanation of choices should be in a Word document that contains answers to each question in separate sections (that include paragraphs, proofreading, etc.). Your responses should be double-spaced, using 12 pt. Arial font, and Standard American English. Your answers will be based on your thoughts and, therefore, will not require outside citations. However, if you do cite outside references, you will have to provide the source information. In addition, your Assignment should demonstrate careful proofreading.

Submit both the Customized Degree Plan spreadsheet and your explanation of choices to the Unit 3: Assignment Dropbox by the end of Unit 3

Unit 3 Assignment

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Instructor: Review with students how to create the customized degree plan. Inform students that they are responsible for sending their completed degree plan to their advisor.

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Create a 350-500 word reflective Journal detailing how this unit’s learning has changed your thought process.

This statement should include ideas of how this week’s material will benefit you in your career and personal goals.

You may include any questions regarding material that remains unclear.