The following is a series of common portfolio-related questions that relate closely with the structure of the professional portfolio itself. If you have questions that are not addressed below, please refer those to your course instructor.
Can I petition for General Studies courses?
No, portfolio petitions cannot be used to fulfill General Studies courses.
My major is MISM. Am I limited to petitioning for only MISM courses?
No, you may petition in an area outside of your major.
If my major is Accounting, can I petition for other business courses?
Yes, with a major in accounting you can petition for classes in management, economics, finance, marketing, etc.
Can I use course descriptions from other college catalogs?
Yes, any course description is okay. In brief: 1) Make sure they reflect what you know and can do. 2) You should be able to identify key points in the descriptions from which to form an outline. 3) Make the course prefix and number conform to the table in the Guidebook.
Is there any advantage to petitioning for a 4000 level course versus a 3000 level course?
We generally recommend going for 3000 rather than 4000, since there is no real advantage to a 4000 level class and it may appear that you are asking for a more advanced course. 3000 is still upper level and will meet your needs as such.
What is the difference between Concrete Experiences and Learning Outcomes?
Dr. Mark Parks uses a metaphor to describe the differences. Think of a sponge used to soak up some spilled water. During your work experiences, you are "soaking up" knowledge. So when you write a Concrete Experience entry, you are simply describing the situation and circumstances in which you picked up the knowledge, i.e., where you worked, your title/position, what you were doing, etc. Concrete Experiences are not the place to squeeze the water out of the sponge, that is what you must do in the Learning Outcome section.
Any tips on how to write better Applications/Implications?
Applications/Implications are typically a bit of a struggle. The idea here is that you must show that your learning will change the way you face new situations. Theoretically, this will prove that the knowledge you have gained is not situation-specific and you can utilize it in perhaps a very different environment from where you learned it. The Guidebook suggests writing about how you might approach future opportunities. Most students seem to find it easiest to apply the learning to new situations that are personal in nature. For example, you could show that the communication skills you acquired in a corporate setting can (or could) be applicable in your personal life as you take a leadership role in your neighborhood crime watch program (you could write about leading meetings, creating flyers, etc.) These situations can be real or theoretical--maybe you have a friend that is a high school teacher who could benefit from some of the same communication techniques in the classroom.
I have the documentation in support of petitioning for MISM 3310: Information System Analysis and Design. If I am granted credit for this course, am I at a disadvantage for success in MISM 4330: Strategic IT Planning and Project Management?
Regarding your question about MISM 3310, the College of Business says that if you earn credit for it in the portfolio, it will serve as the prerequisite for 4330, but they also recommend that you make sure you indeed have the background to prepare you sufficiently for 4330. If you have further questions on this, you can call the College of Business at (214) 333-5297.
