General Education: Assessment

A liberal arts education includes both wide exploration in general education and focused study within a major. Burlington College has established General Education Learning Goals for general education and assesses each student’s fulfillment of those goals through a combination of course work, a portfolio of original work compiled for the midpoint assessment, and a capstone project—Degree Project—in the final year.

General Education Learning Goals
We stress four fundamental learning skills—written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, and research methods—that students use across the disciplines. The College also sets learning goals that embrace traditional elements of the liberal arts such as historical consciousness and scientific thought along with others that are more specific to our mission such as responsible action and creative expression.

Midpoint Assessment
Admission to the B.A. program is selective, based on the assessment of a portfolio of the student’s work at the midpoint (60 credits). Those students seeking the A.A. degree are also required to complete this process. Students submit original work to demonstrate proficiency in the four fundamental learning skills. Midpoint Assessment is officially triggered by enrollment in Research and Reflection, a course that supports the development of the portfolio. A portfolio review committee reads each portfolio and assesses student progress. Download the Assessment Handbook (PDF/128 kb) for a full description.

Degree Project
Every student completes a substantial final project in the last two semesters. The six-credit hour Degree Project, rooted in the student’s field and personal interests, represents the culmination of a student’s work in the major. Degree Projects include research papers and creative work of all kinds, depending on the student’s goals and the major field. See the Degree Project page for a full description.