Individualized Program Statement Sample Passages Background After working as a graphic designer for four years, I decided I needed a new direction. I missed the direct connection and satisfaction of working with people face to face. Working in an in-house graphics department I had very little contact with clients and what contact I did have was over the phone. I couldn t see myself in the same position for the rest of my working career. In the search for a new direction, I took a career assessment, a personality test and spoke with a career counselor. I wanted a new direction and going back to school was my answer. I am returning to the University of Toledo after working for the same company for the last nine years. I left Toledo to work, because I was not very focused at the time on education and that was reflected in my grades at the time. I had received an associate s degree in Criminal Justice before coming to Toledo, but was not interested in working in that field. I became interested in computers and technology which is what lead me to the Information System degree originally and in turn lead me to go to work for a software company. My current position is very technical and requires me to have a lot of business understanding and computer and programming skills. Although I do not need a degree in my current position I want to advance my career and become a manager of other employees. To be able to do that I need to have a 4 year degree which is what lead me to come back to finish my degree with UT.
Life is a series of lessons; education, socialization and work experience; all working together to lead to a common goal. Sometimes our paths are clear cut and take us directly to our destination. Other times we change our paths due to changing circumstances and our goal takes a little longer to reach. My life has followed the second path and this is the reason I believe I am a good candidate for the Individualized Study program at the University of Toledo. Focus Economics and marketing courses for non-profit organizations will provide me with knowledge of concepts and theories that are relevant to controversial issues and dilemmas in the healthcare system. Medical Ethics and courses dealing with healthcare and the law with supply information about ethical and legal issues confronting today s healthcare system. My decision-making skills will improve as I gain more knowledge about what is ethical or unethical; as well as what is legal and illegal when confronted with healthcare problems and dilemmas while functioning as a healthcare manager. The direction for my Individualized Program is to focus on organizational development, human resources and communication. The courses I have included in my program will help me to better understand, communicate with and manage people. I chose classes in the human resource field for the management skills needed in identifying potential problems in running a business and managing employees. Organizational development classes will not only give me a better sense of self as a leader, but also allow me to recognize potential in others and be able to mentor the team members I will lead in the
future. My communication classes will give me the skills necessary to effectively communicate on multiple platforms within an organization. In addition to course work in communication and psychology, I will be taking classes in the business field that will help me to achieve my goals of moving into a management position at my current place of employment or another. I will be enrolled in principles of marketing, managerial and behavioral processes, entrepreneurship, legal and ethical environment of business, and reducing workplace conflict. It is in these classes that I hope to gain the skills and knowledge that I need for the workplace. I hope to get a better understanding of how a business is run and the knowledge I need to run a business to the best of my abilities. I also want to have insight into people s behavior and how best to express myself in group and individual settings. Goals The Individualized Program helps me to excel personally and professionally. By allowing me to mold my own degree, I believe I will be better able to achieve my goals in my career and life. In this day and age, with the road to globalization being at its peak, being too specialized can be the beginning of failure. In realizing this, hopefully the completion of my degree at The University of Toledo will launch me to a successful career.
I am confident that this opportunity will give me a chance to grow as a person by allowing me to think about subjects that I have not been able to for years if ever! University College is giving me a chance to fulfill everything I need to pursue my MBA with all pre-requisites completed, while allowing me some diversification in classes to grow as a human being. I am very thankful for this opportunity to end a frustrating and difficult undergraduate career in a way that I will be proud of. The Individualized Program will build a pathway that will ultimately lead me to accomplish my personal, academic and professional goals. Personally, the program will help me to find my particular area of interest in the field of helping professions. Academically, I will be better prepared for the graduate course work I plan to pursue upon completion of my Individualized Program. Professionally, the program will allow me to focus solely on the areas that are uniquely specific to the type of employment I wish to obtain. The Individualized Program will enable me to become a qualified candidate in the unique career field that I have chosen. What I wish to accomplish by receiving this degree is the ability to better serve each and every patient that I have contact with. Knowledge is power and the ability to consolidate all of my interests in healthcare into my own program will make me better able to apply the more specific knowledge to my patients. Once I have established myself as a bed-side nurse, and I can efficiently practice what I preach, my long term goal in 15 to 25 years is to become a teacher in the nursing field. By having an Associate Degree of Nursing and this Bachelor s Degree, I will be able to venture on into the graduate
program of study. At that time my education and ability to help the public, will be passed on by helping to create another batch of caring, compassionate, and well-rounded nurses.