Career Readiness for the STEM Disciplines

Program Abstract: For the General Education requirements at the University of Mary Washington students must take a course designated as “After Mary Washington.” This requirement focuses on ten core competencies that were adopted from a set defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Students can meet the After Mary Washington (AMW) course requirement by taking AMW designated courses created by faculty in several STEM disciplines or with other approved options. Recently, the AMW program has been expanded to include making connections between coursework in the major and the skills students gain. Faculty are encouraged to become familiar with the AMW competencies and to emphasize which competencies their courses address. This presentation will include examples of STEM AMW courses and examples of syllabi that emphasize AMW competencies. Participants will have the opportunity to consider how they can revise their courses to encourage their students to connect coursework with their professional development.