The document outlines the process and guidelines for writing a rationale essay, which describes and justifies a student's degree plan. It emphasizes the importance of clarity, organization, and addressing specific academic and professional expectations in the essay, which will be reviewed by faculty members. The rationale essay serves as a personal statement showcasing the alignment of the degree plan with the student’s educational and career goals.

1. How to
Organize & Write
Your Rationale Essay

2. Agenda
• The WHAT/PURPOSE/WHEN of & RESEARCH for the
Rationale Essay
• The HOW – How to Organize the Rationale Essay
• Rationale Essay Resources
• Questions?

3. A Rationale Essay is…
• Unique. Few, if any, colleges require such a document from students. This
essay describes, explains and justifies your degree plan.
• Very different than other types of college writing. It is a personal statement of
your goals, the research you’ve done about related learning opportunities and
your explanation of your degree program.
• A description of how your degree program fits the academic and professional
expectations in your field of study.
• An important part of your degree program portfolio that will be read by your
mentor and three faculty members.
• Similar to the cover letter to explain your résumé (degree plan) and how your
experiences (credits) best meet the requirements of the job (Area of Study
Guidelines and General Education requirements).
• Worked on with the guidance and support of your mentor. Usually 5 – 8 pages
in length.
“Rationale: (n.) A statement of reasons.”
(Oxford English Dictionary)

4. What is the Purpose of the Rationale Essay?
• To explain the reasons for the design of your degree plan.
• To show that you can effectively communicate to others that you
understand the design of your degree plan.
• To explain why you think your degree program will provide you
with a sound educational experience.
• To show how your degree plan will help you meet
your educational and professional goals.
• Is required for degree program review and approval
(a precursor to concurrence
& graduation).
• A well-written essay can expedite
the review process.

5. Purpose of Rationale continued
• To show that you have understood and met
– Area of Study guidelines
– Concentration guidelines
• To demonstrate that your degree program has depth and
breadth.
• To explain the way(s) in which PLA (prior learning assessment)
fits into your degree plan.
– PLA is the same as CBE credit by evaluation in DP planner
• To explain any concerns your degree plan might raise (i.e.
overlap).

6. When do you write
your rationale essay?
• An assignment as part of Educational Planning.
• When you have finalized your degree plan in DP
planner.

7. Research for your Degree
(Feeds into the content of your Rationale Essay)
Research includes any resources you consulted to help
you create your degree:
• Your mentor, other faculty members in relevant
areas of study and concentration guidelines.
• Other college curriculums/catalogs.
• Academic and/or professional expectations for your
current or target field of interest.
Experts in the field, current and future employers, professional organizations,
journals, graduate school admission offices, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
etc.

8. How to Organize Your Rationale
• Introduction – a statement of your goals, degree plan.
• Major sections/topics to be addressed:
1. Area of Study Guidelines
2. Concentration Guidelines
3. General Learning
• Conclusion – a summary of your learning experience
and its value to you and your goals.
Label the sections clearly in your essay.
Your essay should be well organized
and easy to read.

9. Introduction
In general, the following should be included
in your introduction:
• The Area of Study and Concentration
your degree represents.
• A brief description of your
academic/professional path that
led you to Empire State College
• Your personal, professional and academic
goals.

10. Area of Study Guidelines
• Using your Student Degree Planning Guide, discuss
how you met each component of your area of study
(AOS)
– Describe each objective outlined in your AOS
guidelines and discuss how specific study/studies,
prior learning assessments, or credit by
examinations helped you met that objective.
– Include any research you’ve completed to develop
your degree plan as it relates to the AOS guidelines
to support your discussion.

11. Concentration Guidelines
• Using your Student Degree Planning Guide, discuss
how you met each component of your concentration
guidelines: the skills and knowledge someone with
your degree should have.
• Specifically point out what courses or PLAs meet the
various components of the guidelines.
• Elaborate (if necessary) on why you made specific
choices within the concentration.
• Specific job skills necessary for the field
• Extra room in the degree plan
• Graduate school plans

12. Concentration guidelines continued
• If there are no guidelines for your concentration, it is
your responsibility to clearly articulate what skills and
knowledge someone in this field should possess and
point out how your degree plan will allow you to
develop them. (DEVELOP THIS WITH YOUR MENTOR)
• Include any research you’ve completed to develop your
degree plan as it relates to support your discussion.
• Develop your reasoning and research-based
concentration components and show how individual
studies, PLAs, etc. help you met these components.
• You may want to point out the progression of your
learning in your concentration.

13. General Learning & General Education
• Make a statement about why you find it
valuable to be broadly educated.
• Note that you have met the general
education requirements.
• Remark on the integration of learning
(how your general learning and
concentration are interrelated).
• Point out the depth and breadth of
learning.

14. What is “depth?”
• Depth refers mostly to your concentration and the
upper level studies you’ve taken that have helped
you develop a deeper understanding of your subject
area.
• You might point out that you developed a good
foundation with lower level studies and went on (or
plan to) take more advanced studies to increase your
knowledge/learn more deeply.

15. What is “breadth?”
• Breadth shows how broadly
educated you will be as a result
of your degree.
• In your general
learning/general education
discussion, emphasize how and
why the studies outside your
concentration are valuable to
you.

16. Conclusion
• In your concluding paragraph you might reflect on
the value of your education and the importance this
degree has for you and your academic/professional
goals.

17. Important considerations
• Make sure you address any questions in your essay that
might come up, such as why some credit that should be
clearly present (i.e. to meet an AOS Guideline) in your
degree plan might be embedded in a course or prior
learning.
• If it appears that there might be possible overlap
between studies or PLA, make sure you explain.
• Make sure you talk a bit about how your concentration
and general learning are integrated: how do some of the
courses on the right side of your degree support your
concentration.

18. Some Rational Rationale Advice
• Expect to write several drafts of the essay—so give
yourself the necessary time.
• Double check that the titles of degree and courses
match your degree plan.
• Use headings for the various sections of your essay.
• Make sure you have your name on the essay
and number the pages.
• It helps to date your drafts!
• Most rationales are 5-8 pages.

19. Some Rational Rationale Advice continued
• It’s important that your essay is well-written and
carefully proofread. In part you are
demonstrating the quality of your thinking and
writing (thus your education) in this essay.
• Your mentor must read and approve your essay
before it is submitted to the Assessment Office.

20. What Happens During
the Review Process?
• Three faculty review your degree plan and
supporting materials; they carefully read your essay
and refer to your rationale during the portfolio
discussion for answers that may arise during the
review.
• Your rationale therefore needs to be clearly written,
in terms that faculty outside of your particular field
of study will understand.

21. Rationale Essay Resources
Read the helpful information about
rationales in:
Degree Planning Guide
&
Area of Study website
http://www.esc.edu/aos