The "Lifeskills" listed below are generally recognized as essential in a variety of careers and life situations. The General Education Program provides you an opportunity to develop these important skills. Rate your current level of skill by placing a check before each item you plan to improve. Leave blank those you plan to maintain. Then, discuss with your advisor the GEP courses and other activities which will help you improve these skills.
| Plan
to Improve |
Critical Thinking Skills | Improved
by GEP |
Improved
by Activities |
| Identify
quickly and accurately the important issues involved in making a decision |
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| Apply
appropriate criteria to strategies and action plans |
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| Create
innovative solutions to problems and action plans |
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| Analyze
the interrelationships of events and ideas from several perspectives |
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| Human
Relations and Communication Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Convey a positive self-image to others | |||
| Interact
effectively with peers, superiors, subordinates |
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| Generate trust and confidence in others | |||
| Teach a skill, concept or principle | |||
| Listen
objectively and paraphrase the content of a message |
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| Speak effectively to individuals and groups | |||
| Use
various forms and styles of written communication |
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| Management
and Administrative Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Analyze tasks | |||
| Delegate
responsibility for completion of a task |
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| Organize
people and tasks to achieve specific goals |
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| Motivate and lead people to achieve goals | |||
| Demonstrate initiative | |||
| Set realistic goals | |||
| Manage time effectively | |||
| Work
under time and environmental pressures |
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| Numerical
Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Reason
quantitatively to solve problems having numerical solutions |
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| Determine
if data presented from mechanical solutions is quantitatively correct |
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| Possess a
general knowledge of computer capabilities and be able to use software |
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| Personal
Development Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Identify one's strengths and weaknesses | |||
| Persist
with a project when faced with obstacles unless it is clear that the project cannot be completed |
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| Accept the consequences of one's actions | |||
| Be
punctual: get to work on time and complete assignments on schedule |
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| Appearance:
dress appropriately for a variety of interpersonal situations |
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| Research
and Investigative Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Identify problems and needs | |||
| Design an
experiment, plan or model that systematically defines a problem |
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| Identify
and use a variety of sources of information |
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| Apply a
variety of methods to test the validity of data |
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| Valuing
Skills (Ability to:) |
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| Make
decisions that will maximize both the individual and group good |
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| Appreciate
the contributions of art, literature, science, and technology to society |
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| Assess
one's values in relation to important life decisions |
The above list has been adapted from one prepared by Paul Breen, San Francisco State University, in consultation with students, employers, and faculty members.