Make Your Experiences Matter

College is more than the classes you take. CAS Advantage helps you recognize what you are learning from your experiences and communicate why those experiences matter.

• • EXPERIENCE
    • Participate in academic, career, campus, community, and professional experiences that connect with your interests and goals.
  • REFLECT
    • Think intentionally about what you learned, how you grew and how you can apply that learning in the future.
  • SHOWCASE
    • Build an e-portfolio that brings together your experiences, reflections, skills and accomplishments.
  • GROW
    • Use what you learn to make informed choices, prepare for what's next and demonstrate your development through optional CAS Advantage badges.

Your CAS Advantage Journey

CAS Advantage grows with you throughout your undergraduate experience. Enroll in the course that corresponds with your class level and use each course to build your experiences, reflections, and e-portfolio.

• FALL
  • CAS 1000 | CAS 2000 | CAS 3000 | CAS 4000
    • Explore experiences connected to:
      • Communication
        • Develop your ability to express ideas, listen, and connect with others.
      • Community
        • Discover how you can engage with and contribute to the communities around you.
• WINTER
  • CAS 1001 | CAS 2001 | CAS 3001 | CAS 4001
    • Explore experiences connected to:
      • Critical & Creative Thinking
        • Analyze information, approach challenges and develop thoughtful solutions.
      • Career & Life Design
        • Explore your strengths, possibilities and goals while preparing for what comes next.
      • Collaboration
        • Learn to contribute effectively while working with others toward shared goals.

Build Your Story Along the Way

You shouldn't have to wait until senior year to remember everything you've accomplished.

Throughout CAS Advantage, you'll build an e-portfolio that grows with you. Use it to collect meaningful experiences, reflections, academic work, career materials, and examples of your developing skills.

By graduation, your portfolio can help you tell employers, graduate programs, and yourself not only what you did at Oakland University, but what you learned from it.

Your portfolio may include:

• • Academic projects and accomplishments
  • CAS Advantage experiences and reflections
  • Leadership and campus involvement
  • Career and professional experiences
  • Your resume and career materials
  • Evidence of your developing skills
  • CAS Advantage badges and accomplishments

Take Your CAS Advantage Further

Five Competencies. Five Badges. One CAS Advantage Pin.

As you participate in CAS Advantage, you can choose to pursue badges recognizing your development in five key areas:

• • Communication
  • Community
  • Critical & Creative Thinking
  • Career & Life Design
  • Collaboration

Badge applications are optional and separate from completing your CAS Advantage experiences and reflections. Earning a badge requires you to demonstrate how an experience helped you develop—not simply that you participated.

Earn All Five. Wear Your Achievement at Graduation.

Students who successfully earn all five CAS Advantage badges receive a CAS Advantage pin to wear at graduation, recognizing their completion of the full badge experience.

The pin represents more than completing five activities. It represents the experiences you've had, the skills you've developed, and the growth you've demonstrated throughout your CAS Advantage journey.

Keep Growing

Your first five badges don't have to be the end of your CAS Advantage journey.

Each competency includes multiple levels designed to recognize continued development. As your experiences become deeper and your ability to apply what you've learned grows, you can progress to higher badge levels.

Across the five competencies, you can earn up to 20 CAS Advantage badges during your time at Oakland University.

5 Competencies - 5 Badges - Graduation Pin - Up to 20 Badges

Graduate With More Than a Degree

CAS Advantage helps you leave Oakland University better prepared to explain the value of your college experience.

Through the program, you can:

• • Discover Your Strengths
    
    • Recognize the skills and abilities you are developing.
  • Explore Your Future
    
    • Connect your interests and experiences with career and graduate school possibilities.
  • Build Your Resume
    
    • Identify meaningful experiences and accomplishments you can communicate to employers.
  • Prepare for Interviews
    
    • Develop real examples you can use when talking about your skills and experiences.
  • Create Your E-Portfolio
    
    • Build a professional collection of your work, growth and accomplishments.
  • Earn Recognition
    
    • Pursue five CAS Advantage badges and earn the CAS Advantage pin to wear at graduation.