Master of Science in Education
Comprehensive Portfolio Guidebook
Table of Contents
Portfolio Rationale 3
Program Outcomes 3
Program Goals 3
Portfolio Components 4
Portfolio Format and Due Dates 5
Example of Portfolio Format 5
Comprehensive Portfolio Tutorial 5
Examples of Artifacts 5
Portfolio Evaluation 6
Appendix A: Links to Forms 6
Appendix B: Courses and Artifacts 6
Comprehensive Portfolio Rubric 7
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Portfolio Rationale
During their final academic term of their program, master’s degree candidates who
are not completing a thesis must submit a comprehensive portfolio. This portfolio
will include artifacts and reflections from coursework in the program. It allows
students to develop an organized collection of work and thinking that demonstrate
content mastery, growth, and evidence that candidates are self-directed and
reflective practitioners. Portfolio development is an ongoing process and should be
developed through the master’s candidates educational program. The portfolio must
meet the criteria outlined in this guidebook.
Program Outcomes
Master’s degree graduates will demonstrate:
1. The application of graduate-level knowledge in core and research areas, as well as
in the chosen emphasis area or, if seeking a general Master’s degree with no
emphasis area, electives.
2. The ability to integrate content knowledge into curricular, instructional, and
assessment strategies for students at different educational levels or in the Master’s
student applicable professional area.
3. The ability to formulate, implement, and sustain evidence-based practices in an
educational or professional environment.
Program Goals
Program goals are skills necessary to achieve the program outcomes.
Master’s degree graduates will be able to:
1. Self-direct their personal and professional growth.
2. Respond effectively to differences, equity and diversity, and global learning
communities.
3. Align content, pedagogy, and knowledge of students to engage and guide
learners as they achieve developmentally appropriate objectives.
4. Improve practice through critical self-reflection, self-assessment, and applied
research.
5. Work collaboratively with colleagues, professionals, parents, guardians, families
and individuals.
6. Demonstrate skills representative of an educational leader.
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Portfolio Components
The portfolio must be submitted in electronic format either as a Google Site or as a
Google Doc. Evidence can include audio/video reflections in addition to written work.
The portfolio must be viewable in two hours or less. Please follow the guidelines listed
below and include all components.
1. Table of Contents
Use page numbers to define each section.
2. Graduation Plan
Graduation plan will include a list of all graduate courses taken as part
of the degree. This should have been maintained throughout your program.
The template is located HERE.
3. Program Evaluation Form
A link to your evaluation of the courses you took in the program. (Click the link
below for the template.)
Program Evaluation Form
4. Personal Statement
Describe your personal and professional growth throughout your
Master’s degree program.
3. Program Goals Reflection
Include a two-page reflection summarizing how the program goals
have been met. Your reflection should answer the following questions. “How
have you achieved the six program goals? How do you, or how will you
implement the goals within your current or future work?”
6. Program Outcomes Cover Sheet
Include a link to your program outcomes cover sheet which indicates
alignment between artifacts and program outcomes. (Click the link
below for the template.)
Program Outcomes Cover Sheet
7. Artifacts
● Include artifacts from five courses demonstrating mastery of the
program outcomes.
Outcome 1: Include at least one artifact.
Outcome 2: Include at least two artifacts.
Outcome 3: Include at least two artifacts. One of the artifacts from
Outcome 3 can be from a classroom/work environment and not
developed for a course, however includes in the reflection which
course(s) provided the foundational knowledge for the development of
the artifact.
● Three of the artifacts must be from Core or Research courses.
● Two of the artifacts must be from the area of emphasis or electives.
● Additional artifacts are permitted.
● If artifacts include any type of student identifying information (photo of
face, video or audio recording of voice, or written work) of minors,
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names should be removed and proof of permission for use of the article
must be attached.
8. Artifact Reflections
Provide a reflection for each artifact explaining which program
outcomes are demonstrated with the artifact and how your experiences
in the development of this artifact helped you meet this outcome. For
program outcome 3, the reflection should include a description of how
this artifact will help ensure a sustainable impact.
Portfolio Format and Due Dates
The portfolio can be submitted as a Google Doc or as a Google Site, but it is imperative that
these links are made public so they can be shared with the UWSP Faculty and Staff who will
need to access your work. You can do this by getting a sharable link that will allow anyone with
that link access to your Google Doc or Google Site and selecting the “Anyone with the link can
view” option. For directions on getting this set up click here. Your portfolio should be complete
and shared with the director of the Master’s program during the last semester/term of
coursework. Fall submissions are due by November 1st, Spring submissions are due by April
1st, and Summer submissions are due by July 14th.
Example of Portfolio Format
Click here to obtain a copy of the comprehensive portfolio formatted document.
Comprehensive Portfolio Tutorial
Click here to view the comprehensive portfolio tutorial.
Examples of Artifacts
The following example artifacts are minimally representative of what could be
included. Many courses will include assignments that may be utilized as artifacts. For
alignment of UWSP courses and artifact examples, please click the link below.
UWSP Courses & Artifact Alignment
Example artifacts for evidence of graduate-level knowledge (Program Outcome 1)
● Written papers in which topics from the core areas or the area of emphasis (with
references) are discussed.
● Concept maps that contains between 20 and 50 concept labels and their appropriate
relations.
● Digital presentations.
● Projects demonstrating mastery of core knowledge.
● Recorded lessons where the candidate is teaching content knowledge to others.
Example artifacts for integration of content within the field (Program Outcome 2)
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● Teaching philosophy statement which includes how the content knowledge in applied
within the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
● A sample unit plan with a minimum of five lessons fully developed that integrates a new
content area into an existing class.
● An assessment plan that measures student learning or growth of the target audience.
This should include samples assessments (formative and summative), and scoring or
rubrics.
● Work that serves as evidence of mastery of the ability to integrate content in the chosen
area of emphasis into the chosen professional area.
Examples artifacts for integration and sustainability of evidence-based practices
(Program Outcome 3)
● A set of materials to be used in a school district staff development workshop or workshop
in the chosen professional field, that would focus on using new instructional and
assessment techniques. This should would include the workshop goals, how it will be
implemented, how it will be evaluated, and how follow-up will be provided. If possible,
present the workshop. The completed evaluation forms from a workshop presented and a
summary of the results can be used to supplement the artifact.
● A set of materials (letter to parents, PTA program, packets of material, etc.) to be used by
administrators and teachers to educate parents about using new instructional and
assessment techniques.
● A differentiation plan that has been implemented in the professional environment and
shared with professional colleagues for feedback. Evidence of refinement of the plan
based on feedback and implementation is included.
Portfolio Evaluation
Submission Information
The completed portfolio must be in the form of a Google Doc and be submitted via
1st for a Spring graduation and July 14th for a Summer graduation. The director will
review the portfolio and will ensure it is reviewed by a minimum of two other faculty
members in the School of Education. The student will be informed about the
evaluations of his or her portfolio as soon as possible. Portfolios will be identified as
Exemplary, Satisfactory, or Developing/Emerging as outlined in the included
Comprehensive Portfolio Rubric. Portfolios identified as Developing/Emerging must
be improved and resubmitted.
Appendix A: Links to Forms
Program Evaluation Form
Program Outcomes Cover Sheet
Appendix B: Courses and Artifacts
UWSP Courses & Artifact Alignment
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Comprehensive Portfolio Rubric
Developing/
Emerging
Satisfactory
Exemplary
Table of Contents,
Graduation Plan,
Program
Evaluation Form,
Personal
Statement,
Program
Outcomes Cover
Sheet
One or more items are
missing or
incomplete. Personal
statement lacks
evidence of growth.
All required items are
included. Personal
statement provide
evidence of growths.
All required items are
included. Personal
statement provides
clear, concise evidence
of growth.
Program Goals
Reflection
Reflection does not
discuss how the
program goals were
achieved and/or does
not align to current or
future work. Written
communication has
errors or is
unclear/unorganized.
Reflection addresses
how the goals have been
achieved with some
discussion related to the
alignment to current or
future work. Writing is
clear but may have a
few errors.
Clear and thoughtful
reflection that describes,
in detail, how the goals
have been achieved
and how the student will
align the goals with the
current or future work.
Writing is free of
grammatical errors.
Artifacts
Artifacts are missing
or not aligned with
program outcomes.
Artifacts are not from
core/ research/
emphasis-elective
area courses.
At least 5 relevant
artifacts are included
and provide evidence of
program outcomes.
Artifacts are from
core/research/
emphasis-elective area
courses.
At least 5 relevant
artifacts are included
and provide significant
evidence of program
outcomes. Artifacts are
from a core/research/
emphasis-elective area
courses.
Artifact Reflections
Reflections do not
align the artifact with
the program
outcomes. Written
communication does
not demonstrate
graduate level work.
Reflections aligns with
the program outcomes.
Written communication
demonstrated graduate
level work.
Reflections provide clear
alignment between
artifacts and program
outcomes. Written
communication is well
organized and
demonstrated graduate
level work.
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