Medina Khatib

Needs Assessment

1. Identify the KSAOs (knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics) that you should have
after graduating from JMU with a degree in Psychology
a. Knowledge base of Psychology j. Leadership Skills
b. Research Skills (data analysis, k. Teamwork skills
research designs, reporting results) l. Working in groups
c. Critical thinking and problem m. Working alone
solving n. Time management
d. Applying psychology o. Efficient reading and processing of
e. Communication skills information
f. Conflict and resolution p. Committing to projects and avoiding
strategies/management hesitation
g. Personal improvement q. Organization and planning
h. Adapting to change r. Generalized knowledge of diverse
i. Being open to Learning new subject matters within psychology
information and other subjects

2. Identify the KSAOs that are your strengths

a. KSAO
i. Critical thinking and problem solving
ii. Leadership skills
iii. Being open to learning new information
iv. Committing to projects and avoiding hesitation
v. Organization and planning
vi. Communication skills
b. Representative experience that either illustrates your ability or shows some experience that
enhanced that ability
i. I attempt to think outside of the box in most situations in order to inspire creative yet
efficient thinking. My minor in communication studies has allowed me to take courses
that introduce me to many problem solving strategies
ii. As the Vice President of the Muslim Student Association on campus I am able to lead
committees, problem solve with the President, and effectively include others without
being domineering
iii. The courses that I have taken throughout my time at JMU have provided me with a wide
variety of courses.
1. Within my general education courses I have taken diverse courses such as art
history, health, biology, statistics courses, religions, critical reading and writing,
biological anthropology, sociology, economics and government courses.
2. Within my communications studies minor I have taken group communications,
communications theory and lab, mediated communication (media arts and
design), health communications, organizational communication, public relations,
and relationship communication.
 3. Finally, my psychology courses have a diverse span of topics such as lifespan and
development, measurement and statistics, topics in psychology (grad school and
career), research methods, abnormal psychology, social psychology, psychology
of learning, cognitive psychology, biopsychology, psychology of personality,
psychology of the workplace, and finally an independent research study on the
psychology of passion.
iv. I enjoy organizing and planning from my everyday life to my academic and work life.
1. I do personal research on organization and planning, as well as having taken
courses on career and life planning, as well as dealing with productivity and
planning in organizational communication.
2. Additionally, I have had a diverse experience in the workforce working as a
nanny for young children, being a hostess at a caf, working as a supervisor at the
front end of Sams Club, and shadowing an orthopedic surgeon.
v. Being in an Independent study on the topic Passion has allowed me to work closely with
a faculty member as well spend two semesters researching, and now on my third semester
conducting and evaluating studies. This gives me responsibility, task and time
management, as well as experience working with the IRB and their protocol.

3. Identify the KSAOs that are your weaknesses (these are the KSAOs that you want to improve
before you graduate)
a. KSAO
i. Research Skills
ii. Adapting to new environments
iii. Reading and processing new information in a timely an efficient manner
iv. Personal improvement
b. Experience you would like to garner before graduating that would help you improve this
KSAO
i. I would like to become more comfortable with research and data analysis, research design
and result presentation. I am currently in an independent study course and really enjoy it
but when I was in statistics and research courses I was always intimidated.
ii. I would also like to learn new ways to adapt to new environments and changes in an
efficient, healthy, and professional manner
iii. I would like to be able to read and process new information in a timely and efficient
manner that allows me to take my time yet be efficient with tasks.
iv. I would like to experience hands on work in the field of psychology and work closely
with professionals in different areas of the subject. This would allow experiential
learning as well as a broad insight to each area. Ive taken the courses and would love to
try to be able to get into the field.
v. Keeping the idea in mind that there is always more to learn is something I like to hold on.
Personal improvement would hopefully continue.