Curriculum Reform

It’s like deja-vu all over again.

What have we done so far?

120 Credits for Degrees

electives

Individual DepartmentsI should’ve listened to Mackey…Curricular

glut doesn’t pay.

Mission Not Accomplished

Curricular Complexity

PSU program requires 16 PO courses + 1AN/EC/HI/SO course = 17 courses

Example: Political Science

Westfield State: 12 PO courses

Bridgewater State: 12 PO courses

Western Connecticut: 10 PO courses + 2 SS

Frostburg State: 13 PO courses

Sample Comparator Schools

PSU program = 48 credits of EN

Example: English Writing Option

Bridgewater State = 36 credits

Frostburg State = 40 credits

Westfield State = 39 credits

Sample Comparator Schools

What needs to be done?

Dialogue

Provide relevant body of knowledge

Provide standard methods of inquiry

Provide most useful methods of analysis

Provide capstone to demonstrate mastery

A Major Ought To:

Require more courses than needed to convey rigor/depth

Cater significantly to the teaching interests of faculty

Be a product of political considerations

A Major Ought Not:

Are goals well articulated/realistic?

Are requirements justifiable/program goals?

Are students evaluated appropriately?

Do more courses/credits = greater knowledge/skills?

Questions to Consider

Barriers To Curricular Reform

Department Autonomy

DEPARTMENT

Fixation on General Education

Benefits for Students

Ease of Navigation

Truth in Advertising

Less Paperwork

Retention

Time to Degree/Graduation Rates

Positive Experience

Faculty Benefits

Workload/Resource Issues

Enhanced Advising

Linkage With Assessment

Research Methods and Statistics I (4 credits)

Research Methods and Statistics II (4 credits)

Psychology Department (then)

Measuring Behavior (3 credits)

Statistics in Psychology (3 credits)

Research Methods (3 credits)

Psychology Department (now)

Enhanced/Improved Pedagogy

Ongoing conversation…the major

Assessment and evaluation

what we teach

how we teach