How to develop a written description on the curriculum
The purpose of developing a written description of the curriculum is to describe the pathway of learning students will follow in the completion of their program’s course requirements. Frequently, writing such a description engages faculty in a critical examination of how the sequencing of courses and experiences within the curriculum achieves the learning outcomes set forth in the degree program. An analytical examination often results in identifying ways to improve the sequencing of courses and learning experiences.
The description is meant to emerge from examining the Degree Progression Plan and the Curriculum Map. Merging the information of these two documents places the learning outcomes into time. It provides a perspective of when students likely experience learning in the program, and the opportunity to analyze this timeframe and determine whether changes would improve students’ learning experience. A common way to develop a description is to create a curriculum map (or request such a map be created for your program by the Office of Curriculum, Learning Design & Academic Assessment) that reflects the course requirements set forth in the Degree Progression Plan, then describe the results.
Most undergraduate programs develop a summary describing:
- the foundational learning provided in the degree program, then describes
- how the program builds upon key fundamentals,
- opportunities within the program to explore electives or emphasis areas,
- key learning experiences such as clinics, hands-on projects, internships, etc., and
- the capstone experience, and how it culminates the learning within the program and prepares students for their future beyond the program.
Most graduate programs develop a summary describing:
- the knowledge and skills necessary for students to achieve prior to entering the program, in other words, the pre-requisite content and skills that the program will use as a foundation
- how the program builds upon key fundamentals,
- opportunities within the program to explore electives or emphasis areas,
- key learning experiences such as clinics, hands-on projects, internships, etc., and
- the culminating experience, and how it synthesizes the learning within the program and prepares students for their future beyond the program.
Example from Journalism B.S.
The Journalism, Photojournalism and Documentary Studies Program provides students with the hands-on experience to tell compelling nonfiction stories in a variety of media platforms.
We build a strong foundation in the history, philosophy and ethics of journalism, photojournalism and documentary studies, and emphasize how these disciplines serve varied communities and facilitate the free flow of information needed in a democratic society. Students learn to take a global perspective as they critically assess journalistic and documentary work from a variety of places and historical periods. By valuing the principles of the journalistic tradition, our students obtain the critical and creative edge to innovate and be relevant in an evolving media world.
Built upon the fundamentals of storytelling and nonfiction narrative, our curriculum ensures that students can cover breaking news as well as develop features and deeper, under-reported stories. Our students are informed and curious about their communities, and develop a critical understanding of media forms that allows them to identify audience needs and place stories within context. By honing methods of investigative research, relationship building and interviewing, our students learn to gather the materials needed to craft compelling narratives. Their creative works are refined through individual mentoring from instructors as well as through intensive student peer review.
The program’s faculty are innovative teachers and professionals who engage students in their current projects through hands-on experience and personalized mentoring. Students produce and publish journalism for real audiences through classwork and in our state-of-the-art Student Media Center, which integrates a newsroom, TV studio and radio station. Internship and independent study projects allow them to report in depth on subjects important to our community or structured around their passions.
Our goal is to train students to be savvy media consumers and producers who can succeed not only in the realm of professional journalism, but within whatever future they create.