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Curriculum Reform. It’s like deja -vu all over again. 120 Credits for Degrees. Free electives. Individual Departments. I should’ve listened to Mackey… Curricular glut doesn’t pay. Curricular Complexity. Example: Political Science.
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Individual Departments I should’ve listened to Mackey… Curricular glut doesn’t pay.
Example: Political Science • PSU program requires 16 PO courses + 1AN/EC/HI/SO course = 17 courses
Sample Comparator Schools • Westfield State: 12 PO courses • Bridgewater State: 12 PO courses • Western Connecticut: 10 PO courses + 2 SS • Frostburg State: 13 PO courses
Example: English Writing Option • PSU program = 48 credits of EN
Sample Comparator Schools • Bridgewater State = 36 credits • Frostburg State = 40 credits • Westfield State = 39 credits
A Major Ought Not: • Cater significantly to the teaching interests of faculty • Require more courses than needed to convey rigor/depth
Psychology Department (then) • Research Methods and Statistics I (4 credits) • Research Methods and Statistics II (4 credits)
Psychology Department (now) • Measuring Behavior (3 credits) • Statistics in Psychology (3 credits) • Research Methods (3 credits)
Questions to Consider • Are goals well articulated/realistic? • Are requirements justifiable|program goals? • Are students evaluated appropriately? • Do more courses/credits = greater knowledge/skills?