toward a model curriculum for an information systems degree in liberal arts colleges

Toward a Model Curriculum for an

Information Systems Degreein

Liberal Arts Colleges

Jim Howatt, Luther College

LAIS Model Curriculum

Or,

Can We Developa Mini-IS2002 Program

for a Liberal Arts Curriculum?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Question:

Would a model Liberal Arts IS (LAIS) program be beneficial?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Question:

Would a model Liberal Arts IS (LAIS) program be beneficial?

If so, what would it look like?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Motivation:

Why would we want to do this?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Motivation:

We had to

LAIS Model Curriculum

Motivation:

We had to

Guidance for others

LAIS Model Curriculum

Motivation:

We had to

Guidance for others

Evidence of program quality

LAIS Model Curriculum

Is this task worth considering?

What are the drawbacks?

.

.

LAIS Model Curriculum

Is this task worth considering?

Decreasing enrollments

.

.

LAIS Model Curriculum

Is this task worth considering?

Decreasing enrollments

Does IS belong in Liberal Arts?

.

LAIS Model Curriculum

Is this task worth considering?

Decreasing enrollments

Does IS belong in Liberal Arts

How many schools will benefit?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Is this task worth considering?

Tentative “Yes”

LAIS Model Curriculum

Developing the Curriculum:

How should we go about this?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Developing the Curriculum:

Borrow from LACS

LAIS Model Curriculum

Developing the Curriculum:

Borrow from LACS

Emphasize breadth

LAIS Model Curriculum

Developing the Curriculum:

Borrow from LACS

Emphasize breadth

Emphasize soft skills

LAIS Model Curriculum

The Curriculum:

What could it look like?

LAIS Model Curriculum

The Curriculum:

What could it look like?(one man’s opinion)

LAIS Model Curriculum

The Curriculum:

Ten course limit (1/3 of degree)

LAIS Model Curriculum

The Curriculum:

Ten course limit (1/3 of degree)

Functional area courses (5?)

LAIS Model Curriculum

Functional area courses:

Business calculusStatisticsAccountingManagementEconomics

LAIS Model Curriculum

The Curriculum:

Ten course limit (1/3 of degree)

Functional area courses (5)

IS-specific courses (5)

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS-specific courses:

IS-1: Fundamentals of IS

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS-specific courses:

IS-1: Fundamentals of ISIS-5: Capstone project

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS-specific courses:

IS-1: Fundamentals of ISIS-5: Capstone projectIS-2: Analysis & Design of IS

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS-specific courses:

IS-1: Fundamentals of ISIS-5: Capstone projectIS-2: Analysis & Design of ISIS-3: Systems & DB Impl.

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS-specific courses:

IS-1: Fundamentals of ISIS-5: Capstone projectIS-2: Analysis & Design of ISIS-3: Systems & DB Impl.IS-4: Applications & Mgmt.

LAIS Model Curriculum

Implementation Goal:

Draw broadly from IS2002

.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 .10

IS-1 IS-2 IS-3 IS-4 IS-5

LAIS Model Curriculum

LAIS Coverage of IS2002

Course IS2002 Learning Unit GoalsIS-1 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13.1, 13.4, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 13.12, 13.15, 17, 24,

27, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 62, 63, 65, 119, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 208

IS-2 13.10, 28, 62, 64, 72, 74, 75, 78

IS-3 2, 13.6, 13.10-13.13, 43, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 62, 68, 81, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 98, 100, 101, 103, 117

IS-4 17, 26, 27, 29, 38, 39, 68, 112, 113, 114, 116, 119, 123, 125, 200, 201, 202, 204, 208

IS-5 60, 80, 85, 87, 94, 100, 105-107, 109, 110

LAIS Model Curriculum

LAIS Coverage of IS2002IS-1 IS-2 IS-3 IS-4 IS-5

IS2002 Crse Gen Intro A&D Sys & DB App & Mgmt Capstone

2002.1 X X X

2002.2 X X X X

2002.3 X X X

2002.4 X X X X

2002.5 X X X

2002.6 X X X X

2002.7 X X X

2002.8 X X X X

2002.9 X X X X

2002.10 X X X

LAIS Model Curriculum

IS2002 Recommended Courses

IS2002.1 Fundamentals of Information SystemsIS2002.2 Electronic Business Strategy, Architecture and DesignIS2002.3 Information Systems Theory and PracticeIS2002.4 Information Technology Hardware and SoftwareIS2002.5 Programming, Data, File and Object StructuresIS2002.6 Networks and TelecommunicationIS2002.7 Analysis and Logical DesignIS2002.8 Physical Design and Implementation with a DBMSIS2002.9 Phys. Design and Impl. in Emerging EnvironmentsIS2002.10 Project Management and Practice

LAIS Model Curriculum

LAIS Program of Study

How could students schedule the courses?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Ideal Program of Study

Fall Spring

First Year Calculus IS-1, Statistics

Sophomore

IS-2, Economics

IS-3, Accounting

Junior Management IS-4

Senior IS-5(a) IS-5(b)

LAIS Model Curriculum

Late Declarer Program of Study

Fall Spring

First Year

Sophomore

IS-1, Calculus

Junior IS-2, Stat, Mgmt

IS-3, IS-4, Econ

Senior IS-5(a), Accting

IS-5(b)

LAIS Model Curriculum

Staffing the Curriculum

How many faculty?How many preps?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Staffing the Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester

Fac1: IS-1 Fac2: IS-1

Fac1: IS-1 Fac2: IS-1

Fac1: IS-2 Fac2: IS-3

Fac2: IS-5(a) Fac1: IS-4

Fac2: elective Fac1: IS-5(b)

Fac2: elective Fac1: elective

LAIS Model Curriculum

Conclusion:

Broad sampling of IS2002

LAIS Model Curriculum

Conclusion:

Broad sampling of IS2002

50-50 mix of soft & tech skills

LAIS Model Curriculum

Conclusion:

Broad sampling of IS2002

50-50 mix of soft & tech skills

Fits in liberal arts curriculum

LAIS Model Curriculum

Conclusion:

Broad sampling of IS2002

50-50 mix of soft & tech skills

Fits in liberal arts curriculum

Rough draft -- needs more eyes

LAIS Model Curriculum

Questions?

Comments?

LAIS Model Curriculum

Thanks!