ISEDJ

Information Systems Education Journal

Volume 14

V14 N5 Pages 17-24

September 2016


A Tale of Two Curricula: The Case for Prerequisites in the Model Curriculum


John Reynolds
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 49401, USA

Roger Ferguson
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 49401, USA

Paul Leidig
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 49401, USA


Abstract: The most recent Information Systems (IS) Model Curriculum recommendations is IS2010. While the goal of this revision was to update the curriculum from IS2002, the end result was a change in curriculum design philosophy whereby a prerequisite structure that fostered increasing depth of knowledge was flattened to make the curriculum easier to traverse for the student. At the same time, the number of core courses was reduced from ten to seven by either combining subject matter or eliminating content. This paper examines the usefulness of having perquisites to increase the student’s "depth of knowledge" and explores how to analyze the need for those prerequisites. The data show that five years after the release of IS2010, ABET accredited IS Programs in business schools seem to be embracing the underlying philosophy of IS2010. On the other hand, ABET accredited IS Programs outside business schools continue to embrace the curriculum design philosophy of IS2002. The IS community is now at a critical juncture due to these two differing curriculum design philosophies, both in terms of curriculum content and assessment methods.

Keywords: IS Model Curriculum, IS2010 model curriculum, Pre-requisites, IS 2002 Model Curriculum

Download this article: ISEDJ - V14 N5 Page 17.pdf


Recommended Citation: Reynolds, J., Ferguson, R., Leidig, P. (2016). A Tale of Two Curricula: The Case for Prerequisites in the Model Curriculum . Information Systems Education Journal, 14(5) pp 17-24. http://isedj.org/2016-14/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of EDSIG 2015)