1 Revising the Curricula – and Conducting a “Self-study” James Alm Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Georgia State University

2 Some Considerations in Curricula Redesign

3 “Vision”  What do you want your program to achieve? o Education? o Scholarship and Research? o Policy Impact?  Is the “vision” a shared one? o Among the faculty? o Among the students? o Among your alumni? o Among your stakeholders? o With the University?  What is your “history”?

4  Visibility? Are you “getting the word out” (e.g., publicity, conferences, training programs, …)?  Student size? Is your program “too big” or “too small” or…?  Are you happy with your current vision? o Maintain status quo o Tinker on the margins o Fundamental change

5 The “Competition”  What are your “competitors” doing? o Basic curricula? o New programs/concentrations? o Research centers? o Publicity? o Student recruitment?  National versus international?

6 Resources: Do you have the resources to achieve your vision?  Faculty: Number, salary, and quality  Staff: Number, salary, and quality  Technical support  Space  “Lifestyle” support  Sponsored research and research centers  Students: Number, assistance/support, and quality

7 Indicators: Information to consider  Faculty (e.g., number, salary, interests, publications, conference participation, sponsored research, P&T standards,…)  Staff (e.g., …)  Rankings

8  Students o Entry qualifications (e.g., test scores) o Performance in program o Enrollments, credit hours o Placements o Is your program “too big” or “too small”?

9 Outcomes  How can you measure the “outcomes” of your curricula?  What do student evaluations indicate?  Do you have “learning outcomes”?

10 Overall Strengths and Weaknesses  Of degree programs  Of faculty  Of staff  Of students  Of technology  Of space/facilities

11 What do you need to move ahead?  New curricula? (See below)  More (and higher paid) faculty?  Faculty with different interests?  More (and higher paid) staff?  More technology?  More space?  More (and better supported) students?  Partnerships – within the University, nationally, internationally?

12 How do you get these resources?  From the University?  From stakeholders?  From alumni?  From endowments?  From faculty sponsored work?

13 Other Considerations  Add/subtract core courses (e.g., add economics, ethics, …)?  Add/subtract concentrations?  Focused programs versus broad programs?  Interdisciplinary courses/partnerships?

14  Are students getting the “tools” they need?  Are students developing the “skills” they need? o Research o Policy analysis and implementation o Communication  Are there student internships?  Are the courses taught by core faculty?

15  Do the courses provide sufficient “rigor”?  Do the courses use appropriate technology?  Can students get the courses when needed?  Are there too many/too few required courses?  Are there too many/too few required hours?  Is there a balance between core versus elective courses?  Are relevant topics covered (e.g., ethics, economics, statistics,…?