Designing an interdisciplinary information technology program

ABSTRACT

We examine key factors in the design and implementation of an Information Technology (IT) major and discuss the limitations encountered in creating a new program in a resource constrained environment. The focus is on four factors. First, we discuss a learning model appropriate for IT majors who need to be prepared for graduate study in IT, the military IT environment, and the civilian IT world. Second, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of implementing the learning model by using existing courses offered by an existing organization. Third, we discuss ways to mitigate potential weaknesses of this approach. Finally, we discuss a continuous assessment and improvement process to evaluate and improve the success of the implementation.

REFERENCES

• 1: ACM and IEEE Computer Society. Computing Curricula 2001 Computer Science. ACM Journal of Educational Resources in Computing, 1, 3, 2001. (at http://acm.org/education/curric_vols/cc2001.pdf)
• 2: ACM and IEEE Computer Society. Computing Curricula 2005. The Overview Report. ACM and IEEE Computer Society, 2005. (at http://www.acm.org/education/curric_vols/CC2005-March06Final.pdf)
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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Information systems education

General Terms:
Management, Measurement, Standardization

Keywords:
information technology curriculum, interdisciplinary