David L. Feinstein

IS '95: guidelines for undergraduate IS curriculum

This paper provides an overview report of the first joint curriculum development effort for undergraduate programs in information systems. The curriculum recommendations are a collaborative effort of the following organizations: ACM, AIS, DPMA, and ICIS. After a summary of the objectives and rationale for the curriculum, the curriculum model is described. Input and output attributes of graduates are delineated. Resource requirements for effective IS programs are then identified. Lastly, there is a proposal for maintaining currency of the curriculum through electronic media.

Information systems '95 curriculum model: a collaborative effort

This paper provides a progress report of the joint curriculum task force effort to develop a new model curriculum for undergraduate programs in Information Systems. The curriculum work is the first collaborative effort between ACM and other professional societies associated with information systems education. The paper presents a brief background description, current task force activities, list of recommended courses and course description, and other addressed curricula related issues.

Development of assessment for undergraduate programs of information technology, and certification for program graduates

The Center for Computing Education Research (CCER), a division of the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) Education Foundation, has developed a methodology for assessment for programs of Information Systems (2,7,8,9,10) that is general and can be applied to other computing programs. It is proposed that CCER technology be utilized for the Information Technology discipline. This can be accomplished through a sequence of meetings in cooperation with the IT Curriculum Committee to implement the necessary components. In addition, an appropriate certification for graduates can be instituted through the ICCP. CCER software will enable creation of the components that are compatible with the IT curriculum and the CCER exam question development and administration systems. The CCER will work with this IT task force to develop protocols for creating, administering and maintaining the assessment exam. Students who pass the assessment exam will be eligible to receive the ICCP certification. Participating universities will map the courses of their programs to the model curriculum. This mapping process (1) links the exam question objectives to the university courses, and enables a precise determination of relative success of students in achieving each objective within the university course as compared with the national population taking the exam. Weak performing areas can be addressed by university faculty, and addressed in future course planning. Also, since the curriculum units are mapped to ABET Accreditation Areas, a precise reporting of course coverage for each of the areas is immediately achieved, as well as performance against a national standard. Performance on program exit skills equivalent to job entry skills (3) will be a product of the exam. These results can be demonstrated to university industry advisory boards as part of a self improvement process.

Status of information systems accreditation

Accreditation standards have been developed for BS programs in Information Systems and have been widely reviewed. The standards drew heavily on the existing computer science accreditation standard and recent curriculum efforts in information systems. The effort was facilitated by support from the National Science Foundation (NSFDUE 9812278). Recently CSAB approved the process to accredit IS programs and that accreditation will begin in Fall 2002.

Preparing for Information Systems accreditation

The first pilot Information Systems accreditation visit is occurring in Fall 2001. Many programs will apply for IS accreditation the following year, the 2002-03 accreditation cycle. This session will discuss the process for preparing for an accreditation visit. The discussion will include a planning timeline, preparation of the self-study and arranging details for the on campus visit. Particular attention will be placed on the assessment section of the self-study, the important details of the self-study, and the preparation of the display materials needed for the on-site visit.

A proposed curriculum in information science (abstract)

While the major Computing Sciences professional societies have updated the curriculum in Computer Science on a regular basis, most recently Curriculum ‘91, there has been virtually no attention to curricula in Information Science. Rapid change in the field, particularly in the area of large information systems requires that the professional societies expend the resources to enhance and promote quality programs in Information Science.

Proposed joint ACM/DPMA/AIS undergraduate information systems degree curriculum model (abstract)

This session provides a report of the joint curriculum task force effort to develop a new model curriculum for undergraduate programs in Information Systems. The curriculum work is the first collaborative effort between ACM and other professional societies associated with information systems education. The previous situation in which several different organizations had released proposed curriculum models was confusing to both academia and industry. The joint team has been in operation for the past year and is ready to present its work for comment.