Redesigning an Undergraduate ISM Curriculum to Better Meet the Professional Needs of Working Adults

H. Leonard Fisher1

and

William A. Bollinger2

University of San Francisco, Information Systems Management,
College of Professional Studies
University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA, USA, 94117


Keywords:  Information systems management, curriculum, evaluation, working adults


At ISECON 2000 and Educause 1999, Fisher and Bollinger discussed the Information Systems Management (ISM) Curriculum currently being offered at the College of Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco.  As a result of feedback gathered at these two conferences plus that garnered through a continuing dialogue with current students, alumni, and the adjunct faculty who teach 90 percent of the courses in the undergraduate program, it was decided to make several significant changes in the overall curriculum.  The major purpose of these changes is to: 

1. Strengthen the information technology knowledge base of students throughout the program, especially in the areas of personal productivity technology.

2. Bring the overall program objectives into closer compliance with AITP/ACM/AIS Curriculum Model Guidelines.
	
In addition, precepts, such as incorporating opportunities for community service and support into the program and the exploration of social and ethical issues involved in modern information systems management, needs to be maintained.  When all of these factors were combined, a decision was made to both replace 25 percent of the required courses in the program and significantly re-sequence the order in which courses were taught during the final curriculum year.  This presentation presents a detailed discussion of the course changes to be made in the curriculum for students entering the program in September of 2001 and subsequent terms and how they will benefit working adults, both personally and professionally.

1fisher@usfca.edu 
2profbill@usa.net