This mixed methods study explores the work and perspectives of curriculum developers, a subset of educational developers who support the development, revision, and/or renewal of academic degree programs and similar sequences, beyond an individual course. Thirty-five developers in the United States and Canada completed a survey addressing…

There has been a steady increase in popular music programs at Higher Music Education Institutions (HMEIs) across Europe. However, what students actually are supposed to learn at popular music bachelor/master programs has remained largely understudied. Based on 12 in-depth interviews with leaders in higher popular music education, this paper…

The field of mass communication is constantly undergoing change and development, and the pace has accelerated with the advent of digital technologies. One challenge educators face is: how do we educate college students not just for today's careers, but also for lifelong competencies with media? Against this backdrop, the Department of Media and…

One of the key recommendations of the Worton Review of Modern Foreign Languages provision in higher education in England (2009) is more effective collaboration between language centres and language departments. This paper presents a fully integrated model of such collaboration and develops recommendations for language centres and language…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate decision making in the Common Core State Standards Initiative as the change process moved from research, development and diffusion activities to adoption of the Common Core State Standards by the states. A decision-oriented evaluation model was used to describe the four stages of planning, structuring,…

Describes how English department chairs might successfully order and structure their departments. Analyzes two central characteristics of English departments as political entities: purpose and values. Lists several observations about departmental organization. (HB)

The aim of this newsletter, issued six times a year, is to help social studies teachers and supervisors define issues or questions concerning social studies program planning and suggest directions for dealing with issues. Suppositions for the teacher concerning their instructional programs are offered, followed by suggestions to consider in each…

Recounts the process and narrates the steps taken by the English department at Ursinus College, Pennsylvania, in its major renovation of its outdated English curriculum. Describes the working conditions of the department and the newly devised curriculum. (HB)

Four administrators, representing three institutions, report on the growth and development of communication departments on their campuses. (PD)

Various activities related to program registration, master plan amendment, and charter amendment requirements of the Regents of the University of the State of New York are described. The conditions that warrant each kind of activity and the necessary processes and steps are examined. Program registration (approval of a course of study) is…

Describes how the English department at Willamette University set out to revise the English curriculum as a participant in the MLA-FIPSE English Programs Curriculum Review Project. Shows how the faculty redesigned the curriculum, and shares three important ideas that might be useful to other departments undertaking similar changes. (HB)

A framework for strategic planning within academic departments is outlined. Elements include analyzing the strategic situation of all constituencies (department, institution, competitors, students, student employers), development of mission statement and departmental objectives, development of strategic market-target and curriculum options,…

Describes how the English department at Roger Williams University set out to revise and revive the English major under difficult circumstances during the 1988-89 school year. Shows how the faculty redesigned the curriculum, recruited new majors, and established support programs. (HB)

Describes how the English department at Western Washington University set out to revise the English curriculum as a participant in the MLA-FIPSE English Programs Curriculum Review Project. Shows how the faculty redesigned the curriculum, and asks tough questions concerning the best way to undertake such changes. (HB)

This article reviews the development of a collaborative interdisciplinary graduate program in services to infants at the University of Illinois. The program's framework includes collaboration across and within departments, in course work within and across disciplines, and in clinical supervision. (DB)