Curriculum Development in Library and Information Science Programs: A Design Model

Abstract

This case study outlines one library and information science (LIS) school's experience with a recent curriculum development project. Guided by a new academic plan addressing the constant change process confronting LIS, a committee comprising faculty, students, alumni, and industry stakeholders worked with a curriculum consultant to explore program direction and to develop a formal approach to curriculum design that could be used in future curriculum development projects. This article presents an outline of the project development (the structure and the frameworks used to guide the project); the project process (the curriculum design model and the phases, steps, and influencing factors of the process); and a reflection on the project experience (challenges to curriculum development in LIS education and lessons learned).