Curriculum Maps
Many degree-granting units have expressed a desire to create visual guides showing students various pathways for completing their degree program. We just launched a new component, Curriculum Maps, that does just that!
Background
As part of our effort to improve accessibility on H&S websites, we've been looking at various document and PDF file uploads. Many units have created files that provide a visual roadmap showing how a student can navigate the requirements for a specific degree or track within a program.
While these files are visually appealing, they are often completely inaccessible. This means a student who uses assistive technology would not be able to take advantage of the information in those charts.
The H&S web team has built a new feature that allows website editors to create these visual maps directly on the site, which solves two problems:
The content is not hidden in a PDF, which makes it more searchable, and
The format follows accessibility requirements, ensuring all users can take advantage.
This new component type is called Curriculum Maps, and it can be added to a Flexible Page the same way any other component type is added.
Pre-Work: Creating Taxonomy Terms
Before you can create a Curriculum Map on your site, you'll need to name the various requirement types. For example, students may need to complete Core or Foundational Courses before moving on to Electives or Upper Division Courses. Independent Study, Directed Reading, and Honors may be part of an undergraduate program. Language Courses and Teaching might be required of graduate students. Various Milestones, such as qualifying exams or advancing to candidacy, may also be important to highlight.
To add these options to your site, you'll need to create Taxonomy terms for them. Learn how to create Requirement Types through the Taxonomy menu .
Creating a Map
Once you've created Requirement Types, open a Flexible Page and add the Curriculum Map component. Information in a Curriculum Map is organized in 4 layers:
Curriculum Map Title
Academic Year
Quarter
Courses.
This is what the user interface looks like when the component is added to your page.
If you get lost, click the Help button for a helpful screenshot to assist you in your course mapping journey.
Curriculum Map Name
Start by giving your map a name. This could be as simple as "4-year plan" if there is only one way to complete a degree in your program.
If you have many paths to degree, you could create multiple maps. For example:
- one per track of an undergraduate major
- completing an UG degree with honors vs without honors
- various ways to complete a Master's program depending on the level of language proficiency a student needs to gain.
- options for completing a PhD in your department + another degree, such as an MD/PhD or JD/PhD
Academic Year
The default on a new Curriculum Map shows "Year 1" in the Academic Year field. Feel free to adjust as needed. Examples include:
- Year 1
- Frosh/Freshman Year
- Transfer Year 1/Junior Year
- Coterm Year 1
Quarter
A dropdown menu allows you to choose Autumn, Winter, Spring, or Summer quarter. Autumn is added by default to all new Curriculum maps, but can be changed if your program starts in a different quarter.
If you omit Summer quarter, your map will display 3 columns across (Autumn, Winter, Spring). If you include Summer quarter, the map will automatically adjust to accommodate 4-across.
Courses
This is where you build your map details. Each course requirement should have its own Course card, which consist of two pieces of information: Requirement Type, and Course Information.
Requirement Type
Start by choosing a Requirement Type from the dropdown list.
If this list is empty or doesn't have the requirement type you need, save your work then follow the instructions for creating requirement types .
Course Information
This field provides freedom to add course information in the way that makes most sense for your unit. You can add as much or as little detail as you wish, for example:
- List one specific required course (e.g. "BIO 101")
- Provide options if choices exist for a requirement (e.g. "PHYSICS 21 or PHYSICS 41" or "Pre-approved track elective")
- If you're describing a Milestone, you might add "Qualifying Exam" or "TGR status" to this box
- Links are allowed! You can link to the course description on Navigator, to a page of pre-approved electives, to a required form for a specific milestone, etc.
- You can choose to include the unit count with the course (e.g. "BIO 150 (5 units)"), but this is not required.
Continue Building
After you've created the first course in the first quarter of the first year, you can add as many or as few additional courses, quarters, and years as you wish. To do so, click the button to "Add Required Courses," "Add Quarter," or "Add Academic Year," respectively.
You'll notice that when adding a quarter, the system automatically defaults to the next sequential quarter, e.g. Winter if the prior quarter was Autumn. The same is true for Academic Year. Double check the names as you go.
Rearranging Cards
Cards can easily be reorganized within your Curriculum Map using the Drag & Drop feature.
Click the Drag & Drop button and rearrange courses however you wish. Courses can be moved to different quarters and academic years. To do so, click the 4 sided arrow button and drag the course to the desired position. Be sure to click "Complete drag & drop" when you're done.
