Programs of Study

The Texas Plan For EfficiencyMore Students Earn Degrees in

Less Time

Project OverviewDevelop common state-wide curricula

(called Programs of Study or POS) derived from sequences of courses leading to credentials (Certificates or Degrees)

Bachelor DegreeAssociate DegreeLevel 1 CertificateDual CreditHigh School Diploma/GED

Current Status of Programs of Study in Texas

Locally developed Unique to each institution

Approved by the THECB

 

Why State-wide Programs of Study?

Industry recognized credentials

Student completion

Portability of courses

Alignment between community/technicalcolleges and public schools

The FrameworkCAREER CLUSTERS

National nomenclature to represent careers in a broad spectrum

Total of 16 clustersEach cluster with individual

career pathways

Programs of study exist withinspecific pathways

WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION

Leadership from employers

Collaboration between employers and college content specialists

Refinement by college content specialists

Scope of WorkDAY 1Specify Program-Level

Student Learning Outcomes (PLO)

PLO - What students know and can do upon completion of a POS expressed in measurable terms.

DAY 2

• Work with college content specialists to identify courses that lead to PLOs

Program Learning Outcomes

End of program expectations Reflect entry-level employment expectationsIn combination, unique to the POS

Texas POS Structure

Certificates: technical specialty coursework only

AAS degrees: technical specialty coursework and general education

Programs Of Study in Texas Process Beta Test=Real Estate

Certificate 1 – SalesCertificate 2 – Sales plus requirements after 1 year or Broker• AAS Business

Characteristics of Program Level Outcomes

3-8 overarching statementsCritical entry level employment

expectationsNot enabling

(Not how you get there)Begin with action verb

indicating level of learning or performance

Scope of WorkDAY 1Specify Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes

(PLO)PLO - What students know and can do upon

completion of a POS expressed in measurable terms.

Scope of WorkDAY 2Business leaders refine Program Learning

Outcomes Recommended PLOs shared with content

specialistsBusiness leaders work with college faculty to

identify courses that lead to PLOsDAY 3Faculty link program

outcomes to course learning outcomes