2. Curriculum Pathways
Students with clear curriculum pathways stay motivated, take
fewer excess credits and complete their programs of study quicker
and more effectively.
This is even more important as financial aid eligibility is decreased
by federal and state governments
MDC teams developed 4 initial curriculum pathways in Biological
Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice and Psychology
Additional pathways developed in 2013-4 academic year
Many disciplines also have program sheets that can be used in
the interim—but may need to be standardized across campuses
2
3. What is a Curriculum Pathway?
Focused and integrated set of courses
and sequences designed to increase
transfer success and degree
completion
A.A. pathway includes all pre-requisites
for transfer as a junior to baccalaureate
program at MDC or another institution
A.S. pathway includes all requirements to
enter occupation of transfer with junior
status to a B.A.S. or other work-related
baccalaureate program
4. Characteristics of
Effective Curriculum Pathways
• Map student academic goals and progress
• Guides course planning, course selection and
sequencing, semester by semester
• Provide for continuity and consistency in
advising, coaching and mentoring
• Prompt students to complete math, English and other
general education requirements early on—in
sequence (ideally in first year at MDC).
• Prompt students who fail a course to take it again
immediately in the next semester.
5. Each pathway contains:
• Course requirements and sequences for
full-time and part-time study
– 36 credits of general education
– 24 credits of program-specific study
• Notes that explain Florida common core
requirements that articulate to state-
approved B.A. or B.A.S degrees
• Interdisciplinary recommendations that
identify general education courses
recommended by the corresponding
discipline
• Learning Outcomes that identify which
MDC learning outcome(s) met upon
completion of course
6. Curriculum Pathways: Semester 1
A.A. Pathway to a Major in Business Administration
My Academic Plan (MAP) - Two-Year Plan for Full-time Students
Semester 1 - First Year
Course
Number
Course Title Credit
Hours
Notes Interdisciplinary Recommendations Learning
Outcomes
Addressed
ENC
1101
**English
Composition 1
3 This course fulfills the
Communications General
Education requirement.
1, 3, 4
(CNet)
MAC
1105
**College
Algebra
3 MAC1105 is a lower level course requirement for the State Approved
BAS in Supervision and Management at MDC. This course fulfills the
Mathematics General Education requirement.
1, 2, 3 (MM)
GEB
1011
Principles of
Business
3 GEB1011 as a key introductory course to help students determine
whether they should pursue a major in Business Administration.
GEB1011 at MDC is equivalent to GEB 2011 in the State University
System.
1, 5, 6, 7, 8
(CNet)
CGS1060 Introduction to
Microcomputer
Usage
4 This course fulfills the General Education elective requirement.
CGS1060 at MDC is equivalent to CG 2060 at State University System.
1, 2, 3, 4, 7,
8 (MM)
Total Credit Hours 13
7. Curriculum Pathway (with choices)
Summer - First Year
Course
Number
Course Title Credit
Hours
Notes Interdisciplinary Recommendations Learning
Outcomes
Addressed
SPC
1017
**Fundamentals
of Speech
Communication
3 SPC1017 is a lower level course
requirement for the State Approved
BAS in Supervision and Management
at MDC. This course fulfills the Oral
Communications General Education
requirement.
Either SPC1017 or ENC1102 may be
taken this semester.
1, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9
(CNet)
Humanities 3 PHI2604 is a lower level course requirement for the State Approved BAS in
Supervision and Management at MDC, students pursuing the BAS should
take PHI2604. Any Humanities elective course may be selected based on the
student's professional or academic interests. If the student selects a Group A
course during this semester, a course from Group B must be taken during a
subsequent semester, and vice versa.
3, 7 (MM)
Business
Elective
3 The student should complete business
electives related to his/her Bachelor's
degree concentration. Possible
electives include transferable classes
in GEB, ECO, MAN, MAR, FIN, ACG,
BUL, SBM, PUR, TAX.
Any transferrable Business elective
course may be selected based on the
student's professional or academic
interests. Consult with your School of
Business Advisor for
recommendations based on career /
transfer interest.
Total Credit Hours 9
8. Curriculum Pathways: Florida Virtual College
For programs with no MDC pathway yet
1. Go to the Florida Virtual Campus at
http://www.flvc.org
2. Click on Student Services
3. Select Common Prerequisites Manual
4. Select the most current academic year
5. Select program listing by Alphabetic Order
6. Select the student’s degree/major
7. Print the page
8. Identify ALL courses that are required; they are listed at the ampersand “&”
using MDC catalog, verify which 1000 or 2000 level courses are on the
required list
for courses not offered MDC, there are alternatives listed at “OR”
students can take either 1000/2000 courses or the alternatives
Key is to complete both Gen Ed courses and program
requirements in the sequence listed
8
9. Curriculum Pathways: Using the FLVC Maps
This extract shows
common core
prerequisites for the
environmental studies
degree.
These program
sheets each show:
• Major
• Transfer
institutions(s)
• Program length
• Required courses
• Alternative
courses
• Additional notes
9
10. Curriculum Pathways: Sample FLVC Common Core
10
Select equivalent
MDC course, or
select the next
course listed
below. “OR”
courses are
alternatives that
can be used as
preferences or
when the main
course is not
offered at MDC
Each
course
listed as
“&”
MUST
be
taken
In some cases, two courses are necessary to meet the requirements of
the first course that is listed
11. Curriculum Pathways: Transfer Institutions
For programs without MDC pathway or
where completion of the A.A. or A.S. is the only requirement
1. Go to website of likely transfer institution
– select student’s likely degree, program of study or major
– select program sheet or MAP for student’s degree/major
2. Select “four year freshman” option because it
includes both
– General Education courses (36 credits) and
– Program requirements (24 credits)
3. Use ONLY those courses to build the IEP
11
12. 2 EXCELLENT RESOURCES
FROM FIU
MDC Transfer Guides
https://ugrad.fiu.edu/transfer/Pages/MD
CTransferGuide.aspx
12
MyMajorMatch
http://mymajor.fiu.edu/
