Abstract: Learning is enhanced with repetition, either through more exercises in individual courses, or through the integration of concepts in a capstone experience. A well planned and integrated curriculum can utilize a capstone course, not only to provide a service learning component, but also as an opportunity to refresh students on key discipline topics immediately preceding graduation. This article describes the process used at one university to integrate concepts taught in pre-requisite courses into the capstone experience. In addition, it discusses the need to constantly refine all of the courses to integrate the concepts and learning experiences in both directions. The capstone course must provide repetition and hands-on learning of earlier concepts, and the pre-requisite courses must provide the knowledge to enable a successful capstone experience for students. This is a two way integration up and down the chain of courses and instructors must work together to integrate all of the courses in the discipline to enrich the capstone experience and achieve desired learning objectives.

Keywords: Capstone Course, curriculum development, Integrated Curriculum, service learning

Download this article: ISEDJ - V11 N6 Page 10.pdf

Recommended Citation: Reinicke, B., Janicki, T., Gebauer, J. (2013). Implementing an Integrated Curriculum with an Iterative Process to Support a Capstone Course in Information Systems. Information Systems Education Journal, 11(6) pp 10-17. http://isedj.org/2013-11/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2012)