Program Curriculum Mapping

Aligning Program Components with Program Goals and Learning Outcomes

The curriculum and courses required by your program are designed to meet your program goals and expected learning outcomes, “structured to introduce key learning opportunities early and to reinforce this learning throughout….” ¹

The matrix (example below) is a tool commonly used to summarize the relationship between program components (primarily courses), program goals and their expected learning outcomes.  It gives you a visual representation of your curriculum.

To construct a matrix for each goal in your program, using the table function in Word:

• List the courses in your major, related to the first goal, in the first column in approximately sequential order
• Continuing that process, construct a separate matrix for each of your goals, labeling each goal with the corresponding number in the recently submitted program goal information (e.g., Goal #1)
• For each goal, list the learning outcomes in the first row of the matrix, again by the number or letter corresponding to the recently submitted information.
• For each outcome on the goal matrix, indicate whether it is primarily introductory (I), reinforcing (R), or an opportunity to practice the particular program goal (P).

Note that in this example, this program goal formally introduces, consistently practices and reinforces just one outcome, Learning Outcome 5.  Learning Outcome 2 is introduced but never practiced or reinforced.  Learning Outcome 3 is never formally introduced, and Learning Outcome 4 is not included in any course.

I= Introduced           P=Practiced         R= Reinforced

¹ Allen, Mary et al. (2002). Outcomes Assessment Handbook.  California State University, Institute for Teaching and Learning, Long Beach, CA