Describe the educational philosophy of the program's developers. Explain key concepts running through the curriculum. For example, developers might want to inspire nurses to become more "patient-centered."
Decide how many levels will be in the program. Identify degree(s) to offer, such as Associate's or Baccalaureate Degrees. Designate the number of credits required to achieve each degree.
Identify the minimum grade point average that students need each semester to remain matriculated. Write competencies that students must demonstrate at each level before advancing to the next. For example, "Students must complete 30 hours of in-patient care at a hospital and deliver a 10-minute oral presentation to receive credit for Nursing Field Work Level One."
Formulate broad statements of learning objectives for students by describing specific outcomes.
Pick courses that fall under the headings of nursing theory, clinical practice and leadership. Group beginning classes under nursing theory and advanced classes under leadership. Decide on content for each course by choosing the most critical concepts in each subject. Defend reasons for the choices by explaining how the choices support the program's philosophy.
Designate honors classes for students who maintain a certain grade point average. Offer honors classes in fields like family planning, mental health, surgical care and management.
Write a "General Statement of Student Engagement" to explain the program's approach to learning. State that students must be active learners by cultivating an inquisitive approach. Compare active versus passive learning, and identify the benefits of active learning.
Design learning activities and assessment strategies for each course. For example, learning activities might require that students observe professional nurses performing their jobs. Assessment strategies might be students having to keep a journal of those experiences and to prepare a report explaining what they learned.
Prepare a chart listing all courses. Identify each course by name, lab requirement and number of credits.