A Study Of The Employability-based Curriculum Development In American Universities

It is the topic that experts discussed employability in 1990s. And then they studied to how to improve graduates'employability. Employability is a variety of abilities and skills that will help graduates to obtain and maintain a satisfied job. In recent years, unemployment in China is increasingly prominent. The problem that higher education improve the graduates'employability to meet the requirements of society and employers is to be solved. Curricula is the center of higher education reform program. Universities in United States began to develop employability-based curriculum. Many communities support them. For example, government, universities, teachers, employers and so on. Business schools in US is a leader in the world. And the curricula in business schools are famous for their differences. They developed a series of employability-based curricula to improve their graduates'employability.Therefore, in the development of curricula in American university, this paper discusses that the business schools design employability-based curricula to meet the requirements of marketing and employers. There are following key elements:Introduction describes the purpose of this study, significance and research methods.ChapterⅠ: Analysis the theories of curriculum development and employability. This chapter discusses the definition of curriculum development. It clarifies the concept and structure of employability. And it focuses on addressing definition of employability of Department of Labor, Washington, DC. Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, ASTD and employers.ChapterⅡ: the development of curricula in American business school. This chapter begins to discuss the development of curriculum in America from vertical and horizontal views. It discusses the curriculum development in American universities, and clarifies the movements on curriculum objects, structure and contents. Lastly, this chapter discusses the development of American business schools history on training graduates'employability.ChapterⅢ: the case studies of employability-based curriculum in American business schools. There are two cases in this chapter. They are Florida International University Business School and Eastern Michigan University College of Business. Firstly, it introduces the basic profiles of two business schools. Secondly, it discusses the marketing undergraduate curriculum to enhance graduates'employability in Florida International University Business School. Finally, this chapter discusses a competency-based accounting communication course in Eastern Michigan University College of Business.ChapterⅣ: Rethinking of employability-based curriculum in American business school. This chapter analyzes the characteristics and problems in employability-based curriculum in American business schools.