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(Draft)
Graduate Program Proposal: Informatics for Local, Regional, and International Community Development ● Possible Program
Titles: 1. Community Information Systems 2.
Social Informatics 3. Community Informatics 4. Community
Information Networks 5. Community
Development and Informatics ● Institutional
Context: (This will change depending on focused institution) 1. How Does This
Program Fit With (Evergreen/Institution)?: This program is designed to
be interdisciplinary in the extreme, keeping up with advanced study in disciplines that have become integral in
developing the high quality students The Evergreen State College has been known
for. This program will draw form a large pool of disciplines and seek to
integrate them in such a way as to create a developed and practical approach to
the design, management, and support of community networks and information
systems. These systems function to facilitate a multitude of community aspects
rather than emphasizing one over others in importance. While economic
development within communities is integral to overall goal of sustainability, we
also see that this relationship is inseparable to the development of civil
society, education, and the further advancement of the public health system, as
well as other aspects that have yet to be developed or tried. a.
Intellectually, we will be exploring the
theories and most current avenues of application in the areas of Community
Planning, Sustainable Development, Participatory Design, International Studies,
Cultural Studies, Business Management, Media Studies, Sociology, Information
Studies, Economics, Civil Society, and Social Change. All of these disciplines
are meant to take Evergreen students to the next level in an education geared
towards a more active and engaged life within communities b.
Technically, we will be looking closely
at creating systems that meet the needs of communities and grappling with the
obstacles to creating dynamic information systems. Systems that are geared towards
open community centered access and uses aimed at facilitating the fluid
transfer of information throughout communities of place. With this in mind we
will work on Software Development, Computer Systems, Programming, Database
Design, Project Management, Technical Development and Support for community
projects; locally, regionally, and globally. The goal is to develop the
technologies that would benefit communities dependent on individual
circumstances, from wireless, VR, and web applications, to community centered
software. ● Need for Program: 1. Justification: The program is designed to teach
students the theoretical and practical solutions to facilitate the development
process. It will provide options for students to focus specifically on creating
and implementing technologies for community use. With a focus on establishing
information systems we will promote community education, public health,
economic development, governance and civil society. There will also be an
emphasis to develop software directly related to the effective implementation
of information systems that will work within various settings. Student will
have a chance to apply their in-depth training by creating community projects
to refine the ideas learned in class The
program will seek to strengthen its ties to the community as the students seek
to create change and implement needed community projects. The model of
Participatory community building that will be used extensively within the
program serves not only the college community but the surrounding communities
of Olympia, Lacey and the South Puget Sound. But
beyond just the community of Olympia and the state of Washington as a whole
this program at Evergreen seeks to place this region at the forefront for
innovative development strategies and community based technology development
world-wide. As our society becomes more globalized
the more important it becomes for our graduates to gain a global view in the
process of development. Emphasis is placed on sustainability,
we seek to strengthen communities locally and abroad. It is essential to
support the international partnerships this region has created over the years
and continue to establish sustainable relations well into the future. By supporting the various stages of
development we can help to ensure social, political and economic success for all. 2. Number of Students at Other Institutions: Due
to the nature of this program, it is difficult to accurately asses the number
of students at other institutions. The program incorporates elements of
informatics, community planning, and international development, but also seeks
to use these focuses to support economics, education, and various other
disciplines. It is expected that the program will draw more graduate student
from these disciplines seeking and interdisciplinary approach to their education. While providing the theoretical framework for
community and social informatics the program will strive to be unique in its
innate focus on the practical applications of the prevailing theories today. List of
related programs: Georgetown University;
M.S, Communication, Culture and Technology University of Indiana; M.S. Human Computer Interaction Iowa State University; M.S. Human Computer Interaction Tulane University; MS. PhD Sustainable International Development University of Texas; MS Regional Community Planning,
Specialization in Community Technology Syracuse University;
MS Information Management Massachusetts
Institute of Technology; M.S. Technology and Policy Graduate Enrollment: Community
development: Rural Urban International Information
Systems/Sciences: Social
Informatics/Human Computer Interaction: 3. Other Institutions: (Is anyone else in the
region offering this?) At this time no
other program of this kind is being offered in this region. Programs that do
fair in relation are as follows: University
of Washington Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell M.S. Information Systems (Seattle
Campus) M.S. Computer and Software Systems (Tacoma
Campus) Eastern
Washington University M.S. Urban and Regional Planning Portland
State University M.A. Urban and Planning Studies University
of Oregon MS Applied Information Management MA Community and Regional Planning However
despite the existence of these degrees within the Pacific Northwest we lack a
program that incorporates a scope such as ours; from technology development to
community development, political economy and education development. The
northwest has yet to embrace the highly interdisciplinary programs that have
been emerging across the country 4. Professional vs. Academic: This program will
lean heavily on the side of professional development. Our goal is to train
successful professionals in the field of informatics and community development.
However, we will offer the kind of theoretical depth necessary for students to
advance on to doctoral work at other universities across the country ● Purpose: 1. Educational Objectives: students will spend
their first year working vigorously learning various theories of community
development, community networks and social informatics. This will include
gaining an expert understanding of participatory design models for development,
learning effective cross-cultural communication, and theories of sustainable
development. Students also will begin to critically evaluate the development
processes that have had success and those that have not. Learning new ways to
approach old situations and potentially developing their own innovations to
development will become valuable to their field work. Students
will also work on acquiring the technical skills necessary to work in the field
effectively. It will be necessary in most cases to gain proficiency in many
aspects of computer systems. Rather than just focusing on one area. Students
will be encouraged to become proficient in networking, database design,
programming, as
well as gain an understanding of the ideas behind emerging technologies, in
some cases students will want to develop skills in AI, Virtual Reality, and
Wireless technologies in order to acquire skills needed to move community
informatics into the future rather than remaining behind. 2. Career Objectives: Students graduating from
this program will be heading for fields in International development, Positions
in Federal, State, and local government, Non-profits, NGOs, Information
Technology, Media Communications, Universities, Education, and Consulting
agencies. ● Content and
Course Requirements: 1. Total Credits Required for Degree: 90 2. Curriculum/Structure:
The idea for now has been a three prong model 1st. Full-time 2 years, First
year would be coursework intensive focusing on gaining technology proficiencies
and development community informatics theories. the 2nd
year would be a student originated field project in which the student could
either work locally or abroad. 2nd track Full-time 2 years, the first year will be nearly
identical in structure to those in the other track however the second year will
primarily be focused on a thesis and more advanced work in the theoretical
aspects of development and research on advanced technologies. This track will
be more focused on actual technology development for communities rather
implementing the development itself. This track would be ideal for those
planning on moving on to doctoral programs in information sciences. a. Required
courses Theories of sustainable development, Intro to community
information systems, seminar on community planning, technology and the
community. b.
Elective courses basic programming using
Java, C++, advanced programming, VR networks, parallel programming, embedded
systems, web development, beginning/advanced algorithms, intro to AI, Non-violent
communication, civil society, sustainable economics, GIS, cross-cultural
dialogue, sociology of public sphere. Alternative media, Radio production,
video production, and wireless systems c.
Field work/internship Reqs.
Local regional, international is dependent upon student interest and the
contract worked out by the student and sponsoring faculty member d.
Thesis, comprehensive exam, development project
or integrative exit req. Will be done under the guidance of faculty
member and be highly advanced. 3. Course Descriptions: (To be Determined) ● Student Body: 1. Who are the
Potential Students?: Current Evergreen students, students looking at
degree programs in international development, Software development, community
planning, and those looking into the information sciences degrees 2. Admission
Standards: a. Special or Optional Admissions
Standards b. How do Reqs.
intend to assure students are prepared for the
program?: ● Faculty: 1. Identify Faculty
Teaching Program: a. Degree
Earned b. Discipline c. Institution d. Experience 2. Faculty to be hired? : a. What
additional faculty do we need? b. How Many? ● Resources: 1. What is needed? : a. Computers b. Additional
Space c. Special
Library resources 2. Community
Partnerships for Fieldwork Development: a. Local i. Government ii.
Public agencies iii.
Non-profits iv. Other Educational Institutions b. Regional i. Government ii.
Public agencies iii.
Non-profits iv. Other Educational Institutions c. International i. Government ii.
Public agencies iii.
Non-profits iv.
NGOs v.
Other Educational Institutions |