A rationalised curriculum of computer education for university students in natural sciences in China

Abstract

Computer education to non-computer science disciplines in Chinese universities has been under the guidance of the Chinese Ministry of Education (CME) since 1997. The "1 + X" structure proposed by CME in 2007 for computer education to non-computer science disciplines in Chinese universities offers a higher flexibility for institutions to choose X courses for their non-computer science disciplines, but it does not adequately address a few important issues in providing students with equitable experience in computer foundation education and meeting the specific needs for those students who want to advance their knowledge and skills in computer/IT. Based on a comparative study with the similar curricula used in other national and international institutions, a new framework of "2 + D + X" structure of computer education to non-computer science disciplines was proposed at TMAU to address those weaknesses in the CME "1 + X" structure. Trials of this rationalised framework have shown that students in different disciplines in natural sciences at IMAU strongly supported this new curriculum.