Curriculum Integration Project News and Application

The "a-g" Guide Project is seeking interested participants to become involved in a project which aims to develop model courses that integrate academic and career-technical course content such that the resulting course has greater potential to become approved by the University of California as satisfying the "a-g" subject requirements.

An unconventional strategy makes this project different from most previous efforts to integrate curriculum. Specifically, the intent is to begin with the syllabus / outline of the academic course and introduce or infuse relevant career-technical skills as a laboratory, field study, or practicum experience that deepens a student's understanding of its academic foundations. For example, a physics course might use the auto shop as a laboratory environment for students to better understand the physics concepts of force, motion, energy, thermodynamics, etc. At its core, the course remains a physics course, but along the way, while covering typical physics topics and addressing the state standards, students gain substantial knowledge and understanding of the operation of an automobile, thus satisfying their need for both rigor and relevance.

This approach expects that at least two teachers, one academic and one career-technical, will work together to create the detailed course outline/description. It would also be expected that the two teachers would teach the course together as a team. Administrators, industry representatives, CSU/UC faculty members, and other team members may be recruited to strengthen the effort of the key participants. All team members should be appropriately credentialed / qualified and willing to work collaboratively over several months to complete the detailed course outline / description. Teams will be selected to participate in the project. Each team will be granted up to $5,000.

To apply, complete the Curriculum Integration Project Application Form (doc). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. It is expected that team members will have confirmed their interest prior to submission of the application.

"a-g" Guide Project staff will coordinate the implementation of this project. Project staff will provide hands-on technical assistance for participating teachers and administrators. It is the hope that the teams would be able to complete their work within a six (6) month period. "a-g" Guide Project staff plan to coordinate a summary workshop for teams to share their resulting curricula.

Ultimately, from this project we hope to generate a set of exemplary courses that effectively integrate curriculum in a way that can be highlighted on the "a-g" Guide web site, at www.ucop.edu/doorways/guide.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact or call (510) 987-9570.