The design of an undergraduate chiropractic curriculum

Abstract

Evidence is provided to support Kierkegaard's phenomenology that only what is learned through experience is truly known. It is demonstrated that the chiropractic curriculum represents a unique area of investigation and that it is possible to define curriculum; to create a functional and integrative model which subsumes elements from the traditional, cyclical and process models; and to design an integrative, problem-based, evidence-based, experiential chiropractic curriculum. A taxonomy is proposed for curriculum design in four domains which deal respectively with a) curriculum processes which include the selection, motivation and interaction of curriculum developers, curriculum definitions and models, and an algorithm for curriculum design; b) curriculum organisation which addresses philosophical, sociological, cultural and psychological foundations, curriculum paradigms and a chiropractic conceptual framework; c) curriculum development which concerns design strategies, situational analysis, intent, content, design and organisation of learning experiences and assessment of student performance; and d) curriculum application, which includes the learning climate, quality management, management of change, self-evaluation and external accreditation