Visualization of University Curriculum for Multidisciplinary Learning: A Case Study of Yonsei University, South Korea

Abstract

As the significance of knowledge convergence continues to grow, universities are making efforts to develop methods that promote multidisciplinary learning. To address this educational challenge, our paper applies network theory and text mining techniques to analyze university curricula and introduces a graphical syllabus rendering method. Visualizing the course curriculum provides a macro and structured perspective for individuals seeking alternative educational pathways within the existing system. By visualizing the relationships among courses, students can explore different combinations of courses with comprehensive search support. To illustrate our approach, we conduct a detailed demonstration using the syllabus database of Yonsei University. Through the application of our methods, we create visual course networks that reveal the underlying structure of the university curriculum. Our results yield insights into the interconnectedness of courses across various academic majors at Yonsei University. We present both macro visualizations, covering 18 academic majors, and visualizations for a few selected majors. Our analysis using Yonsei University’s database not only showcases the value of our methodology but also serves as a practical example of how our approach can facilitate multidisciplinary learning.

Keywords

• network analysis
• text mining
• syllabus
• curriculum
• visualization
• multidisciplinary learning