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[huh?]

What does "curriculum development" mean? (Think in terms of applying for a faculty position at a community college)

[CC History]

If "curriculum development" is listed as a desired qualification or a responsibility in a CC job ad, it means that the successful applicant should be able to assess the current course offerings in the department and determine if new courses are necessary--and then develop those new courses.

[education prof]

It could mean that they are looking for someone to co-author textbooks with, or maybe update the exisiting course offerings, possibly add technology.

[Waxwing]

I don't have a cc background, but I think it's probably best to be interested in curriculum development than in theory more than in practice, at least at first.

Translation:  almost every place will be committed to whatever system is now in place.  Indeed, at least some faculty probably will  have helped to author it. So curriculum development won't mean saying or implying that what's on the books sucks, unless you are hoping to alienate everyone.  It will mean thinking about curricular issues as you begin to learn the institutional culture, consulting with colleagues, and helping with changes when the faculty thinks them necessary.

WW

[Abufletcher]

In my experience people use "curriculum development"  to cover everything from writing course materials to designing (or re-desgining) an entire program from the ground up.  At the CC level I'd say you're talking about middle ground, for example, looking for ways to strenghen the already existing curriculum or to fine tune it to the needs of the students or community.

[CC prof]

My response was going to be more along the lines of CC history and Abufletcher put together before I read the previous posts.  Nothing new to add here.

[Dansuri]

Every five years you fill out a set of god awful paper work to "review" each course in your discipline. Also, you keep an eye on the courses offered, whether courses should be added/deleted from the catalog.

For actual degree programs (check the catalog whether your discipline has one), curriculum development is more involved: reviewing/modifying what classes will be recommended/required for the degree, to make sure they're offered, including developing relevant new classes within the discipline, or working with other across campus (for example, if you're a nursing instructor and your program needs the math department to offer Math for Health Services, or whatnot).