Designing a Curriculum Model Based on the Development of Social Capital for Iran Higher Education

Purpose: This research was aimed at designing a curriculum model based on the development of social capital for higher education in Iran. Methodology: The present study was an applied and qualitative one that was done using the theme analysis method to answer the research questions. The statistical population of this study included all curriculum planning, sociology and management specialists. The statistical sample of this study was fifteen faculty members of Islamic Azad University. A purposive sampling method was used to select the sample members. Data collecting instruments of the study were semi-structured interviews. Findings: Data analysis was done using MaxQDA software in Ad hoc method. The retest reliability method and the inter-content agreement method were used in order to calculate the reliability of the interviews. The results of the theme analysis led to the identification of 115 initial codes, which decreased to 79 ones. According to the findings, four components of goals, content, materials and educational methods, and evaluation were identified as the main components of curriculum based on the social capital in the university; each one had three structural, cognitive, and communication sub-components. Discussion: Higher education, in the light of the curriculum patterns, can provide opportunities for social capital development, and has the potential for implementation and necessary changes to the curriculum model for the development of social capital.