In higher education, e-learning is gaining more and more impact, especially in the format of blended learning, and this new kind of traditional teaching and learning can be practiced in many ways. Several studies have compared face-to-face teaching to online learning and/or blended learning in order to try to define which of the formats provides,…

Helping skills are increasingly viewed as essential competencies for student affairs practitioners. The purpose of this study was to examine the helping competencies covered in student affairs professional preparation programs. The authors examined 16 syllabi of helping-skills courses in student affairs programs and compared this analysis to…

Data collected by the University of Texas/Austin School of Social Work on the extent and structure of substantive specializations in master's level social work curricula indicate the continuation of a trend toward organization by both practice method and substantive focus. However, little indication of depth was found in existing specializations.…

The differences between criminology and criminal justice are assessed by comparing them to a more abstract typology. This typology is comprised of four basic elements: the focal concerns of the fields; career patterns of professionals; the extent to which the fields are theoretically based and are disciplines, sciences, and professions; and the…

The role of law in social issues is reviewed in terms of the selection of research topics and the advantages and disadvantages of various methodologies used in both descriptive and inferential studies. (MSE)

This study reviews literature on the education of teachers, lawyers, engineers, and other professions, providing comparison of the nature of expertise in the various professions and on how it is acquired. Four definitions of expertise are presented--expertise as technical skill; expertise as application of theory; expertise as critical analysis;…

Using meta-analytic techniques, 54 studies were analyzed for differences in competencies of technically and professionally educated nurses. The research examined (1) the difference in three generic competencies (conceptual, human, functional) between nurses educated in technical versus professional programs, and (2) the relationship between the…

A review of "U.S. News and World Report" law-school ratings over a period of ten years offers observations about the methodology used to assess reputation, and discusses the consistency of the outcomes. Also considers whether the ratings themselves have affected reputation over time. (MSE)

Examines the bachelor's degrees that would appear to have the highest financial payoffs for black graduates. Average annual earnings of black and white bachelor's degree holders are compared, and which degrees offer blacks good prospects for advancement are listed. (GR)

The question of whether criminology and criminal justice are distinct fields is addressed in two papers. Differences between criminology and criminal justice are delineated by emphasizing formal definitions of the field(s), occupational roles, contemporary educational trends, and future development. According to John P. Conrad, criminology is the…

Advances in behavioral science research related to drug therapy are examined, and the development of behavioral science curricula and faculty in pharmacy schools is assessed, based on a review of the literature, behavioral sciences curricula, and faculty characteristics. Wide variability across schools was found, despite general progress. Some…

Studied gender and career track influences on susceptibility to stressors. Results from 397 undergraduates show women studying for careers in traditional male professions were more susceptible to stressors than men with the same goals. Chronic job tension and home life events were stronger predictors of certain symptoms for these women than for…

Summarizes results from a psychology case study conducted by a subcommittee of the American Psychological Association's Task Force on the Changing Gender Composition of Psychology to examine the discipline's changing gender composition and factors related to these shifts. Societal and disciplinary trends are also examined, along with the patterns…

Compares two Rockefeller Foundation efforts to further the advanced professional education of prospective faculty members of Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, and National University, Zaire. Emphasizes the contrasts between the two efforts and the diversity among developing nations. Notes the effects of the sociopolitical-cultural environment…

Themes, impacts, and major recommendations are outlined for eight recent reports on educational quality: "Action for Excellence,""Academic Preparation for College,""A Nation at Risk,""The Paideia Proposal,""America's Competitive Challenge,""Meeting the Needs for Quality in the…