The University of Chicago met widespread national opposition ten years ago after it instituted a new, less demanding core curriculum to make way for more electives. It was part of a plan to make the curriculum significantly less demanding in order to attract more students and improve the school's bottom line in a time of putative budget deficits.…

The quantity of schooling students receive in different curricular areas makes a powerful contribution to differences in achievement both within and between schools. These variations in quantity arise from differences in course offerings available to students in different high schools, as well as from variations in course selections by students.…

Examines 32 top-ranked Masters of Business Administration programs. Finds that management communication is an important part of professional graduate management education: 18 of the schools have required core courses in communication, and 2 others follow an integrated model and offer electives; another 9 offer electives only. Finds that only 3…

Arguing that recent proposals for educational reform will at best only patch up the present system without bringing about the fundamental changes necessary, the author outlines a new design dividing up American schooling into two components: (1) a required core of basic education courses and (2) elective community education courses. (JBM)

Vocational cooperative education programs have a definite position in a comprehensive high school curriculum; however, concern has been expressed regarding whether students can fulfil academic requirements for graduation. The Raise Academics in Secondary Education bill in Florida requires more academic courses for graduation. In order for…

This study examined whether students at the Northeast Missouri State University felt the present Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Study requirements allowed enough freedom in choosing classes, and how students would respond to more free electives. Responses of 508 students were obtained to a questionnaire addressing the following areas: (1) how…

This report describes a computer assisted process that resulted in the development of a comprehensive database of actual courses taken by undergraduates in teacher preparation programs for use in decision making about possible curriculum redesign for teacher education majors. The creation of the database required four stages: (1) selecting majors…

Wellness Management has been designed as an option in the health education bachelors program at Plymouth State College of the University System of New Hampshire. The Wellness Management option was created because alumni and employers stated that graduates needed business skills in order to be more marketable and effective as health educators. The…

A survey completed by 319 principals of high schools with enrollments under 500 was used to determine the core curriculum and the specific curriculum needs of today's small high schools. Principals indicated a need for additional courses in computer-related areas, remedial reading, speech, first-aid, geography, creative writing, and consumer…

Reviews curriculum reform being implemented at the Library School of Stuttgart for students planning to work in public libraries. Components of the new curriculum include core courses in library science, electives in special areas of librarianship, seminars in chosen subject disciplines, and field work in libraries and government agencies. (LRW)

The degree of professionalization of the field of higher education was investigated. To determine if higher education possesses unique knowledge and skills, a curriculum analysis was undertaken at Indiana University, Columbia University's Teachers College, and the University of Michigan. Using student transcripts, program handbooks, and university…