Despite efforts of both administration and faculty, the intent and the execution of new curricular initiatives are not always in alignment. To understand how the declaration of a campus-wide general education initiative was being implemented, this article combines analyses of syllabi and courses from across disciplines. In an initial review, the…

Looks at problems encountered in the development of an interdisciplinary course on South Africa by two African history and English literature instructors. Focuses on problems related to timing, student expectations, and the balanced integration of materials from both disciplines. (AYC)

Offers a model for interdisciplinary courses, altering the relation of the discipline, teacher, and student. Describes a University of Texas at Austin course as an example of the model, which focuses on major models for research; on developing students' methodological competence; and on validity and significance as writing criteria. (AYC)

Describes two courses, "Introduction to Music Literature" and "Spectrum of Music," within the context of the newly revised general education program at Willamette University. Describes the general education program, the value of the music classes for a broad range of students, and the content and instructional methods of the…

Presents a framework used at Western State College to teach an interdisciplinary general education course. The framework helps students organize a large volume of material about Contemporary World Cultures according to a taxonomy of human experience, including artistic/literary expression; thought and belief; relationships/associations with…

Educational innovations are frequently undertaken with little or no planning. There are occasions, however, when it is possible to define educational problems with some precision and to plan changes which will "solve" these problems. Here is a report on such a case in the teaching of introductory anthropology at a large land-grant university.…

Describes an interdisciplinary writing course organized around the theme of language as used by individual disciplines. Reports a significant improvement in students' writing skills, exposure to a breadth of issues to which these skills might be applied in students' respective majors, and an enthusiastic response to the approach. (DMM)

Describes a study conducted at Oakland University (Michigan) to examine the degree to which syllabi in general education classes reference general education guidelines. Finds that knowledge transmission was primary in syllabi, whereas skills and attitude development were less emphasized. Proposes that syllabi can be used better by promoting the…