The state of undergraduate general education is examined with particular emphasis on the trend toward providing a common core curriculum for college students. A decline in the number of degrees awarded in the traditional liberal arts fields is noted with a corresponding increase in recent years in the number of degrees awarded in…

The core curriculum concept and reasons behind the current momentum for curricular reform are examined, and the issues involved in institutionalizing new core curricular ideas are exemplified. Reform follows from changes in the character of undergraduate education toward less restrictive, more diffuse requirements in the area of general education…

Across the country, college faculty are redefining core knowledge and skills to include learning about pluralism in the United States and about world cultures. They are experimenting with new pedagogical approaches that engage cultural diversity in effective ways. Interdisciplinary collaboration, thematic curricula, and cooperative learning…

In a report entitled "Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers" (National Academy of Sciences, 1995), the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy proposed a modified PhD training model that retains an emphasis on intensive research experiences, while incorporating additional experiences to prepare graduates for an…

A study was conducted at a women's college to compare contrasting ideas of general education curriculum requirements: the prescribed core curriculum in which all students take the same courses versus the distributive model in which students are required to choose a minimum number of courses within specified academic areas. Graduating seniors were…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of educational preparation for mental health nursing in multi-professional, multi-agency team environments in a range of mental health settings in England. The following data collection activities were conducted: an extensive literature review; local focus groups with mental health service users, care providers,…