A study investigated perceptions of the causes of poverty held by undergraduate social work students (51 beginning, 29 intermediate, 39 senior). Results suggest students develop beliefs about poverty appropriate to the profession's values. Rise in fatalism and external locus of control correlated with completion of a social welfare policy course.…

Investigates the client age/disability work preference of 76 therapeutic recreation undergraduate students at 3 universities. Results indicate a preference to work with younger clients, disability groups, and physically impaired clients. Chronically ill clients were last in work preference. Students need exposure to the benefits of working with…

Examples of subroutines that generate both symbolic and graphic solutions to differential equations are presented for the two computer algebra systems, MAPLE and Mathematica. Included are the listings for the Mathematica procedures developed for use in this article. (JJK)

Discussed are means of enhancing engineering education and the process of bridging the gap between industry and academe. The change in the corporate culture is described. Partnerships between schools and industry are advocated. (CW)

A national survey of undergraduate and graduate social work programs (respondents, n=194) investigated incorporation of gender-sensitive materials in the curricula. Results show some women's issues are covered and others are not commonly addressed. No schools required and few offered courses exclusively on women's issues. Feminist faculty…

Reviews the movement toward an expanded classroom through experientially based curricular innovations such as cooperative education, internships, study abroad, and service learning, which are intended to bring concrete experience into the learning model, allowing students to apply classroom concepts and complete the learning process. Provides an…

Excellence in undergraduate education became the first goal of SUNY President Shirley Strum Kenny's broadly-based five-year plan. Its capstone is the report "Reinventing Undergraduate Education." Kenny thinks freshman education can be improved by initiating block scheduling, interdisciplinarity, mentoring, and experiential and…

Argues that epidemiology, the study of disease in populations, is an ideal upper-level course for undergraduate liberal arts curricula because it offers a forum for learning and applying critical-thinking skills, as well as other skills important for the liberally educated student, such as analysis of political, social, and demographic contexts…

Examines key psychological principles in contemporary theories of learning (constructivism) and highlights conceptual connections between them and aspects of critical thinking and epistemological maturity described by the reflective judgment model of adult intellectual development. Also describes an undergraduate psychology lesson that bridges…

A follow-up survey of 791 liberal arts graduates of the University of Iowa seven years after an initial post-graduation survey investigated whether their perceptions of the value of the general education requirements had changed over time and, if so, how. Results reinforced a 1996 revision of the general education program. (MSE)

The integration of academic libraries and computing centers is being contemplated and implemented at universities and colleges in North America and elsewhere. This trend is examined, particularly as it applies to smaller, primarily undergraduate institutions. Differences, similarities, and models of convergence, as well as data from site visits…

Examines the impact of faculty guest speakers on introductory sociology students' (1) certainty of registering for another sociology course, or majoring or minoring in sociology; (2) interest in taking other sociology classes; and (3) perception of sociology as applicable to their lives, careers, and course of study. (DSK)

Presents a learning activity designed to illustrate the concept of positive social deviance to introductory sociology students. Describes the background to the lesson, the assignment, student observations during the activity, student reactions to it, and warnings to instructors considering replicating the assignment. (DSK)

Presents an active learning project for use in teaching social activism and social movements. Discusses students' backgrounds, the course outline, the context of the assignment, the project itself, measures of the effectiveness of the assignment, and limits and problems with it. Notes other topics for which the assignment could be adapted. (DSK)

Examines dissertation requirements and assessment procedures in 10 environment-related undergraduate and postgraduate programs using a "framework" approach. Hypothesizes that each level should reveal differences in development of deep thought. Finds that each dissertation occupies a distinct place along a progressive development of a…