This paper addresses the issue of defining the concept of core curriculum by first examining some of the literature on the subject, discussing why there is resistance to defining "core," citing common uses for the term "core curriculum," and exploring the historical roots of core curriculum. Next, the paper describes eight…

This paper describes certain fundamental realities and choices that planners and teachers of core curricula at the college level must take into account in order to devise programs of quality and integrity. Six common sense realities and the choices they demand are presented and discussed. First, core programs must avoid reducing the teaching and…

From the perspective of constitutional law, this volume reconciles the conflicting claims of educational reformers who demand a curriculum for national unity and those who call for multiculturalism. The first part of the book describes the educators' opposing views about core curriculum and the century-long history of the debate. The second part…

In an effort to infuse professional and preprofessional academic programs with liberal arts learning, this project at the University of Baltimore (Maryland) resulted in the establishment of a required liberal arts core curriculum for upper division students. The project provided funding for three activities: interdisciplinary team teaching of the…

The administration and faculty of Carthage College (a four-year liberal arts college with a primarily white, middle class student body and faculty) instituted the Heritage Studies Program to promote multiculturalism through writing across the curriculum. The four-semester sequence required of all first- and second-year students was approved by the…

The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation has commissioned studies of state academic standards in five core subjects. This is the second of these studies, focusing on standards for history. After the controversy surrounding the proposed "national history standards" in 1994, history has become a subject with no generally accepted national standards.…

The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation has commissioned studies of state academic standards in five core subjects. This is the fifth of these studies, focusing on state standards for science. Thirty-six states presented standards for evaluation. Some states were in the process of revising standards, while others simply had no standards to present.…

A chart presents average composite scores on the ACT Assessment by state for 1998 ACT-tested graduates. The states are listed in alphabetical order, with the percentage of total graduates tested and the average composite score given for each state. Also included are the average scores of students who have completed the recommended core high school…

Recent years have witnessed a great upsurge in interest in a core curriculum. However, there has been some disagreement as to what should be included or how it should be defined. Allan Bloom has argued most strongly that the "Great Books" should form the basis of the core curriculum. Not only is the term itself ambiguous, but the…

A study aimed to provide information about the current communication curriculum offered through undergraduate programs. A systematic search of the undergraduate catalogs of 565 institutions was conducted viewing Speech Communication Programs available in the Central States region. Results indicated that all but five institutions offered at least…

Presents objectives for a core program on social aspects of medicine based on scientific orientation, medical care delivery, patient care, human development, and disease distribution. (PG)

Empire State College of New York has published a report which describes and analyzes the nature and the dynamics of the Introductory Phase of three professional fields within the school's Master of Arts program: Business and Policy Studies, Labor and Policy Studies, and Culture and Policy Studies. The report is arranged according to program…

This paper discusses the Broadcast Education Association's Model Curriculum Project and traces the attempts of the task force to develop national models. The focus of the paper is on mission statements, professional orientations of departments, and core courses. Though diversity is celebrated, the paper argues that model programs must grapple with…

A Consensus Development Committee (CDC) was charged with responsibility for assessing the level of consensus on issue statements. The intention of the conference was to reach consensus on as many issues as possible related to curriculum and standards for marketing eudcation. Prior to the conference, authors of conference presentations and the…

This colloquium report contains two papers that present perspectives on the book, "The Closing of the American Mind," by Allan Bloom. The first paper, by Maxine Greene, covers the book's philosophy. It asserts that the book deals with issues of American literacy on a superficial level, and actually is more concerned with refuting points…