Studies show an average rate of 50% attrition in adult and continuing-education doctoral programs. Institutional and individual barriers may be the cause. Institutional strategies to reduce barriers and prepare students to be proactive and informed participants are needed. (SK)

Examines the catalogs of a random sample of 292 national and regional universities and liberal arts colleges to collect curriculum data on the prevalence of focused specialty versus general degrees in psychology and on the course requirements for the various degree options. Presents the findings and addresses the status of nongeneral degrees. (CMK)

This article argues that the degree types used in most British higher education institutions are inherently unfair, waste valuable resources, and serve no useful purpose. It is recommended that this system be replaced by one in which first degrees are awarded on a pass-fail basis, with evidence of individual academic performance given in a…

Summarizes the main features of Michigan State University's Internet-based online degree programs in beam physics. Discuses enrollment and degree requirements; explains the WebCOSY system, an interactive Web-based homework and course management program; and examines participants, dropout rate, and grades. (Author/LRW)

Describes the results of a survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries to identify the minimum education and experience required of paraprofessional catalogers. Topics include copy cataloging, original cataloging, training, and possible paraprofessional degree requirements. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the definition of the academic credit hour and its relationship to current social, political, and educational changes. Today, nontraditional delivery systems affect the way credit is offered and received. Faculty must consider how these changes affect what graduates know. Definition and validity of the credit hour is the key to the…

Recent government intervention in research higher degree policy across the globe has sharpened universities' focus on the quality of their students' research education experience and on timely completion rates. Studies have sought to highlight the factors that predict research students' timely completion of their studies. Many universities have…

This paper examines the organization and representation of time in certain kinds of undergraduate programs, here represented by a sociology program in a US university. Written requirements for the major are analyzed as constituting a "chart" that defines academic time in terms of units of before-after relationships. The paper shows how students…

As state budget allocations for higher education decrease, "specialty" programs such as gerontology must continually demonstrate their productivity. State and private universities increasingly rely on student credit hours (SCH) or tuition generated, which is making it difficult for many gerontology programs to expand. The School of Aging Studies…

A library training program was developed in the Pacific Islands by the University of the South Pacific. During the early years of library training (1972-1980), the professional library staff at the university provided a semi-formal training program for non-professionals in the form of a series of one-week workshops. A total of 72 people completed…

The Measurement and Evaluation Center coordinates credit by examination at the University of Texas at Austin. Credit earned by examination is equivalent to credit earned by taking the course, but cannot be counted as credit earned in residence. To receive credit by examination, the student must also meet all other conditions of eligibility…

Responding to persistent complaints made by graduate students whose goals did not include college teaching, the department of communication at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1991 expanded its internship offerings into the graduate program in the form of the Applied Thesis Option. Justification provided by the department to the graduate…

This national survey was conducted to examine institutions that offer graduate programs in education and to determine trends regarding master's degree programs. Three sources of information were utilized: (1) "Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs in Business, Education, Health, and Law (Moore, 1979, 1989); (2) university catalogues from the…

This guide to college major fields of study informs users about the array of undergraduate majors and common features of those majors. Following a discussion of how to use the book and essays by actual college students on how they chose a major, the guide describes 151 majors grouped in the following 17 categories: agriculture; architecture and…

Consistent with the Year 2000 National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, this paper presents a proposal for a Wellness Clinician/Research specialization within the existing Master of Education in Physical Education degree program offered by the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Wayne State University…