In the 1970s there emerged a strong call for a core curriculum in Britain, Canada, and Australia. The implications of any attempt to define the content of a universal core for the schools of any state are examined through an examination of the Australian experience. (RM)

A study examined a national trend towards dropping Shakespeare and other Great Authors from college English major requirements, and asked what new courses are taking their places. Programs from 70 representative schools were analyzed. Results indicated that 23 schools require a course in Shakespeare, which may include other authors as well, but…

Outlines the foreign language requirements of the University of Michigan's Residential College, including the five-part proficiency exam, covering all four language skills. (EKN)

Examines William J. Bennett's recommendation in "James Madison High School: A Curriculum for American Students," that the ideal high school core curriculum should include one half year of music history. States that while the recommendation supports music education, it may not be met in many systems due to lack of funding and scheduling…

Features a one page "at a glance" planning sheet for mapping out a student's high school coursework and for monitoring progress as the years go by. The objectives are to plan coursework selection; monitor progress; and show what courses have been completed, what courses are required, or elective courses that are yet to be completed. (JPS)

Argues that composition teachers should drop outmoded requirements that perpetuate the discourses of hierarchy and exclusion. Instead, they should articulate the study, practice, and teaching of writing; devise curricula in writing that aim at the achievement of critical public literacy; and abandon the institutional discourse of student need, the…

Responds to an article in the same issue of the journal. Discusses five interrelated issues: whether required speech communication courses should be skills or theory; to what extent skills should be emphasized; the effect on the academic integrity of the communication discipline; the effect of grade inflation; and attracting high-quality majors.…

A survey conducted in 1982 and repeated in 1986 was replicated in 1990 with data collected from 356 of 700 2- and 4-year colleges. Results show that business communication is often a required course, enrollments are constant, class sizes are decreasing, and a wider variety of related courses is being offered. (SK)

One group of college students who had no previous keyboarding instruction and one group who had were tested after three months of microcomputer use. Previous instruction was found to increase speed; no significant difference in mean error scores appeared. Proficiency appeared to be enhanced by previous keyboarding instruction. (SK)

Reports on a national survey of 520 psychology programs on the number of mathematics and science courses required as part of the general education requirements for an undergraduate degree. Finds that an average of one mathematics course and two science courses are required. (CFR)

Introduces this special issue, arguing that because communication practices are changing radically (because of the global transition from a primarily industrial to a knowledge economy) writing requirements for business students must be reexamined so that they reflect what business professionals should know and do in a knowledge economy. (SR)

Discussion of quantitative literacy (QL) at the undergraduate level considers specific quantitative skills necessary in the computer era, including numeracy in everyday events, numeracy as a liberal art, finding opportunities for quantitative thinking outside of traditional courses, and various options for meeting QL requirements. QL requirements…

Examined effects of diversity-related courses on the intergroup tolerance and sociopolitical beliefs of 131 undergraduate students at the University of Michigan before and after taking a required race and ethnicity course. Comparison with other students suggest that such courses can buffer students from declines in intergroup tolerance exhibited…

British students who had compulsory science in the National Curriculum from ages 11-16 (n=115) had significantly higher scores on a science test than those for whom secondary science had been optional (n=30). Almost all had very low scores on questions related to the circulatory system and sound and light, regardless of their science background.…

Provides: background information regarding external pressures on schools and teacher preparation programs; a survey study of preservice and practicing teachers' knowledge regarding effective reading instructional methods; and the resulting changes in the teaching of reading courses. (SG)