Information on over 500 major fields of study and the 3,000 colleges and graduate institutions that offer these programs at associate, bachelor's, master's, doctor's, and first-professional degree levels is provided for the 1986-1987 academic year. There are 17 special academic programs covered: accelerated program, combined bachelor's/graduate degree, cooperative education, double major, external degree, honors program, independent study, internship, liberal arts and career combination, semester at sea, student-designed major, study abroad, teacher preparation, United Nations semester, visiting/exchange student program, Washington semester, and weekend college. A listing, by state, of colleges that offer each program is provided. Colleges that subscribe to the Candidates Reply Date and the Early Decision Plan Agreements, two special admissions programs, are listed. Definitions of these programs are provided in a glossary. The 51 religious denominations and organizations and the colleges that reported affiliations are also listed by state. In one index majors are grouped into general categories corresponding to the Higher Education General Information Survey taxonomy. A second index lists all major fields of study alphabetically. (SW)