To provide an opportunity for pharmacy students to acquire a better understanding of the medical service representative's functions as a member of the pharmaceutical industries' marketing force, a practice experience elective course in pharmaceutical sales was developed at the University of Cincinnati. Course planning and implementation are…

Reveals the dangers of the unchecked proliferation of special interest courses; e.g., overlap of course content with established offerings; ignoring major aspects of a subject in favor of minor aspects and failure to gain a comprehensive understanding; conflicting credit-granting policies; and needless competition with area schools. (AYC)

Describes the development of product design engineering, a successful student-centered interdisciplinary elective that blends critical thinking with curriculum integration, authentic assessment, practical problem solving, and hands-on engagement in a Virginia high school. The goal is to analyze the meaning of engineering as a profession and…

A second-year elective course for graduate social work students in which twentieth-century novels are used to highlight social issues is described. The relationships between art and social realities and literature's usefulness for social policy analysis are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Argues that the developing computer technologies will allow more people to compose. Contends that this composing ability can be enhanced for more students through the curriculum. Envisions a three-part music program consisting of required and elective courses designed to meet the needs of all students. (GEA)

Describes a program at Sacred Heart High School, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, in which students take two weeks from regular coursework each fall and spring to enroll in two intensive academic, service-oriented, or recreational courses on- or off-campus. Considers purposes, benefits, and problems such as transportation, scheduling, and liability.…

Australian researchers surveyed secondary school girls to determine reasons for enrollment in physical education (PE). Girls selecting PE enjoyed the break, activity, sports, fitness, and skills. Those not enrolling believed other subjects were more important, PE did not fit their schedules, they exercised enough already, and PE was too…

The study found that the actual coursework of 19 medical students following an individual study program deviated considerably from both the requirements of the traditional curriculum and the actual coursework followed by 302 students in the traditional program. Independent study students most commonly eliminated selected formal clerkship or…

Describes and compares the degree programs in Computer Technology and in Computer and Information Science that are offered in the Purdue University System. Areas of comparison include degrees available; curriculum differences, including mathematics requirements and required and optional courses; faculty; and educational and employment…

Investigated reasons for student choice in foreign-language study when moving from 8th to 9th grade. Eighth graders from districts that varied in how and when they offered foreign languages completed surveys after registering for ninth grade. Their main reasons for language selection were utilitarian, including the desire to satisfy future college…

A survey of 58 medical residents participating in a 1-2 month rural elective and 51 matched nonparticipants found that participants' interest in rural practice increased significantly after the elective. Respondents suggested means to increase rural career choice, barriers to rural practice, and ways of increasing the rural elective's influence on…

Survey of 50 pharmacy schools investigated the degree to which instruction in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was included in the pharmacy curriculum, and use of alternative practitioners as instructors. Almost three-quarters offered coursework in herbal medicine or other areas of CAM; about half offered other alternative medicine…

Reports on a study to determine if female high school students scored as high as male high school students on New York State Regents examinations in mathematics. Results indicated that if female students had an instructional history similar to that of male students they performed as well. (PK)

Proposes a college-level elective course in advanced management communication that would teach future managers how to communicate with shareholders, the media, financial analysts, and the labor force. (SRT)

Examined sex differences in science/mathematics achievement and preparation of students (N=269 males; N=239 females), following their performance and participation during high school and college. Indicates that women took fewer science/mathematics courses than men but performed at a higher level in both high school and college. Other results are…