While the study of minority literatures has gained acceptance in college classrooms, graduate programs, and scholarly journals, its place in the discipline of literary studies is far from assured, and its success raises questions about definition and direction. (MSE)

Linking courses from three disciplines (biology, philosophy, and psychology) around a common theme, five faculty members at Carleton College (Minnesota) planned, implemented, and evaluated a course for first-year students. Analysis of student responses to the course leads to discussion of the effectiveness of such linkages and the importance of…

About 700 college programs, ranging from short workshops to degree programs, now specialize in leadership development, twice as many as four years ago. Critics wonder whether the subject has enough substance to warrant an academic minor or major. Others doubt whether the skills of leadership can be acquired through classroom instruction. (MSE)

This article outlines the evolution of sociology as a science in the American university from the 1800s to the present. Topics discussed include social and academic attitudes towards sociology and influences of social movements on the study and teaching of sociology and sociological research.

Since the emphases of physical education teacher education (PETE) programs can be linked to quality K-12 instruction, embedding Physical Best (PB) materials into existing PETE curricula can be a practical means of addressing the obesity crisis in the public schools. The PB program is a comprehensive, health-related fitness education program that…

The roots of controversy surrounding higher education in the US extend deep into the past. This original, incisive history goes far in offering a needed sense of perspective on current debates over such issues as access, costs, academic quality, social equity, and curricula. Eminently readable and always lively, this timely historical account is…

Educating for civic competence is an important societal mission of the community college. This chapter describes obstacles to and opportunities for the success of this mission.

This article reports the split of Americans on requiring students to take more courses in math and science. In a survey findings released by the American Council on Education, Americans are divided about whether college students need to study more mathematics and science to preserve America's global economic competitiveness. According to David…

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) convened the "Symposium on Business and the Liberal Arts: Integrating Professional and Liberal Education" in Chicago in May 2007 out of concern that the proportion of students graduating with degrees in the liberal arts has been declining as preprofessional and technical programs have expanded and the…

In this article, the author argues that traditional college entrance requirements exercise a detrimental effect on other elements of the educational system. She begins by looking at the way that the entire K-12 system is skewed toward meeting the needs of those students headed for selective colleges and universities and the way less successful…

Presenting an historical overview of the development of speech courses at Millersville University (Pennsylvania), this paper analyzes the past, present, and future status of speech communication within the context of the general education curriculum. The historical perspective treats the origins and definition of speech as a college course…

Offers an introduction to honors work in American colleges and universities by considering: (1) definition; (2) history; (3) rationale; and (4) educational and institutional objectives. Also summarizes characteristics of successful honors programs. (JN)

Education for peace and international cooperation cannot be confined to a single discipline, but should be interdisciplinary and central to the university curriculum. Although UNESCO has begun development of a pedagogy of peace, other international organizations focusing on peace education need coordination to be effective. (MSE)

Describes the development and offerings of North Shore Community College's Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, which uses a variety of organizational and methodological strategies including team-teaching, multi-discipline courses with one instructor, thematic courses, and discipline combinations. Describes the 15 courses in the curriculum and…

This paper describes how librarians at the University of Southern Mississippi teach faculty, staff and students the basics of making a World Wide Web home page in a one-hour classroom setting. Following a brief description of the background to the class, three distinct parts of the class are discussed. Each class begins with a PowerPoint…