For the past four decades, predominantly white colleges and universities throughout the United States have adopted diversity curricular requirements. While evidence suggests these courses yield positive outcomes for students, scholars have less often addressed the process of curricular change toward creating the requirements. Further, colleges…

Four years ago Sterling College began to develop a competency curriculum. This document presents a working definition and basic assumptions about this curriculum. The curriculum includes 9 college-wide competencies that are required for graduation and that are predicted on several basic assumptions: (1) The curriculum includes the total program of…

In working to integrate liberal and professional education in the undergraduate curriculum, the various faculties must begin to have systematic conversations with each other to discover their common ground and the potential for working together. (MSE)

Foreign language teachers' catalog course descriptions are criticized for using inappropriate arguments for them and for not clearly articulating the need for language study. These arguments favoring language study are categorized as sociopolitical, instrumental, and cognitive, and are examined individually. (MSE)

Describes curricular changes and experimental interdisciplinary approaches in teaching foreign languages at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. Paper read at the 1971 ADFL Summer Seminar for Chairmen, June 21-25, at Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont. (DS)

The debate over the nature and form of general education is discussed. The Project on General Education Models, which surveyed colleges and universities that had taken concrete steps to review or revise their general education programs, is described. Some new programs are outlined. (MLW)

The history of undergraduate teaching in the United States is discussed in an attempt to determine whether the curriculum is now in a period of crisis. The most crucial ingredient in the excellence of higher education may be the admissions policies and the quality of the faculty teaching available courses. (MLW)

The success of critical thinking courses poses a significant threat to the conception and status of the humanities. In an effort to remediate deficiencies in the writing and reading skills of students attempting to undertake college-level work, courses have been developed which aim to improve the cognitive skills needed for effective…

Speech delivered at the Association of Departments of English (ADE) meeting, at the Annual Meeting, Modern Language Association of America (MLA), December 26, 1969, in Denver, Colorado. (DS)

Describes the anthropology department of Beloit College and the relationship of its own program to the educational mission of the small liberal arts college to which it belongs. Explores program alternatives such as multiple sections of interdisciplinary courses, judicious use of prerequisites, and cross-listed courses. (JS)

In the past decade, many colleges and universities have reduced or eliminated the number of required general education courses, which had the original purpose of assuring a 'well-rounded' liberal education. The important question is how such curriculum reforms, which increase student choice as opposed to university choice of courses, affect the…

A summary is presented of the views of foreign language experts concerning the foreign language requirements for preparation toward liberal arts degrees in schools and colleges, and their opinions on what should be priority goals of foreign language departments. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 47 foreign language specialists. (SW)

A new program at Madonna University (Michigan) builds on the institution's existing emphasis on the humanities in teacher education by creating faculty development activities that promote an interdisciplinary learning community and developing courses to forge formal curricular links between key humanities general education courses and required…

An examination of the transcripts of over 3,000 graduates of major Southern universities reveals that a more rigorous general education course sequence is necessary, and possible, to strengthen teacher preparation at the undergraduate level. (MSE)

Presents a case study of an interdisciplinary program for freshmen in a mid-size public university in which anthropology has been integrated into the curriculum without the advice or teaching of anthropologists. Issues concerning the teaching of anthropology in this fashion are examined. (JS)