With the support of a grant from the Sloan Foundation, nine computer scientists from liberal arts colleges came together in October, 1984 to form the Liberal Arts Computer Science Consortium (LACS) and to create a model curriculum appropriate for liberal arts colleges. Over the years the membership has grown and changed, but the focus has remained…

Five projects intended to help develop national indicators of undergraduate learning in different disciplines use a variety of strategies and are reminders that reflective self-consciousness is an important characteristic of teaching faculty in any discipline. (MSE)

Argues that general education differs from liberal education in its underlying assumptions, ideological orientations, pedagogical methods, curricular structures, and ultimate aims. Contends that understanding these differences is important to curricular reform. (DMM)

The learning community curricular model links coursework to promote coherence and intellectual interaction for a group of students. The four basic models are linked courses; course clusters; freshman interest groups; and coordinated studies. Learning communities can be effective, and offer a feasible solution for different issues and diverse…

Examines whether the administrative location of an economics department in a business school versus liberal arts school alters the character of the program. Uses a curricular character index (CCI) as the dependent variable in a regression model. Finds that the administrative location of an economics department changes the character of the program.…

Discusses curricular tradition in liberal higher education and proposes a schema of curricular principles emphasizing the character of the learner, the world to be known, a common heritage of humanity, and kinds of disciplines. Uses the University of Chicago's past and current curricula to illustrate the ongoing search for curricular coherence.…

A reflective judgment model of adult intellectual development is proposed, for use by college faculty and staff in helping students question their assumptions about knowing and learning and in making more reflective judgments. The model is based on cognitive development theory and has specific implications for the college years. (MSE)

The Whitney M. Young, Jr. College of Leadership Studies, described in this report, was established in 1983 as part of an effort to turn Kentucky State University into the state's leading small, liberal arts institution. The curriculum is based upon the "great books" model of St. John's College and other schools, with particular…

A new approach to general education at Bowling Green State University based on "essential skills and functional understandings" is discussed. The model includes skills in: problem solving and critical thinking; reading and writing; computation and mathematics; listening and speaking; and decision-making and values-conflict resolution.…

The integration of learning and knowing is not simply a matter of application but rather an ongoing interactive process in which both knowledge and experience are repeatedly transformed. Two models of the integration of knowledge and experience were used at Alverno College. (MLW)

The character of academic disciplines profoundly influences the curricular organization and pedagogical practices of undergraduate education. A critical interpretation of liberal arts disciplines and their place in undergraduate education is discussed, with a positive rationale for a different approach to undergraduate education outlined.…

Career development has become the focus of the mission of Doane College (Nebraska), with programs for applicants, students and alumni. Doane's program illustrates how a comprehensive career education model can be applied in liberal arts college. (MSE)

The integration of liberal and professional education will require pharmacy faculties to redefine the dimensions of their role as educators. An assessment of liberal education in pharmacy, models for integration of liberal education, and prescription for change are discussed. (Author/MLW)

The Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) Program at California State Polytechnic University is described in this report. The program is designed students in professional and math-based degree programs and offers an integrative-thematic approach to the humanities and social sciences components of the University General Education Program. It…

This collection of speeches and papers is the record of a two-day conference on general education, which focused on articulation, core curricula experiments, and instructional innovations. First, George H. Robertson's welcoming remarks are presented. Then, Donald D. O'Dowd points to evidence of the decline of the liberal arts, reasons for this…