This paper promotes an undergraduate course that would discuss the great ideas of Plato, St. Paul, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Jean Paul Sartre, B. F. Skinner, and Konrad Lorenz. This course would help students understand human values and behaviors while focusing on historical, world, and national problems. Tentative solutions would then be…

This series of exercises is designed to provide undergraduate students with some experiences to deepen and clarify their understanding of the various approaches to personality. The exercises include the semantic differential, modeling, systematic desensitization, shaping, role construct repertory, free association, and approach-avoidance…

The disadvantages of trying to deal with ethical issues as they arise in relevant undergraduate courses are outweighed by the advantages of devoting an entire course to such issues. Undergraduate students typically oversimplify moral problems and they also tend to have difficulty articulating their reasons for making the moral judgments that they…

Describes an advanced undergraduate course introductory course designed to integrate two ways sociologists examine literature. Presents sociology of literature through reading fictional works, like Dickens'"Hard Times," that deal with sociological issues. Writing assignments provide opportunities to test ideas about authors, critics, and…

Examines the use of life histories as a method for explaining successful aging patterns. Describes a life-history research project in which undergraduates personalize material learned in social gerontology courses, integrating the life experience and theories. Sensitizes students to the impact of social forces on successful aging. Argues this…

In some colleges and universities, linguistics does not have a positive image. This is due in part to the number of students that struggle through linguistic theory that they will forget once the examination or course is over. However, instructors can make linguistics courses serving primarily nonmajors more attractive by omitting certain topics…

The use of English-language literature in South African college instruction for Black students, for many of whom English is a second language, is discussed, drawing on relevant literature. First, the conditions of the education of Black students in South Africa is reviewed, and it is suggested that this population often arrives in higher education…

Discusses objects, methods of instruction, content, and accomplishments of the undergraduate major in economics. Recommends a strong introductory sequence stressing application of economic tools, rigorous intermediate theory courses, background courses in quantitative methods, and a minimum of five economics electives. Suggests synthesis through a…

This study examined connections between the educational process and attitudes toward organizational change among business students. A total of 758 undergraduate and graduate students from both the arts and sciences and business were surveyed with a measure of attitude toward change. The study employed a three-way analysis of variance using the…

Recommends using informal writing exercises to increase students' involvement in large survey history courses. Explains several activities in which undergraduates collect their thoughts on particular lecture topics. Also suggests that students keep journals to accompany reading assignments. Argues that journal writing enlivens the material and…

This paper discusses ways that institutions can change the higher education system and environment to accommodate more minority students. The first section, "Institutional Climate and Minority Achievement," presents an overview of the problems facing colleges and universities with respect to recruiting and retaining minority students. In the…