A survey of college freshmen's attitudes toward literature and literature courses indicated the students' latent interests in literature courses, their generally positive attitude toward reading literature, and the possibility of attracting, with certain types of courses, non-English majors to English departments. (RL)

Reports the results of a national study that examined the extent to which sociology courses are offered as electives in secondary social studies programs. Teacher qualifications and student attitudes were examined. The relationship between school size and school affluence and the decision to offer these courses was also studied. (SR)

The adaptation level theory in grading implies that students select major programs whose grading practices are realistic with their ability. A causal approach using a system of multiple equations was used to investigate this theory. The results lent support to occurrence of the adaptive grading practice. (Author/CM)

In a study involving students currently enrolled in their last semester of required mathematics and students already enrolled in nonrequired mathematics, it was demonstrated that a factor involving encouragement from significant others and subjective value placed on mathematics was the best predictor of taking nonrequired mathematics courses for…

Discusses Alaska's Centralized Correspondence Studies program which offers arts electives to the state's rural, isolated, secondary students. Examples of student art work and poetry are included. (SJL)

A course to coordinate all of the various specialities and disciplines of dentistry with emphasis on esthetics, designed as an elective for the 1980 graduating senior class at Emory University School of Dentistry, is described. (MLW)

An elective course intended to prepare the pharmacist as an educator on fertility control is outlined in some detail, and its text, examinations, and instructional methods are briefly noted. The course's popularity and student evaluations suggested that it was a valuable addition to the curriculum at the University of Nebraska. (MSE)

A narrative describing the content and benefits of a one-semester economics course based on the text, "Choice: An Introduction to Economics" by Augustus J. Rogers III (2nd Ed., Prentice-Hall, 1974). (SJL)

Describes a senior elective course in Western Civilization which focused on an original play written by the teacher and produced by the students. (DD)

Describes six physics courses, at two universities, with career-linked applications offered as electives and designed to strengthen interests in physics and help in career preparations of nonscience students. (GA)

Compares the perspectives of more experienced art directors and copywriters to those of newer ones, on such topics as the skills educators should incorporate in advertising courses, electives that benefit aspiring "creatives," and techniques creatives used to secure their jobs. (SR)

The article describes a senior elective in virology developed at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. Students work independently through a series of course units, selecting 12 study topics from a catalog of 35 topics in medical virology and discussing their reading daily with the professor. (DB)

Two dilemmas occur in studying Darwin's Theory of Evolution. One, concerning pedagogy, is solvable by offering theory basics in middle school and in-depth study in high school. Another, concerning faith, is extremely sensitive. The paper discusses successful approaches, noting the place of Darwin's theory in all-elective high school biology. (SM)

This pre-college filmmaking class represents the writing process in a setting that acknowledges multiple forms of representation for effective communication. Students were introduced to the skills used by filmmakers and encouraged to write, script, design, edit and cast their productions for a final screening five weeks after they began their…

In this article, the author relates how he has been enthralled after reading "Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing" by A. S. Neill. The book describes a boarding school in England that Neill founded in 1921. Classes at Summerhill were optional; instead of being bored all day by mind-numbing lectures, one could do what he or…