Criteria in the Higher Education Curriculum.

Overview & Synopsis

Guidelines for the higher education curriculum are presented, with attention directed to prerequisite courses, general education, educational objectives, criteria for selecting staff to monitor required courses, and professional education. Two specific concerns are the need to provide specific and well-written course descriptions in the general catalog, and to substantiate whether a course requiring a prerequisite is actually sequential. General education, which provides essential subject matter, precedes the selection of specialized courses within a degree program. Each college/university needs to have clearly written statements pertaining to general education. From the philosophy on general education, specific objectives for students need to be developed cooperatively by faculty members and administrators. Ten criteria are proposed for selecting academic deans and faculty members who will serve on a general education council for the purpose of monitoring required courses. Six criteria for professional education courses are specified, and three descriptions of general education are also presented. (SW)