VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NURSING

GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAM

Title:                NUR 8500 American Higher Education

Credits:           3

Prerequisites:   None

Placement:       Level I

Overview:

            Exploration of the structure, governance and organization of American higher education.  Critical consideration of selected aspects of university administration and academic life within a changing social, political and cultural milieu.

Objectives:

This course provides students the opportunity to:

1. Analyze historical, social, political, economic and technological trends that affect higher education.

2. Compare varieties of higher educational institutions in the United States in terms of their mission, financing, structure, governance, public mandates and social responsibility.

3. Analyze the implications of the organization, governance and structure of academic institutions on the role of faculty.

4. Analyze the role of internal and external review bodies and the law on higher education.

5. Analyze the process and implications of strategic planning in academia.

Textbook:        Altbach, P.G., Berdahl, R.O. & Gumport, P.J. (2005).  American higher

education in the twenty-first century:  social, political, and economic challenges, 2^nd ed.  Baltimore:  Johns Hopkins University Press.

Evaluation:      Participation, attendance,                   25 points

                                    weekly bib cards                    

                        Tenure case                                         10 points

                        Academic integrity case                      10 points

                        Academic freedom case                      10 points

                        Term paper                                          45 points

Objectives rev. 12/15/03