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BGSU_Dissertations_0432_Travis.pdf (17.69 MB)

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The Map Experiment: A Case Study of Baccalaureate Reform

Travis, Thomas Griffin
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu156646304850884

Abstract Details

1977, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Educational Administration and Supervision.
From 1972 to 1975 Bowling Green State University (BGSU) was involved in an experiment that proposed to redefine the baccalaureate with the expectation that the time needed to obtain that degree could be reduced by as much as one year. This study examined the events surrounding these efforts through a historical case study approach in order to generate insights and hypotheses relative to issues attending academic reform. The impetus for the BGSU experiment was a $142,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation resulting in the creation of the Modular Achievement Program (MAP) at the university. MAP, a two-year undertaking, involved a subset of the BGSU student population in an alternative freshman curriculum, established criteria certifying satisfactory completion of the general education portion of the baccalaureate and, with partial concurrence from the university's colleges, accelerated certain of those students who met the criteria to junior standing. In 1975, when MAP's functions were assumed by the then newly created University Division of General Studies (UDGS), the university, through various councils, officially approved the acceleration option and the curricular components resulting from the MAP experience; but, it was determined that acceleration would be open to all students who meet the established criteria, thereby divorcing time-shortening from the MAP supported alternative curriculum. From an analysis of the MAP-UDGS experience and the pertinent literature, the study suggested that there exist two fundamental academic reform strategies: routine/incremental and radical/non-incremental, with MAP representing the latter. It was hypothesized that, while the radical/non-incremental approach does not yield specific, anticipated outcomes, it has within it the capacity to generate serendipitous consequences, making it, therefore, an appropriate academic reform strategy.
William York (Advisor)
Higher Education

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Travis, T. G. (1977). The Map Experiment: A Case Study of Baccalaureate Reform [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu156646304850884

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Travis, Thomas. The Map Experiment: A Case Study of Baccalaureate Reform. 1977. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu156646304850884.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Travis, Thomas. "The Map Experiment: A Case Study of Baccalaureate Reform." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 1977. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu156646304850884

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu156646304850884
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