A description of trends in home economics curriculum, enrollment, and degrees granted in Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities - A five year study, 1976-1980

Problem: As the role of home economics continues to be defined and evaluated within Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities and higher education generally, a clear perception is needed of the purposes and directions of home economics. The purpose of this study was to describe home economics in Seventh-day Adventist higher education, indentifying basic programs available, enrollment trends, and the number of undergraduates for a five year period, 1975-76 to 1979-80.

Method: As a part of a larger study on the status of home economics programs in Seventh-day Adventist institutions, the admissions offices and home economics departments of the eleven Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities provided data of courses offered, the credit value of each course, the number of students in each class, and the number of graduates from home economics programs during the five years studied. Reports from the Department of Education, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, identified the total graduates from all programs in these institutions.

This study was designed to examine the total home economics program in Seventh-day Adventist higher education, so data from all schools were combined to obtain a composite description. Information received was coded for five content areas and six course-type categories. The percentage of increase or decrease in credits offered and earned was then calculated. Also, the percentage of home economics graduates was compared to the total number of undergraduates from all programs in all North American Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities.

Findings: Overall, Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities maintained stability in credits offered in home economics programs from 1975 to 1980, but there was a decrease in both credits earned and in degrees granted during the five years studied. Enrollment per credit hour taught decreased over the five years from an average of twelve students in 1975-76 to an average of ten students in 1979-80. More total home economics degrees were granted in 1979 than during any of the other five years. Compared to undergraduate degrees offered in all programs in Seventh-day Adventist higher education, the percentage of home economics undergraduate degrees granted decrease slightly, dropping from 6 percent in 1979 to 4 percent by 1980.

Conclusions: The findings suggest a trend toward a slightly declining enrollment in home economics programs. This trend needs further study since government reports suggest an increased demand for graduates of higher education in home economics throughout the eighties. Also, with the reorganization of some college departments, home economics as a discipline for academic study could lose the integrative approach necessary for understanding human needs in relation to the environment; therefore, careful attention must be given to curriculum development in Seventh-day Adventist higher education.

Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
1981
Author:
Sue Murray
Order Information:
Full-text not available online. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY G.S. Th. M984
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Tertiary
Audience:
Administrator / Leader, Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist