Community colleges enroll close to 50 percent of all students who begin higher education in the United States. Consequently, what happens at these institutions affects the course of study, the progress, and the nature of learning for nearly half of all postsecondary students. This issue presents a detailed picture of the national community college curriculum, using survey data collected in 1998 by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges. Chapters analyze approaches to general education, vocational course offerings, the liberal arts, multicultural education, ESL, honors programs, and distance learning, considering underlying philosophies, design, and content of requirements.

This is the 108th issue of the quarterly journal New Directions for Community Colleges.