A Transcript Analysis of Graduates of Three Community College of Philadelphia Curricula between the Years 1985 and 1992. Institutional Research Report #83.

A study was conducted at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) to examine the course-taking patterns of 94 graduates of the associate in arts (AA) curriculum, 1,957 graduates of the association in general studies (AGS) curriculum, and 99 graduates of the associate in science (AS) curriculum. Using a computer-based approach to transcript analysis, the study identified the average number of courses in various disciplines taken by graduates of each of the three curricula. Study findings included the following: (1) an overall look at course clusterings across the three curriculum pointed to five general career directions for graduates: liberal arts transfer, teacher preparation, health preparation, chemical technology and pre-pharmacy, and engineering science; (2) the common courses taken by graduates across all three curricula included an English writing and a research course; Introduction to Psychology; Introduction to Sociology; General Biology; one of three English communication courses; and a first course in either French or Spanish; (3) AS graduates completed a number of second-level mathematics and science courses as part of their study; however, there was minimal completion of second-level general education courses in humanities or the social sciences; (4) AA graduates completed second-level language study as part of their curriculum requirement, and AGS graduates completed second-level psychology, sociology, and biology courses, most likely as a requirement for the nursing curriculum; (5) the AGS graduates were the most likely of the three groups to have completed developmental English courses; (6) a number of students in each curriculum had what appeared to be specific career goals, but there was also evidence that several engaged in career exploration in their course selections. Recommendations concerning curriculum reform and core requirements are included. (KP)