The New College Course Map and Transcript Files: Changes in Course-Taking and Achievement, 1972-1993. Based on the Postsecondary Records from Two National Longitudinal Studies.

This document presents a national tapestry of what is studied where, and by whom, in U.S. colleges, community colleges, and postsecondary trade schools. The "Map" is based on empirical information from national samples of postsecondary transcripts in two national longitudinal studies, the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) and the High School and Beyond/Sophomore Cohort (HSB/SO). The cohorts of the HSB/SO were scheduled to graduate from high school in 1982. Participation in postsecondary education expanded considerably during the period from 1972 to 1993, but the rate of completing any credentials by age 30 did not increase. The rate of bachelor's degree completion declined in the same period, as did the rate at which bachelor's degree recipients entered graduate or professional school. Time-to-degree increased by 7%, and the average number of credits earned by students also increased. The document has seven major sections: (1) "Making the Map," a description of the methodology; (2) "Degrees, Majors, Credits, and Time," a study of the long-term educational attainment of both cohorts; (3) "The Changing Shape of Delivered Knowledge," the taxonomy of courses derived from the samples; (4) "Who Provides?," the distribution of attempted courses by institution type; (5) "The Empirical Core Curriculum," a study of student course taking; (6) "Changes in the Proportion of Students Earning Undergraduate Credits in Specific Courses," an analysis of changes in student credits; and (7) "Undergraduate Grades: A Complex Story," the analysis of student achievement. Two appendixes contain technical notes and notes on data sources. (Contains 12 tables and 38 references.) (SLD)

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