Student Course Selection in a Non-Requirement Program : an Exploratory Study

This research investigates the decision process exercised by students in course selection in a non-requirement academic program. The research has, two major purposes: l) to serve as a diagnostic tool for administrators evaluating the merits of non-requirement programs; and 2) to serve a pragmatic purpose for administrators as a source of data from which predictions of success or failure of non-requirement systems can be made. The major considerations in students’ course selections were: personal interest in the area, course content, compatibility with major field, and instructor. Major information sources used by students were: friends, catalogue descriptions, and faculty members (other than advisors). Therefore, both informal and formal information sources were explored by students, formal and formal information sources were explored by students.