Research On The Reform Of The Core Curriculum At Harvard University

Core curriculum is the concrete manifestation of general education at Harvard University. It not only embodies the ideal of general education at Harvard, but also embodies the aims and ideals of Harvard education. It aims at cultivating an educated man or woman. Harvard University set up the core curriculum that was guided by this goal.Core curriculum becomes the model of the United States'Universities and the type of general education in the world.At present, the study of core curriculum in Harvard focused on the curriculum philosophy and practice. But as a successful reform of the university, researchers rarely studied the process of reform.The article first introduces the history background and social background of core curriculum reformation in order to expound the reasons of core curriculum reformation in Harvard University. Then the article introduces the core curriculum reformation from two aspects. First, from the side of the leaders and the participants'role at the organization, the paper surveys the dynamic process of evolution from 20th century 70's to now. The core curriculum reformation revealed not only results which society,economy,culture of anfractuosities America influenced directly,but also results which excellent presidents impelled indirectly and results the intelligence and sweat of participants. Second, the author concerns about the construction of the core curriculum, such as the areas of curriculum, subjects, elective system, teaching and the development of the core curriculum, tying to explore the idea of the core curriculum. Finally the paper makes the corresponding evaluation to the core curriculum at Harvard University, and analyzes the revelations which the core curricu5 in Harvard University gives us.