Table 2. Differences in qualities seen as essential to biology teachers in doctoral programs and in two-year colleges. Ranking is on a scale of 1-5 (see text) as determined by the means.

DOCTORALPROGRAMS Two-YEAR COLLEGES Rank Mean QUALITY Rank Mean 1 4.92 Thorough knowledge of a major field 7 4.58 2 4.77 Sense of professional obligations and ethics 1 4.83 3 4.75 Ability to organize and present ideas to colleagues 16 4.07 4 4.74 Possession of a satisfying philosophy of life 12 4.26 5 4.69 Skill in handling discussions 11 4.35

6 4.54 Skill in lecturing 6 4.61 7 4.53 Ability to outline objectives and organize courses 5 4.76 8 4.51 Familiarity with professional journals in subject 17 3.96 9 4.46 Familiarity with research materials and methods 21 3.37 10 4.37 Ability to direct laboratory sessions 2 4.76

14 4.15 Ability to be creative in designing courses 9 4.40 16 4.00 Ability to work with others in a professional endeavor 8 4.42 18 3.92 Ability to appraise professional contributions of self and others 2 4.76

18 3.92 Ability to use a wide variety of library resources 4 4.74 Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/36/2/94/31510/4444659.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 20 3.83 Skill in evaluation of students 9 4.40 to 88% in community colleges. In all cases the num- of Northern Colorado, and the University of North ber of courses taught in the major teaching category Dakota. Catholic University of America grants a was 2 + 1. D.A. in medical technology. Professors in doctoral programs averaged a total A number of universities are reportedly in various of 3 ? 1 courses or 10.2 ? 3.0 different course credits stages of developing or beginning such programs, but over a two-year period. The broadest loads were I have not been able to get any direct evidence of 5 ? 2 courses or 18.0 ? 7.1 credits, found in loads in current status. Other institutions-Ball State Uni- four-year colleges. versity, for example-have Ph.D. and Ed.D. pro- If, as advised by the Council of Graduate Schools, grams with a strong doctor of arts philosophy but selection of courses for the D.A. candidate is to be do not use the name, for various reasons. Potential based on the subject matter to be taught, a D.A. applicants are encouraged to inquire at their local program should probably center on an introductory institutions, as well as at the established programs. modern biology course, two or three courses in a major category, and two or three courses in one or REFERENCES more related minor categories. Desirable combina- ALCIATORE, R. T., and R. E. ECKERT. 1972. A college teaching tions of categories are (i) zoology with ecology, internship program. Improving College and University genetics, or human biology; (ii) botany with ecology, Teaching 20:93. microbiology, or genetics; and (iii) core biology, COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. 1970. The doctor of arts degree. Privately printed, Washington, with a specialty in botany, zoology, human biology, D.C. or ecology. The data did not support the usual practice of requiring all candidates to have a comajor in botany and zoology. Of the 21 respondents with a major in The Smell of Home one of these categories and a minor in the other, only 3 were hired to teach in both. In the desirable The mystery of how a salmon returns unerringly combinations it was not unusual to find a combina- after spending years at sea to the stream of its birth tion such as zoology with human biology. Although to spawn may have been partly answered by some only 3 respondents were so trained, 26 (more than University of Wisconsin researchers. The lab group 10%) of the respondents were teaching courses in found that salmon receive a chemical imprint while both categories. still immature that may allow them, within certain unknown distance limits, to zero in on the stream via Status of D.A. Programs a unique sense of smell. How the fish can travel thou- sands of kilometers at sea and then return to the Doctor of arts programs in biology are new. They area where the chemical imprint and smelling pro- are not to replace the research-oriented Ph.D.; cess takes effect, however, is still largely a matter of rather, they are to provide teaching-oriented col- speculation. Research has indicated that certain pe- leagues to work in a complementary-one might say lagic fish, including the bluefin tuna and the mako "symbiotic"-relationship with the Ph.D.s. shark, may be aided in their navigation by an organic This year the D.A. in biology will be granted to mechanism that is sensitive to the light of the sun, candidates at Idaho State University, the University the moon, and the stars.

94 THE AMERICANBIOLOGY TEACHER, FEBRUARY 1974