Guidebook recommends 18 NWC programs

Eighteen of Northwestern College’s academic programs are listed in the 2012 edition of Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges, a national guidebook that recommends specific college departments to prospective students.

The selected programs are actuarial science, athletic training, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, ecological science, education, English, history, music, philosophy, physics, psychology, religion, social work, Spanish and theatre.

Written by Frederick Rugg, a Brown University graduate who directed secondary college counseling programs for 20 years and conducted college seminars around the country for 23 years, the book includes programs at 1,125 four-year colleges he has identified as providing a high-quality education. The typical school has nine departments listed.

Rugg’s publication relies heavily on random polls of students at those colleges, asking them what departments at their school they would recommend most to high school seniors. Input also is received from high school counselors, college personnel and parents.