Fifteen NWC programs recommended by guidebook

Fifteen of Northwestern College’s academic programs are listed in the 2008 edition of Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges, a national guidebook that recommends specific college departments to prospective students. The selected programs are biology, chemistry, education, English, history, music, philosophy, physics, psychology, religion, Spanish, theatre, actuarial science, athletic training and ecological science.

The biology department was one of 48 chosen from moderate-sized selective colleges; the chemistry department was among only 36 recommended from Northwestern’s category. The education department was one of 119 chosen from schools like Northwestern; the English department was among 71 selected from Northwestern’s category.

The history department was among only 11 recommended from colleges Northwestern’s size. There were 67 other moderate-sized selective colleges recommended in music, 58 others in philosophy, 10 others in physics, 69 others in psychology, 14 others in religion, four others in Spanish and 25 others in theatre. 

Three of Northwestern’s programs were listed in a special category, miscellaneous majors, which included recommendations from colleges and universities of all sizes and selectiveness. The actuarial science program was among 51 recommended, while the athletic training program was one of 102 and the ecological science program was among 172.

Written by Frederick Rugg, a Brown University graduate who served 20 years as a secondary school college counselor and now gives college seminars around the country, the book includes programs at 1,100 four-year colleges that he has identified as providing a high-quality education. 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.