The announcement had the ring of a radio commercial. After completing the new courses, students would be able to "inquire like scientists, reason like philosophers, explain like historians, or imagine like poets and artists." Even if they had never been to college before, they could also sport a new degreePh.A., Associate of Philosophy.
The ring was truer than it sounded. Last week, when Cleveland College, the downtown division of Western Reserve University, announced its Basic Arts program, 100 Ohioans from Ph.D.'s to adults who had never finished the seventh grade said they wanted to...