Utilitarianism: The Distinctive Motif of American Higher Education

Higher education in America is widely regarded as an institution without a design or character of its own. The Colonial period is generally thought to have been an exception, for then education was seemingly grounded in classical and moral philosophy and its purpose was preeminently to engender students with literary and religious knowledge. Following the Civil War, education changed radically, it is commonly assumed, as society became industrialized. Thus from the time of the Civil War until the present, American higher education has been frequently depicted as a conglomeration of courses and programs without any discernible rationale or purpose. The main idea set forth in this article is that higher learning in America, from Colonial days until the present time, has been organized and developed to serve the interests and needs of society. More specifically, the character of higher education has been utilitarian: as the specific practical interests and needs of society have altered, so have the programs of the colleges and universities reflected these changes.