Proceedings of a conference on graduate education in nursing, which sought to provide a forum for discussion of issues and to share the findings and experiences of the graduate demonstration projects undertaken under the aegis of the Southern Regional Education Board's Nursing Curriculum Project, are presented. Contents include: "Purposes of Graduate Education: An Evaluation," Jean A. Kelley; "Overview of Modal Curricular Patterns: Master's Curriculum," LaVerne Gallman; "An Overview of a Doctoral Modal Curricular Pattern," William Field; "Nursing Theory and Practice: A Philosophical Debate," Kathleen Goldblatt; "Essential Content: Nursing Theory and Research," Nita W. Davidson; "Clinical Nurse Specialist in Primary Health Care," Jo M. Jones; "Teaching," Myrtis J. Snowden;"Nursing Practice Administration," Lois C. Malkemes; "Research," Juanita W. Fleming; "Organizations," Ruth Q. Seigler; and "Generic Graduate Programs In Nursing," Sylvia E. Hart. Debates on three issues in innovations include: (1) "Satellite Programs and Flexible Scheduling: Can Quality and Integrity Be Maintained?" ("The Case for Outreach Programs," Helen R. Kohler, and "The Case against Outreach Programs," Betty R. Rudnick); (2) "Progression to the Nursing Doctorate: How Can It Best Be Achieved?" ("The Master's Degree as Prerequisite," Elizabeth Lenz and "The Direct Route to the Doctorate," Carolyn Waltz); (3) "Should the Product of Graduate Education Be an Advanced Generalist or a Specialist?" ("The Case for a Comprehensivist," Genevieve Bartol and "The Case for Clinical Specialization," Barbara Brodie). A bibliography and conference program are appended. (SW)