A wide variety of selected innovative or nontraditional programs in accredited two- and four-year American colleges and universities is described, using information derived from an extensive study covering over 2200 accredited institutions. Although the intent is to aid career preparation, the scope is broader than the title suggests. Chapters group the programs by type of innovation, describing those that offer nontraditional handling of credits, degrees, matriculation, attendance, types of students (mature adults, underprepared), scheduling, degree programs (contractual, proficiency-based, student-designed, dual, bilingual), courses and studies (e.g., horsemanship, bioengineering, neglected languages). Multimedia learning and teaching techniques, off-campus programs, study abroad, home study, cooperative education (work-study), interinstitutional cooperation (consortia), universities without walls, external degrees, cluster colleges, middle colleges (last two years of high school and first two years of college), continuing education programs, and programs for women are covered. Each program description includes institutional setting, location, and name of a department or person to contact for further information. A final chapter comments on innovative programs in general, describes additional programs, and lists further readings. The work is indexed. (MDW)