As part of Bloomfield College's response to the conflict between a liberal arts tradition and careerism, with its attendant faculty, student, and curriculum problems, the Freshman Core Program was developed. One of the principle objectives of the program is to integrate liberal arts values with career education objectives. A set of four Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) courses are required of all day students. They are supplemented by other courses, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and advising, all of which emphasize a skill/cognitive development approach. One set of courses concentrates upon literature and social sciences in a two-semester sequence; another upon math and the natural sciences. Teachers representing a variety of disciplines work together in these courses to emphasize that the disciplines have common concerns: to read material and observe carefully, to follow a theme or argument, to synthesize elements, and to express one's understanding clearly. Each sequence relies on small group discussions or laboratories, almost to the exclusion of lectures. Tightly integrated into the IDS courses is a Learning Support Workshop, which involves student assessment and placement, and provides help to those with basic skill deficiencies. The program has met many of its objectives in the area of student academic improvement. (AYC)