THIS MICHIGAN STATE PRISON'S PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE, POPULATION, INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS, AND SHORTCOMINGS IN EXISTING TREATMENT PROGRAMS (ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNSELING PROCESS) ARE EXAMINED WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING A PERSPECTIVE ON THE DIFFICULTIES IN CREATING AND SUSTAINING A GENUINE LEARNING SITUATION IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT. THE EVOLUTION AND ADAPTION OF AN INNOVATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY 4-YEAR BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM FOR SUCH A SETTING IS DESCRIBED WITH ATTENTION TO VARIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL FORMATS, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND TELEVISION. DESCRIPTIONS RELATE THE CONTENTS OF EACH YEAR'S COURSE OF STUDY, INCLUDING SOCIAL SCIENCE, HUMANITIES, AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS, AND AN ADVANCED STUDIES CURRICULUM, STRUCTURED TO PREPARE THE STUDENT FOR THE UNFAMILIAR TASK OF RESARCHING, ORGANIZING, AND WRITING THE SENIOR THESIS. STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN AND REACTION TO THE PROGRAM IS DISCUSSED, AS ARE WAYS FOR THE STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH READING, WRITING, AND MATH SKILL DEFICIENCIES. A REFORM PROPOSAL IS THEN SUGGESTED THAT RECOGNIZES THE FALLACY OF REHABILITATION IN THE COURSE OF PUNISHMENT AND SEPARATES THE SENTENCE INTO A TIME OF CUSTODY AND A TIME OF REHABILITATION. LASTLY, THE ROLE OF THE LARGER SOCIETY IN FOSTERING THE ALIENATION THAT LEADS TO CRIME IS BRIEFLY EXPLORED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)