what is a coed?

      A coed or co-ed is a dated term for a female college student. It was popular in the 1960's, when females were first admitted in numbers to traditional all-male colleges and universities. Coeducation means teaching the males and females together--particularly where they were once taught separately, as in a physical education (gym) course. Coeducation does not mean anything having to do with race--only with gender. There are still all-male and all-female private and parochial (Catholic) schools. These are usually high schools or residential (boarding) schools--like the all-male (secondary school) military academies. The military colleges are now coeducational.