Should college students be compelled to take American history? Three members of the History department yesterday said no. History professors from four Boston colleges say yes.

Professors Russell E. Miller of Tufts College and Wallace B. Bishop of Northeastern University attribute the spread of Communism to the lack of adequate required history instruction, according to a Boston newspaper.

But David E. Owen, professor of History and head of the History department, commented, "A compulsory course would be self-defeating. It would just annoy students. This is not the way to deal with the problem of Communism."

Oscar Handlin, instructor in American History, contacted yesterday, said "Knowing history is not the only way to become a good citizen. Good citizenship depends on an understanding of the world in which you live."

One American history professor here say that 95 percent of the students admitted to Harvard have had Amerian history in one form or another. "Many courses besides those in the field teach history," he added. "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

All agreed, however, that a good knowledge of American history was essential, although not principally to fight Communism.