<p>not sure if any Ivy requires Calc for an 'ology'; and that's why I noted "depending on the college".... for example, the UC's, UofC, JHU, and Duke (BS degree) require calc for psych majors; in Chicago's case, it's a general ed requirement (I think).</p>
<p>I believe that as far as psych goes, the calc requirement depends on the type of degree - bs and ba requirements are quite different.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I guess it all comes down to how you define a "liberal arts" education. Many people believe that math is a major component of that type of education. Are you getting a good education if you don't take english or a certain type of history? To me the real objective of school through at least high school is to be as broad as possible.</p>
<p>Though it is not for everyone and not necessarily required for many degree, taking Calculus is one of those broadening experiences. Just like Philosophy is not required within a particular major but many colleges require it because it is a component of what some consider to be a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>Eagle, you can't take everything. If you are a math, science oriented student in high school, taking double science courses, it is unlikely you will take two languages. My daughter couldn't imagine dropping either
Latin or her modern language or a hard science to take calc, since she is a humanities oriented student with a strong interest in language, writing and drama, which she did not want to drop. Students have to make choices based on their interests, and lots of students go to great colleges, including Ivies, without Calc. I took AP calc and could not today do one problem. I can, however, speak passable French. In New York State, the senior year course in public schoool is pre-calc. Many kids go to summer school or community college to be able to take calc senior year, but you need money to do that. Colleges know that. Students can always take it in college.</p>
<p>Can't help but notice dmd77 forgot to add swimming to his list...</p>
<p>catherine,</p>
<p>My comment was targeted at college not HS. It is not really a math/science vs humanities thing. Regardless, it really comes down to how you define a good education. It is just my opinion that Calculus is something important to learn, just like Philosophy, History, French or other courses of study.</p>
<p>Eagle:</p>
<p>And as you know, most colleges do not require students to study philosophy, history or French for their students to graduate. A combination of depth in one subject matter and breadth in others, yes, but not specific courses. At Harvard, as I posted earlier, the quantitative reasoning requirement can be satisfied by taking a math course that requires nothing more advanced than high school algebra.
I personally would wish students to have more than that by the time they enter college. But I am not convinced that calculus is the most useful type of math to know if one is not going to go into certain majors and careers.</p>
<p>Blobof---If I'd thought about it, I would have put swimming on the list, thanks. Both my kids learned to swim at age 3, so I take it for granted. Oh, and I'm female.</p>
<p>OT sidebar: my S's school doesn't require calc, but it does require the passing of a swimming test!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Blobof---If I'd thought about it, I would have put swimming on the list, thanks. Both my kids learned to swim at age 3, so I take it for granted. Oh, and I'm female.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sorry. I almost put "his/her" originally (as I often can't tell a poster's gender by just the username or one post)...</p>
<p>Marite, your point is well taken about Calc not being the most useful on one hand. But I think there is merit in knowing that something exists and have some sense of what it can do. I mentally flag any number of articles where a sense of math on the Calc level, or science, would help the average reader make more sense of it. However, I also believe the same thing about history courses, language, philosophy, etc. </p>
<p>I suppose in some ways I'm conflicted. I've come to be against mandatory breadth requirements but <em>for</em> a broad education. When I was a student, I was the other way around. :)</p>
<p>TheDad:</p>
<p>You won't get disagreement from me on this! </p>
<p>S is currently taking a Great Books course. I had no say in his course selection, which makes me all the more pleased.</p>
<p>Marite, that <em>is</em> very pleasing.</p>