<p>currently at a JC and I get my AA next semester. I don't know where I'm transferring yet. My JC has general ed requirements like most schools. No matter what your major is you have to take two science courses, a college algebra course, an ethnic studies course. </p>
<p>i'm a political science major but this past semester I took nutrition, biology and a native american art course so i could meet the 2 science and ethnic studies requirments.</p>
<p>This past semester has felt like a total waste of time because I didn't really learn much as it pertains to my major and i'm basically just going through the motions. Lets face it...one biology course does not make you a biologist....what's the point? I would have much rather spent my time either taking business or courses that had something to do with my major.</p>
<p>and the native american art course. I like art as much as the next person but i'm not an art history major.</p>
<p>Am I alone in thinking a lot of time in college is wasted on courses that don't do much to educate you in the field you're interested in?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
...one biology course does not make you a biologist...
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Well, it may spark an interest. I know I had no intentions of pursuing a degree in Sociology but my intro course changed that. But you do have a point, most gen eds are time wasters, I just think they should be kept to a minimum like one class in each requirement.</p>
<p>They help you to figure out what you want to do. Only very few people actually go into college knowing exactly what the want to do, and often, even if they THINK they do, an intro class in something can spark a change and lead to a different major altogether. The only ones of my gen ed classes I've not liked was chemistry for my science credit, but that is because I am SO BAD at chemistry. (chem was the science required for my first major, also one of the reasons I ended up changing majors) </p>
<p>As for the other gen ed requirements, history, english, math and social sciences, I think all of those are essential for being a knowledgable person. knowing the basic history of the world or at least the country, how to form a decent argument in a paper without having a ton of grammatical mistakes, a general bit about government or the economy, and being able to do some decent algebra at least, are all important aspects that people need to know to get along in the world. As for your ethnic studies requirement, perhaps I'm biased as an anthropology major, but I think learning something about a completely different culture gives you some insight into your own culture and also shows that just because people are different doesn't mean they're wrong.</p>
<p>I would have to agree that general education requirements are of little if any value. For example, I am a political science major, with plans to get an MBA and a JD. I want to be an entrepreneur in the media and telecommunications world. It would therefore make sense for me to take some classes in Communications, Economics, English, History, Psychology, Sociology, and perhaps a foreign language. Why do I need the school to tell me that? And why do I need a global diversity requirement forcing me to take African American Literature or Introduction to Buddhist Thought instead of something that is actually interesting and useful, like Philosophy of Law or Methods of Mass Communication?</p>
<p>taking intro courses in biology or chemistry when you're major is one of the social sciences is a waste of time.</p>
<p>the best way to know a subject is to emerse yourself in it over several years and many courses. Gen Ed requirments actually hinder the learning process.</p>
<p>Hmm... seems many of you don't realize the simple fact that you probably will NOT be doing what your degree is in when you graduate college anyway!
Gen-Eds are all about making you a well-rounded person capable of succeeding in a variety of fields.
Additionally, <em>good</em> professors can make Gen-Eds life-changing classes. One example here is a class called Human Diversity taught by a professor of Sociology. I know many people here who have had their eyes opened to other cultures and other worldviews through that class. The ability to see through others' eyes will be vital to them later in their jobs.
Another thing to remember is that many employers, grad schools, and professional schools (<em>especially</em> med school) look for an element in candidates sometimes referred to as the "X-factor." This really refers to a difficult to define attribute that some candidates have that makes others feel comfortable and safe around them. Studies show that this factor is related to things such as the ability to relate to others' views and therefore seem more similar to them. That is something you won't learn in your technical or major classes nearly as much as by getting a wide overview of various subject areas.</p>
<p>Here's the thing about gen-ed classes. Most of the topics, I find uninteresting and mundane. I'm an econ major that plans to get a JD. I plan to be a practicing attorney, a corporate law specialist. Then I understand I should take classes in economics, psychology, maybe a primer in business, and some languages, and I don't need NYU to tell me that. I'm majoring econ and minoring in law & society and prebusiness. It's not to spark interest; that's not the point. Some people have interests that are so firmly rooted, that nothing can be done to change them. </p>
<p>I'm honestly a fan of the system where the student is allowed to explore their interests without being forced to follow a prescribed curriculum. One of the things that law schools, grad schools, and employers look for is diversity in backgrounds. When you bring a bunch of people with a bunch of different skill sets, knowledge bases and interests together, and put them together in a room, they're all bound to learn a ton from each other. </p>
<p>Besides, well-rounded should have happened in high school. One of the reasons we don't have majors in high school is for that very purpose. We don't need to to that AGAIN in college. While I don't agree that people should specialize before college, I don't think college is the time to explore your interests. That should have happened in high school.</p>
<p>nyu, I agree with you...partially. college SHOULD be largely about specialization but the reality is the BA is becoming more and the "new HS diploma." This means, then, that it is only to be expected that the well-rounding is likely to continue into college.
Additionally, while I love my majors, I have also found I can learn a lot from other fields that will influence how I perform my practice later in life.
Finally, you're the exception NOT the rule. Most student DON'T realize they should take classes outside their major in order to supplement their education. If everyone naturally took the classes that weren't required but would enrich their education, then schools wouldn't need to force GEs on us, but since so many students barely do the requirements, much less additional work, schools have to add enrichment to the requirements!</p>
<p>I always wonder, whoever teaches the class, whether it be a TA or a professor, do they actually read all papers that they assign? I mean, that's a boat of papers to correct.</p>
<p>Depends on the professor.
At my school, often profs have their TAs read and grade papers for intro and lower division courses but grade upper division non-objective (i.e., essays) work themselves. A lot depends on how much time they have and their course/student load (as well as research and other activities and programs).</p>
<p>
[quote]
If everyone naturally took the classes that weren't required but would enrich their education, then schools wouldn't need to force GEs on us, but since so many students barely do the requirements, much less additional work, schools have to add enrichment to the requirements!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So I'm being penalized for being a motivated person and pushing myself? Not fair. Since the well-rounding happened in high school, I feel that it's redundant to do it again in college. And again, if many students barely do the requirements, and they can't find jobs after graduation, then tough cookies for them. This is a free country. You're free to do the bare minimum, or you're free to go above and beyond. I chose to go above and beyond. I believe this country was founded on the premise that nobody has any right to tell us what to do.</p>
<p>Maybe there should be two tracks of admission....one for those who already know what they're going to do and have a pretty clear idea, and another for those who don't. That way, people like me would get fast-tracked through to our majors and minors, so that we could specialize early. That way, you put like-minded motivated people in the same classes.</p>
<p>You know...tailored education type of thing....the kids that know what they want to do and declare their majors when they come in (as in the self-motivated type of kids who would go "above and beyond" of their own volition), they would follow a prescribed course of study with 2-3 condensed GE courses and be on track to graduate in three years, maybe including a one-semester full-time internship. The kids that don't know what they want to do would do the full GE curriculum and be on track to graduate in 4 years. How bout that? Tailor the education to the student. Personally, I learn better when I immerse myself in something.</p>
<p>Like you have mentioned before, this a free country and you may create your own college if you so desire.</p>
<p>I think general requirements are of great value. I belief in the whole thing of being a well rounded student. Having a background a business, an engineer might be able to create a business or move up the ladder in his company.
Perhaps the problem is that CCers think they know it all. Of course, that is not true.</p>
<p>In my case, I have changed my major around 5 times. Before changing to a new major major, I thought that my previous major was going to be my major for the rest of my life. However, I just simply lost interest in the subject, but not enough where I wouldn't want to take a class in that subject.</p>