One of the best things about college is taking classes in the field that the student loves, which for me is communications. Now a sophomore, I am currently in my second class pertaining to my major. That means I have taken, or am currently taking, about 16 wasteful classes that are pointless to my field choice. The university calls them general education classes; I call them “fluff” classes.
All baccalaureate degrees require completion in fundamental skills, inquiry in science, themes of liberal education, as well as communication skills. The mission statement in the course catalog states that general education courses provide students “with the foundation of the liberal education they will need to be informed people who have the ability to act thoughtfully in society.” The statement goes on to explain how these classes are supposed to help students “make critical judgments, to enjoy a life dedicated to learning and the pleasures of intellectual and artistic pursuits.” Seems like a great idea if we had not just spent four years in high school learning the same concepts.
For instance, the 9-12 hours of fundamental classes, which are the English and math courses, are all repetitive lessons from middle school and high school. The English courses are supposed to “help students write clearly and concisely in Standard English.” Students had to know how to do that before even entering college. We had to take the SATs and writing tests, all to prove we were smart enough to advance our education.
The English courses are also supposed to “increase our skills in using word processors, email and internet searches”. I think its safe to say that most students come in to college with the knowledge of these previously mentioned concepts. Yet, we still have to spend a couple thousand dollars to sleep our way through these classes.
Then there are the two courses in science, one that has to involve a laboratory. In other words, two more classes that will be useless for my career path. There is also the 12 hours, or four classes, concerning themes of liberal education. These courses are supposed to include “the consideration of gender, race, and ethnic diversity, as appropriate for understanding the individual themes of these courses”. All I know is, I am watching movies in two of those classes and an overwhelming amount of reading in the other two.
I sit in these classes a little angry, and thinking that if students could just take the courses that pertain to their majors, students could graduate in two years, with thousands of dollars saved.
6 comments
Too many students in this university struggle with the core concepts that the general education requirements teach. It is necessary that people receive that education so that they can succeed in all areas of life, not only their major studies. The object of coming to a university, and the reasons that businesses want university students is because of that well rounded education you receive along with the technical education of that industry. If you feel superior to the classes that you sign up for, you could always attempt to 'test out of them,' but apparently you could or did not. So you sound like a complete fool, and your argument is unreasonable. Just drop out if you cannot handle what you applied to this university to do, which is to get a full education. Please stop writing ignorant complaints.