Why do I have to take science classes when my major is English? Why do I have to do Arts when I am going to work in a research lab? Didn’t I already meet that requirement?
I hear it frequently. Students question and sometimes complain about the “General Education” requirements. I get it. College is expensive and perhaps there is an argument to be made about requiring students to take “unnecessary” courses. But what is necessary and what is not? It’s not an easy thing to pick apart. Think about it: What should a modern education look like? What should an “educated” person know and be able to do? And, how will we know it when we see it?
Such is the debate as my institution reviews its Gen Ed curriculum. I will be the first to admit that I did not love every course I was required to take in college. I have a special aversion to math and most sciences. On the other hand, I really enjoyed many of the social sciences and would not have sought them out on my own. And honestly, I don’t think anyone has suffered irreparable damage from being introduced to art, philosophy and yes, even chemistry. Well, I might have some lasting damage from that one. Live and learn, right?
Whatever becomes of the general education requirements, I hope they retain many of the same components; arts and humanities, social and natural sciences, and an understanding of social and cultural diversity (among a few other things) are all worthwhile.
I am not saying there isn’t room for improvement. After all, the current model hasn’t changed much over the years. There should probably be something more specific to technology—especially an ethical component. However, I think the idea is still relevant. A general education, while it often requires courses students don’t want to take, provides an introduction to the many things that shape our lives, from economics and politics to art and popular culture. Though students get some of this in high school, college offers much more depth.
Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not, but the intangible qualities that emerge, sometimes without students even realizing it, are often the things that stand out, whether in the professional world or the community.
