I am a history major, which is a pretty straightforward process. Take this class as a sophomore, take that class as a senior, pick a concentration and take a class in each of these other categories for a total of 10 classes. This is a pretty similar format for most majors, but it made me realize something. To graduate from UNH in four years you need to take four classes a semester that equals 32 classes in those four years. The disturbing part is that only four of those 10 classes can actually be in my concentration without taking extra classes. That means only FOUR out of the 32 classes I take at UNH will be in my desired field of study. I have already taken all four of those and I can honestly say I am nowhere close to being an expert in modern United States history. I have done well and know more about American history than the average student, but this makes me think: What have I (read: mostly my parents) actually been paying for?
I point my finger at the general education system, which might be the biggest waste of time and money for a college student who knows what he or she wants to do from day one. I can only take four classes in my concentration, but I have to take three sciences. Does that really make sense? Especially when those sciences are classes like Germs 101, Making Babies, NR 435 or other classes that might be interesting, but you can get an "A" without opening a book. Some general education classes can be tough, but in no way do they actually apply to anything I am slightly interested in. I tried taking some classes that can be related to my field like political science, psychology and environmental history, but in the long run general education courses have been very disappointing.
I have taken all of the general education courses I need to graduate; I'm not sure if a single one of them has made me a more intelligent and well-rounded human being. Sure I know arbitrary facts on random topics, but I can get that off Snapple caps or Wikipedia. The new Discovery Program that was initiated for this year's freshmen sought to revamp the general education system, but I really don't see too much of a difference. The whole idea of general education requirements is to encourage students to have a broader field of study while in college, but doesn't that backfire when students just take the easiest classes available? How many students will take general chemistry if there is another class called "Making Babies?"
General education courses are just an excuse for a university, which really is just a giant business, to make more money. If we are forced to take these classes, then we need to pay more to take other classes in our field over the summer, or J-term or as a graduate student. Every semester there are dozens of classes I really want to take within my major, classes I'm truly interested in and would enjoy doing the work for (how appalling that would be!), but instead I'm stuck in a random general education course that I don't give a shit about. That is not fair, and that is not right.
Stay classy, not UMassy.
Gen Eds are such a waste of lifeeeeee
ReplyDeletequite cuckooesque
ReplyDeleteYes agreed to all of the above... it shows too - i bet most students GPA's are actually higher in their major related classes than in their gen ed required classes.
ReplyDeletebtw - greatest quote you've put on the blog yet?? "I have taken all of the general education courses I need to graduate; I'm not sure if a single one of them has made me a more intelligent and well-rounded human being. Sure I know arbitrary facts on random topics, but I can get that off Snapple caps or Wikipedia. "
As someone who switched into the History department after being in COLSA for the first two years, a History degree has to be one of the easiest degrees to get. In 4 semesters I will have taken the required courses for a History major, as well as a minor.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the craziest things about the History department is the Colloquium class. God forbid you can't wake up and be waiting outside the History department office at the ass-crack of dawn to sign up for a thesis class just so you aren't stuck in one about 17th Century New England. Heck, I love New England, but if I'm stuck writing a paper that is supposed to show how much I've learned here, on a topic I know nothing about, is a pile of BS. Other departments actually, oh I don't know, let you CHOOSE what you want to write your thesis about. Good thing I was one of the nerds waiting outside the department office at 7:30am last Monday so I could get into the 797 class that I was actually interested in.
And I'll add a fist pump or hand shake or whatever you prefer for being a fellow Modern U.S. concentration.
I think Gen eds are a good idea, they get you out of the same classes with the same people, you get to study (only briefly) a wide range of different topics, you meet tons of other students, whats so bad about that?
ReplyDelete