Gen-ed courses may seem like a waste of time and money, but there is a purpose to them. The question is whether or not one feels the purpose outweighs the cost.
College education is meant to prepare students for a world in which they have a career and have more responsibilities than they did before. Part of this includes being a well- rounded person, with knowledge about many topics. To navigate the world as an adult, this can only be helpful.
In addition, taking general education courses sometimes provides clarity to students who have not yet picked a major or are unsure of the major they currently pursue. There are countless people to testify to this. One that comes to my mind is a history teacher I had in high school. He was majoring in marketing or something like that and told us that an elective history course he took made him change his major to secondary education.
Now, if you are one who is completely confident in your major, there are other benefits. In the process of becoming a more well-rounded person, you may also be surprised at how much you learn. For people who are strictly interested in subjects like science and math, the intro to philosophy course you take might even challenge you more than some of those course, since you may have a easier time understanding concepts in science, math, etc. I can attest to this. Biological sciences come pretty naturally to me (which works out since I’m a nursing major) but math isn’t my strong suit. Honestly I felt pretty accomplished when I passed and did well in a math course last semester. Even though it wasn’t as much work as say an anatomy lab, I felt more proud of that A than I did any other. Pretty weird.
A study done by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) says that 91% of employers are asking employees to take on more responsibilities and to use a broader set of skills than in the past. This is an argument for the necessity of gen eds to prepare one for a career. They seek to give students a foundation in broad-based skills in communication, analysis, problem solving, and experience.
Wendy Sherman Heckler, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of University Programs at Otterbein University in Ohio, implemented a general education program called Integrative Studies, which has been followed by many other universities. It is a recommitment to “global learning” so to provide students not just with GPA boosters and easy coursework, but to give them courses that really will apply to their future careers. More information about this program can be found on their website.
On the other side of this debate, gen eds are called a waste of time and money for both students and universities. Taking classes that have no necessity to one’s chosen field of study take time away from the student becoming an expert in their field. I guess it’s a personal thing: would you rather be well-rounded or more proficient in your field?
I found that I enjoy taking classes outside of my comfort zone, but honestly, I would not spend my money on them if I had the choice. I think it’s selfish of universities to force a journalism student to take a math course and vice versa.
I mean, our previous years of schooling are virtually 12 years of gen-eds. I’m not against gen ed courses in college, and I recognize that they have value. However, with college tuition being as high as it is today, I think their value is outweighed by the thousands of dollars we spend for each course.
The average cost per credit hour is $325 at public, 4 year universities. If an average course is 3 credits, that is almost $1000 per course. The cost differs among 2 year, 4 year, public, and private universities- as outline here. At Penn State, approximately 45 gen ed credits are required among majors. That’s an average of $14,625. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather keep that money, or even use it for more courses designed for my major.
Most college students need some type of financial assistance to afford a college education. The average graduate in 2016, had racked up $37,000 in college debt. (Meanwhile, the average credit card debt per person with a credit card is about $5000). Having an extra $14,000 would certainly improve that statistic. (If you’re interested on the breakdown of loans and debt, you can find more information here).
I believe in the value of gen ed courses, yes. But as someone who has student loans, I would rather not be “forced” to take these courses so to earn my degree. While I don’t mind the time that these courses take away from more major-specific courses, I’m sure a lot of people think they’re a complete waste of time. I can see both sides of the argument, but the most important issue for me is the money they cost.
Sources
CreditCards.com. “How Much is the Average Credit Card Debt in America?” CreditCards.com, 18 Jan. 2017, www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/average-credit-card-debt.php. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
Seraphin, Catherine. “General Education Requirements: What’s the Point?” CollegeXpress: Scholarships, College Search, Lists and Rankings, www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/majors-and-academics/articles/college-academics/general-education-requirements-whats-point/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
“U.S. Student Loan Debt Statistics for 2018.” Student Loan Hero, 2 Jan. 2018, studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
Web Bulletin Development Team. “University Bulletin: Undergraduate Degree Programs: General Education in the Curriculum.” University Bulletin: Undergraduate Degree Programs, bulletins.psu.edu/undergrad/generaleducation/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.