Should Universities Have Required Courses?

[Kuciwalker]

I only want to skip a year of history and a year of english, though... so next year I can take AP Chem and DNA Science I & II, in addition to the Differential Equations + AP Physics + Adv Optics I & II + Quantum Mechanics + AI + Supercomputer Applications (we actually have a Cray!)

[Kuciwalker]

PS: a lot of those are semester courses, so together the ones I'm taking only take up four course slots (not taking English and History would free up two, for the chem and bio courses I mentioned).

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I went to a top-notch college that abolished all requirements back in the 60s. At the time, I was in heaven. Now, like AS, I see the glaring gaps in my education, though I can't say that those gaps have had any real-world consequences (but then, I'm an academic, so what do I know about the real world? ).

On the other hand, those glaring gaps make lifelong learning fun. I'm continually using my time for pleasure reading to "give myself a course" in something or other (right now, its basic philosophy with an emphasis on epistemology). After all, a real education doesn't just teach you specific things, but teaches you how to learn.

[Traianvs]

I have a few subjects that don't have that much to do with what I'm doing, such as philosophy, ethics etc and they can be a serious pain in the ass tbh

anyway i can't choose any of my subjects so what the ****

[Jon Miller]

see

I have found that low level courses are usually uninteresting and I would be better off teaching the subject to myself

Jon Miller

[Sikander]

Originally posted by TCO
most "college students" need trade school more than liberal arts education.

In the U.S. at least I agree completely. We should cut funding for higher education to the extent that we can use it to turn out high school graduates that can actually function at the level we expect of college freshman. Four year universities should not be a middle class entitlement, but should be reserved for the intellectually elite. Community colleges should be expanded to be very broad based, encompassing trade school elements, life long education and as jumping off places for people who don't immediately qualify for University but who would like to work their way into one.

[Pekka]

THe problem with majority of the students is that they are lazy with the courses. Many look for what is easy credits instead of what is good for them. If course is known difficult to pass, it is avoided.. some try to dodge challenges andactually having to study hard. And that's why they'll be mediocre. This have very little to do with the topic though.
Some don't appreciate the chance they've been given. Some don't realize how much their education costs, even when they saw the price tag.
Some people study to get the degree, some people study to learn.

Unfortunately minority is really capitalizing on the moment, realizing the opportunities, learning and learning, wanting to steal all the information.

But sure, there could be some mandatory courses too.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by St Leo
Calculus up to integration and Physics up to dynamics should be mandatory. No one should be considered an adult until they pass those.

I think axiomatic structures and probability are also crucial to understand a lot of things.

On the humanities side logic and critical thinking are fundamental.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
After all, a real education doesn't just teach you specific things, but teaches you how to learn.

That's why I got thousands of books everywhere, from the sciences to engineering to philosophy to how to write scripts.

I will soon sleep on books

[Q Classic]

So says the U of C alumn

of course, these days, the old alums are complaining that the core is too easy. besides, most of us are getting rid of it and want to "get it out of the way" in the first two years.

even so, i still like the core.

[Kropotkin]

For me (and I'm talking from experiences from a un-american college and university system) the portrayed need 'required cources' seems to be just an euphemism to the fact that the students haven't learned what they should beforehand. In other words, the secondary school-system has failed.

[Az]

We have PLENTY of required courses, here. More than half of my degree are required courses. Why? Because here we don't enroll as much to the university as to the faculty. We're predestined to graduate in something, and changing the graduating degree is very very difficult. To this point, I haven't taken a single humanities course, because my degree doesn't require it. ( though our university, which is actually a technological institute, gives us the possibility to take a relatively small number of humanities classes). The most humanist degrees we get in our university is Economics, Medicine, and Architecture.

They do teach us HOW to learn, though. In each and every course, tutors and lecturers help us in that, as well as having a recommended special course on that in the 1st simester.

So far I had ( Including the simester that has just started ):
4 Math courses:
Calc 1
Calc 2
Linear Algebra.
Diff. Eq. ( both Regular and Partial)

1 Biology Course.:
Biology 1

2 Physics Courses:
Physics 1
Physics 2

1 Enviromental Engineering Course.:
Air Pollution

9 Chemistry Courses:
-Chemistry 1
-Chemistry 1 Lab
-the Basics of Molecular Symmetry ( Group theory, and it's application in chemistry )
-Organic Chemistry 1
-Organic Chemistry 1 Lab
-Organic Chemistry 2
-Analytical Chemistry 1
-Chemical Termodynamics
-Non-metallic Chemistry

out of all of these, Only 2 courses were NOT required courses.

[Jon Miller]

hmm

I guess it depends on what you think that college should try to do

the liberal arts approach is that college should give a well rounded education

so therefore everyone needs to do a lab, do some logic/math, do some languages, do some social sciences, ect

you are expected to do that on a lower level, but also to have a college level education in all those areas

so your degree is a Bachelor of Arts

mine did not have either my math major or my honors physics major on it

those were just focuses, not the degree

Jon Miller

[duke o' york]

My girlfriend works at Leeds University, and most of the students there need extra classes in how to write essays - and this is only the arts students.
In Britain there is a gulf between what students are taught at A level and what they have to do in the first year of university, and often it's sink or swim as far as the universities are concerned.

[Alexander's Horse]

I think you need to distinguish between life skills and trade/technical/vocational skills.

Some people bash the liberal arts but what I was basically taught was how to think for myself and how to learn. That education has served me well. That was a "life skill" education and made me a better person.

Since that time I have picked up all sorts of "technical" skills like languages and technical professional skills and knowledge. That was my "technical" or "vocational" education, mostly learned on the job.

I think the thing that arts graduates notice about other graduates is they sometimes lack in development as a person i.e. engineers with no people management skills, a bit of a problem on a construction site; or doctors unable to care for their patients in anything but a cold clinical way. That's a b*tch if you've ever had a doctor like that.