God Damn General Education Requirements!

[Rageaholic]

DISCLAIMER: This isn't meant to bash those pursuing liberal arts, it's just a rant against all these liberal arts requirements that you must learn to graduate.

I have been doing this college thing for about 4 years now (this is 4th year). Aside from all the basic GE (math, science, ect), I've taken the basic english courses, taken a lot of psychology, some socialogy, anthropology, courses on music, film and things I couldn't give two shits about. I've had a mixed feeling on the liberal arts requirement courses, some were cool, others felt unnecessary. Heck, I've even considered going into psychology as my degree, but realized there wouldn't be many careers in there. So now I am going into accounting, realizing it's something I'd be good at.

I am just starting to get into the required courses for my degree, yet even after basically mastering the liberal arts stuff, I am STILL not done with the god damn GE requirements! I have to take another fucking anthropology course because the other one was just a prerequisite for this one (the required one). Then when I transfer to a university, I will have to take a literature course. I'VE ALREADY LEARNED THIS SHIT IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHY DO I NEED TO LEARN IT AGAIN?! And while not a LA course, do not get me started on biology. *restrains myself*

The problem is that not only does literature and anthropology have absolutely nothing to do with what I am going into, it's not going to help me in real life either. I only had to take ONE computer course for my GE. ONE! You'd think with the advance of technology and the internet, there'd be a wee bit more of a focus on learning that, but noooooooooooooo. We must push literature and cultural diversity (which I guess CD is a good thing, but I've had it stuffed into me so hard all throughout my life that I don't think I can fit anymore into me!).

Considering that most of my grade school education consisted of liberal arts stuff, I shouldn't have to spend almost half of my college education on those same things that won't help me now that I know what I am going into. Things I could learn, want to learn, and could help me in the future, such as computer programming, are being pushed aside so I can keep learning about cultural diversity and all that crap, something I could easily learn just by visiting a foreign country. No wonder so many kids feel bored in school, they are being forced to learn stuff that they see no relevence in.

*end of rant*

[McDreidel09]

I feel the same way, except I'm going in for liberal arts, but I have to take math and science and a bunch of other stuff I don't need. GE is very annoying and it's a huge waste of time and money IMHO. It's fine for those who have no idea what they want to major in, but if you already picked your major, it's extremely annoying.

[Rageaholic]

I feel the same way, except I'm going in for liberal arts, but I have to take math and science and a bunch of other stuff I don't need. GE is very annoying and it's a huge waste of time and money IMHO. It's fine for those who have no idea what they want to major in, but if you already picked your major, it's extremely annoying.

Exactly, and to tell you the truth, that's one of the reason I admire the liberal arts people (despite my rantings), they are usually the ones who feel the way I do! Hell, I even found some of that stuff interesting, but enough is enough!

[Greenday]

I'm sure my sociology 101, philosophy 101, intro to film, writing 200 (we wrote about malls, comic books, and horror movies, yea, DEFINITELY got something from that class...), politics of diversity, history 150, humans and the environment, and Tai Chi will definitely come into play sometime while analyzing drugs, alcohol, GSR...

Intro to Film was probably the only one I learned anything in out of those classes.

[lupo pazzesco]

actually BEING an anthropology/sociology major...

I completely agree with you!!

The sheer amount of math and science I needed was ridiculous. Now, mind you, I started college as a bio/chem major. And yet when I switched degree plans, I found I needed still MORE gen ed requirements, despite taking so many math and science. Why? Because I didn't have a math reasoning course! And I still needed 3 hours advanced math. (Cal II doesn't count as advanced...? )

Blech. It's seriously a pain sometimes, and that's an opinion from an actualy liberal arts major, so no offense taken, and again, I'm in complete agreement.

[Greenday]

And I still needed 3 hours advanced math. (Cal II doesn't count as advanced...? )

Sounds like something you probably could have petitioned for.

[lupo pazzesco]

Sounds like something you probably could have petitioned for.

Did. Denied. No explanation. Petitioned again. Denied again. Took the same class again at new school since I knew the material...bastards...

[AdminAssistant]

As an undergrad theatre major, I felt much the same way about biology, sociology, psychology, algebra, and other courses that I felt were "bullshit." However, the further I go, the more application of other stuff I'm finding.

I'm a big advocate for LA reqs for all majors, and that's not just for job security. There's stuff educated people (re: college degree holders) should know. The history of our country, the history of the world, major works of literature, how our government works, how other governments work, etc. And the onus is on those of us who teach those classes (100 and 200 level classes for all majors) to make them applicable to those outside the field.

[Rageaholic]

I'm a big advocate for LA reqs for all majors, and that's not just for job security. There's stuff educated people (re: college degree holders) should know. The history of our country, the history of the world, major works of literature, how our government works, how other governments work, etc. And the onus is on those of us who teach those classes (100 and 200 level classes for all majors) to make them applicable to those outside the field.

So the years of middle and high school isn't enough to learn this stuff? Even if I never really hated all the liberal arts, I am now simply because of liberal arts overkill in college (even if I only have 2 more courses, not including *shudder* biology).

[Greenday]

There's stuff educated people (re: college degree holders) should know. The history of our country, the history of the world, major works of literature, how our government works, how other governments work, etc. And the onus is on those of us who teach those classes (100 and 200 level classes for all majors) to make them applicable to those outside the field.

Why? Why is anything I highlighted relevant to a lot of jobs? How is my reading of Camus or Jane Austen, knowing of Plato's philosophies, knowing that Columbus did a lot to start the slave trade, how other governments work needed to perform my role in society?

Granted I really like Camus and various historical events, but I don't see them ever having a use for me. Honestly, I'm pretty sure gen. eds. are just there to make us stay in college longer so schools can make more money on us.

[McDreidel09]

My advisor told me something that a student of his brought up.

The student said "It's always the people who hate math or are not good at math who have to take more classes." Which is true. The way we work is you can be put in Elementary Algebra or Intermediate Algebra (depending on how you did on the placement test). The credits count for the semester, but not towards graduation. So, I was placed in Elementary Algebra. This coming semester, I have to take Intermediate Algebra. Then Fall semester, I have to take one more math class. However, graduation wise, I am only getting the credits for the last class.

But why should I have to learn math when I'm going to be a High School English teacher? Why should I have to take classes that I took in high school (like Psychology or Intro to American Government)? Why should Greenday have to take a literature class when he is a science major?

Gen Ed is a joke to those who already have their major in mind.

[AdminAssistant]

So the years of middle and high school isn't enough to learn this stuff?

I have had students who didn't know Shakespeare was English. Who haven't read Hamlet. Who have never read, or even heard of, Eugene O'Neill or Tennessee Williams. So, apparently not. With all the testing and curriculum restrictions and crap that junior high and high school teachers have to go through, a lot gets left out, brushed over, and ignored. Besides, a literature course in college is very different than the same course in high school.

Why? Why is anything I highlighted relevant to a lot of jobs?

It isn't. Job specific training can be found at a variety of community colleges and vocational education facilities*. Knowing the history of the world and about other countries makes you a better citizen of Planet Earth. And I will stubbornly stand by the belief that knowing the great works of literature of the ages also makes you a better, more knowledgeable human being.

* I am not knocking those places, or those who go to them. College is not for everyone, and trade schools are a wonderful resource for people who want to cut the college crap and just apprentice for a job. I do not in anyway consider those who attend community colleges or trade schools intellectually inferior to college students.

[Greenday]

Knowing the history of the world and about other countries makes you a better citizen of Planet Earth. And I will stubbornly stand by the belief that knowing the great works of literature of the ages also makes you a better, more knowledgeable human being.

* I am not knocking those places, or those who go to them. College is not for everyone, and trade schools are a wonderful resource for people who want to cut the college crap and just apprentice for a job. I do not in anyway consider those who attend community colleges or trade schools intellectually inferior to college students.

When the world is under one government, world history past the last century may become more useful, but I'd bet I'll be dead of old age before then. As for great works of literature making me a better person, I don't think it changes who I am in that respect, but knowledgeable I'd agree with.

As for community colleges...information doesn't change just because you go to a community college or an ivy league school. The Laws of Thermodynamics stay the same, Dostoyevsky's works are the same books no matter where you go. The only difference is you paid about 10X as much to go to the ivy league school.

[Slytovhand]

Dostoyevsky's works are the same books no matter where you go

Could be arguable.. might be interesting to see how different translations change things.. but I know what you mean!

* I am not knocking those places, or those who go to them. College is not for everyone, and trade schools are a wonderful resource for people who want to cut the college crap and just apprentice for a job. I do not in anyway consider those who attend community colleges or trade schools intellectually inferior to college students.

So, now you want to knock community colleges, huh???

J/K


I don't know your system over there, but over here it's quite different (at least at the unis I've been to). You need X number of credit points from Y fields (majors) plus others which might be useful - or not!

Only time I really recall someone bitch about subjects they had to do was when I learnt acupuncture, and in Anatomy and Physiology and Musculo-skeletal Anatomy the Naturopath and Homeopath students were bitching about why should they have to do it??... Ummm - cos you're a health professional, and you don't want to look like a complete moron when someone comes to you complaining of a sore muscle, and you've got no idea what it is!

I'd have to agree with ?? - it comes down to the teacher making it relevant - if not to the study course, at least to a bit of life somewhere. Camus?? Seriously?? Surely they could have at least done it as how to argue or debate better, and how to pick holes in someone's argument!!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh, dear Lord in Heaven, don't even get me started.

Sugar, you are preaching to the choir here.

I don't even want to start. I will type till my fingers bleed.