Claim: Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student’s major field of study. Reason: Acquiring knowledge of various academic disciplines is the best way to become truly educated.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim and the reason on which that claim is based.
In the modern age, education has become much more diverse, not only in terms of content, but also in terms of how it can be delivered. Students no longer spend most of their academic time learning one subject, but can choose from a wide array of classes, each offering a different knowledge base. However, such diversity comes at a cost, as students often feel the need to take additional courses outside of their major field of study. This claim posits that students would benefit immensely from taking a wider variety of courses, as the multiple knowledge gained across disciplines would expand their world view in positive ways. While I agree to a certain extent, I am not sure that the requirement to take multiple courses outside one’s major field of study is ideal
First, the claims that students would benefit immensely from being exposed to multiple disciplines are debatable. While colleges are a diverse collection of individuals, they are generally still organized in departments that tend to focus on one particular academic field. While, in theory, students would benefit from branching out into other disciplines, the real-world application can often be limited. For example, most universities offer students the opportunity to take a minor, which is essentially a minor in another academic field. While this typically does not have much academic weight, it is a way to provide additional knowledge to students. Furthermore, most universities also offer students the chance to take electives, which are courses outside of one’s major field of study. While these courses provide students with the chance to gain knowledge of other academic fields, they are often not accepted as credit towards one’s major. As a result, they are usually taken purely for enjoyment, or as a prerequisite to taking other courses. Ultimately, whether or not students gain the kind of knowledge that they need for real-world situations is questionable, as these courses are often little more than glorified electives
Second, as courses outside of one’s major field of study tend to be relegated to electives, the requirement to take other courses outside of one’s major field of study has a definite limit. While a university may encourage students to take multiple courses outside of their major field of study, those students often end up choosing courses that fall within their major field. As a result, the idea that students would benefit immensely from being exposed to multiple disciplines is undermined. In fact, the requirement to take multiple courses outside of one’s major field of study would most likely result in students taking courses that contradict their core interests, thus hampering their overall educational experience. A student who decides to major in art but is interested in a career in engineering may not have much incentive to branch out into multiple courses outside of the major. As a result, he or she would be forced to choose between studying art or pursuing an engineering career, thus taking away from his or her educational experience
Finally, the claim that students would benefit immensely from being exposed to multiple disciplines assumes that all students follow the same career path. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it is increasingly important for students to choose a career path that will lead to success. This means that students should be more concerned with their major field of study than whether their educational experience includes multiple disciplines. After all, if a student is passionate about economics, studying art will not likely provide them with the skills that they need to succeed. As a result, taking multiple courses outside of one’s major field of study may simply end up creating more problems than it solves, as students are forced to choose an area of study that is either not related to their major field of study, or that contradicts their field of study. As such, it is hard to support the claim that students would benefit immensely from being exposed to multiple disciplines
While it is true that students would benefit from being exposed to multiple disciplines, taking multiple courses outside of one’s major field of study is not the ideal solution. Instead, students would benefit more from carefully assessing their interests and career aspirations, and choosing a major that will lead to a successful career.