The ability to focus on one subject, or to have a broad view of many subjects?

The argument for specialization is that students should be required to focus on one subject and master it before moving on to the next. The argument against specialization is that students should be required to take a broad view of many subjects. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, and it is possible for a university to excel at both.

While specialization may be preferable to a broad education, there are situations in which specialization is not practical. Specialization can narrow a student’s field of vision, dulling his or her ability to critically evaluate information. Furthermore, a broad education helps broaden a student’s interests. If a child is drawn to science, it is important to have a broad education in science, as well as history, literature, and art. In this way, the student gains a broad understanding of the world, and his or her passion for science may be ignited. On the other hand, if mathematics is a child’s passion, he or she will benefit from a broad education in mathematics. A student who spends four years studying calculus, physics, and chemistry may not enjoy high school geometry and algebra. In Biology 101, the word ‘evolution’ may mean nothing to the student because he or she never learned how evolution occurs.

The first requirement for specialization is that a student must have a strong desire for it. If a student has a love of mathematics and decides to major in mathematics, then he or she will have a broad education in mathematics. But if he or she does not, then the university’s requirements become irrelevant. Specialization serves the interest of the student who pursues it, not the university.

The second requirement for specialization is that the subject must yield a marketable job. A student with a broad education may be able to find employment, but a specialist will be in demand and will likely have an easier time finding a well-paying job. An associate’s degree in Computer Science, for example, may be a good field of study for a student interested in computers. The study of physics, however, may not be so useful. Physicists earn higher salaries than those with similar degrees who study computers. If a university does not require students to pursue specific subjects, then the university risks not being able to pay for professors to teach the required subjects, and the students may have a difficult time finding jobs after graduation.

The third requirement for specialization is that the subject must be important in the student’s field of study. A student majoring in astronomy may benefit from a broad education, but it is not necessary for his field. Astronomers study the stars and planets, and they know that studying physics does not help them understand the stars. A student who wants to be an astronomer would not benefit from taking physics classes. The astronomer would learn much more about the universe by studying astronomy than by studying physics. A student who wants to be a paleontologist would also do well to take a broad education, but not so broad education as that required for an English major. A paleontologist may need to know as much about English as about biology, but he or she would need more biology knowledge than an English major.

The fourth requirement for specialization is that the subject must be popular at the university. If the university is not popular, then students may not have much reason to study there. A student who wants to study mathematics will not be interested in taking classes that are not math classes, but a student who wants to study English may not see the point of taking classes in mathematics. If the student wants to study English, then the university should require him or her to take at least one class in mathematics. Universities that specialize in one subject cannot attract students if they are unpopular.

The final requirement for specialization is that the subject must be interesting. If the subject is boring, then the students will not want to study it. If the subject is interesting, the students will be more likely to study it. If students are required to take classes in many different subjects, then the university must ensure that the classes they are taking are interesting. If a student takes Physics 101 and finds that the subject does not interest him or her, then the student is less likely to take additional physics classes. But if he or she takes Physics 101 and finds that it is fascinating, then the student will be more willing to take additional physics classes.

The argument for specialization is that students should be required to focus on one subject and master it before moving on to the next. The argument against specialization is that students should take a broad view of many subjects. A balanced curriculum requires students to take classes in many different subjects. A broad education helps students find a career, and it encourages them to pursue further education. Specialization offers students the opportunity to expand their education. Both approaches can serve the interests of universities.