With tuition costs on the rise, many students are questioning why they are being required to take numerous core classes that seem useless to their degree.
The relatively new Core 39 promises to “expand foundational skills in communication and critical thinking, explore how different fields create and use knowledge, broaden their viewpoints through the study of diverse and global perspectives, and refine their writing skills through writing intensive experiences.” That sounds great on paper, but as I enter my second year at USI, I think about all of the frustrating and seemingly pointless core classes that I have taken.
I found Personal Health to be a big waste of time. It was basically reinforcing everything I’ve learned in every health class since grade six.
Visual arts class was also extremely painful for me as I don’t have an artistic bone in my body or much of an appreciation for it.
Still, I was told by upperclassmen not to complain because classes like these were considered GPA boosters.
I do appreciate the ability to choose from many different core classes, but some were clearly created to give the university extra money.
Another bone I have to pick is with the first year experience course required for all freshmen.
UNIV 101 does not introduce students to campus amenities and services as much as it should. Instead, it is basically a class that teaches students how to study and enter adulthood. These skills should be basic to every student, we don’t need a required class to teach this information. The class is also very disorganized. By mid-semester half the students are skipping without fear of failing. Classes such as this should be optional, or if required, should have tours to different areas on campus so students can explore campus amenities.
An additional problem occurs when such core classes become “gatekeeper classes,” as I like to call them.
If a student fails a class related to their major, that is an issue, but if it is not related, such as a biology major failing an Asian art or philosophy class, that is a completely different thing and should not be an issue.
For instance, at Columbia University the core includes a required contemporary civilization course with readings such as “The Repulic” by Plato, The Hebrew Bible, “The Discourses” by Machiavelli and the “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke.
Even as an English major that class sounds insanely difficult and useless for the average student.
In today’s generation most students attend college as a means to find a better job. By increasing the amount of core classes required, it creates resentment and apathy in the student.
Often, students try to make it through their core classes with as little commitment as possible, instead of spending more time on classes related to their major.
The original goals of the core classes are to stimulate critical thinking, problem solving and cultural awareness; but if these classes only foster frustration and resentment, are they even worth having?
I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be a core. Instead, colleges need to cut down on the intensity and amount of credit hours in the core.
Students choose a major because they enjoy it. Requiring students to take classes they hate only increases the likelihood that they will give up on college all together.
