General Education Courses

General Education Courses: Are They Necessary?

General education courses are core curriculum classes that are available for the majority of university degrees. They are courses in particular categories that follow such qualifications but are not primarily part of one’s main field of study in order to receive a degree from a college institution. Certain colleges and universities expect students to have this knowledge before they can graduate. General education classes, in my opinion, should be mandatory for all degree programs. This paper attempts to resolve this problem.

Importance of General Education Courses

Many colleges do not require general education classes, although the precise requirements will vary greatly (Aldegether, Reem 2). These courses have been divided into three kinds mainly, pure distributions, pure integrative model and distribution and integration (some students combine them). General education courses have become a puzzle to most of students. If one is majoring in English, why should the person have to study biology? Most of the colleges have their reasons as to why general education courses are important for all degrees. Students should be able to choose the general education courses to partake in. They should see whether there are any requirements that correspond to their generals; hence fill in the gaps with classes that they are interested in (Jeske, Jeff. 110).

Exploring Different Areas of Study

General education classes offer a great opportunity for the students to try out a variety of classes. This improves one’s decision making skills. If one has not yet chosen a major, then it’s advisable that the person takes a general education class that will cover the subjects that one has interest in. If one takes a wide variety of courses, he/she will be able to increase experience in as many fields of study as possible. It enables most students to be able to major and minor in the topics they would have never thought of. It is believed that majority of the students have a hidden desire in particular fields of study. There will be an instant transfer - from a high school personality to that one required to prepare for college studies.

Applying General Education to Future Endeavors

Once taken, a general education course can easily be applied towards a degree to be undertaken. All courses come in handy. Nonetheless, basic set of tools such as writing skills are very crucial. The person will graduate with a basic understanding of the present society too. One should conduct research on the general education courses before committing to a class (Lusher 328). This will make sure that one will be able to complete his or her general education classes, work well with the lecturers and handle their course work.

Preparing for a Changing Job Market

Students tend to think that general education programs are a complete waste of money and time. They also argue that they are irrelevant since these basic materials are learnt in high school. Nonetheless, I am not in for this idea. Knowledge never ends and most of the high school basic information has been upgraded to higher level in college institutions. General education courses enable students to prepare themselves for their courses of interest and provide a broader experience in helping students find their interests.

Connecting General Education to Specific Fields

The money that the students invest as they seek higher level education is very significant. It will become evident later that general courses relate to one’s field of study. For example, a student who is dealing with a biology course, ends up taking an English course too. This will help the student become fluent while communicating and writing. These skills are quite important in one’s studies especially after graduation i.e while seeking for employment. Most colleges and university institutions have been able to eliminate the unnecessary courses that they believe waste time and money of the students. It encourages the education centers to focus on the areas that the student wishes to study.

Benefits of a Well-Rounded College Education

General education courses also display the main benefits of a college education since many students are able to enjoy the opportunity to venture into different disciplines (Nelson Laird 82). It enables students and graduate communicate effectively, think critically and creatively solve a variety of problems. It broadens ones knowledge beyond what is required in ones field of study. It helps one outshine by acquiring extra knowledge obtained from his/her field of study. This also applies to the skills developed.

Preparing for an Evolving Job Market

Bearing in mind the current state of employment, general education knowledge is quite crucial. It becomes very advantageous as students are able to step out of their fields of study and solve problems from other angles. This way, they will be able to interact with different students – a core requirement from employers to people seeking employment. A truly well-educated student will be able to think for himself, think critically and solve problems as well as deal with unanticipated issues. The knowledge gained in general education courses enable students discover the options available at a particular situation. The idea of wasting their money does not come in mind (Werts, Jennifer 3).

Preparing for New Careers and Professions

General education prepares a students for the unknown, since a student’s interest may change; new professions are being created as careers may advance to high levels. The knowledge gained becomes evident to graduates in their workforce area. Majority of the students have different mindsets regarding what they are learning and how to use the skills into the world. General education helps to clear negativity in such mindsets. Most of the job seekers are required to have adequate knowledge other than the skills obtained from their field of work (Bengu, 61).

Practical Application of Knowledge

College institutions mainly emphasize on the need for practical courses that will enable the students apply what is learnt to their day to day lives and careers. For example, a course such as sports and recreation helps a student engage in various field exercises. Such exercises contribute to a community of respect and trust. They also build on the health of students. Having undertaken a sports and recreation course, an engineering student for instance, is now able to carry the virtues learnt in field activities to his or her field of study with ease.

Expanding Abilities and Knowledge

General education purposes to give students additional abilities and helps in the acquisition of new hobbies. They include the invention of verbal communication, solving of problems and worldwide awareness and experience. It also enables students gain broad knowledge, practical skills as well as recognize ethnic differences. General education enables students understand and relate to the various populations that they will work in their professions of their choice.

A Well-Rounded Education

General education courses provide the students with a well-adjusted college education across a variety of disciplines including sciences. Student are able to gain a well-rounded education which will serve them throughout their life after graduation in their professional area of work (Lusher 329). Such educational courses offer students the opportunity of increasing knowledge in their chosen area of study in order to gain an emphasis in a related aspect of their chosen major. For example, an engineering student could take general education courses on bio mechanics and mathematics.

Foundation for Success

General education can give students the foundation they need to become highly educated and intelligent in their respective fields of study. This is reflected in their life after graduation from college. Students become better in their respective fields of study and are provided with new interests that could even alter their minds about a chosen field of study. This way, students are able to set their study goals as well as be actively engaged.

Enhancing Employability

General education offers problem solving and critical thinking skills. Such skills make students stand out in the job market, giving them a higher chance of getting employed compared to the other participants who have no skills in general education. It also offers expectation and encouragement to students. The mentality of having a better chance of getting employment easily encourages them to work harder in attaining their goals (Smith 27)

A Comprehensive College Education

Students acquire as much information as possible from school. As they graduate, they leave with a wide range of knowledge allowing them to become better in the careers they hope to pursue. It helps in alienating narrow mindedness from students, enabling them to think critically and analyze a situation before judging and making conclusions. For instance, a law student is able to communicate fluent English in a court area while dealing with cases. A lawyer with a knowledge in general education is able to think critically, analyze the situation at hand and make just full judgments on a case (Helfand, David, 47).

Creating Well-Rounded Individuals

A general education course such as humanity adds on to the life of a student by enhancing the sociocultural and geographical knowledge of an individual. A student majoring in mathematics tends to wonder how a study such as humanity will help. I believe the field is very essential since it enables such a student see the interconnectedness between mathematics and other areas of knowledge. It also deepens a student’s understanding, enabling him/her appreciate other people’s culture throughout the world. It deepens ones wisdom by learning how others have overcome their failures and challenges as well as deal with achievement. Humanities help students practice versatility skills (Henscheid 284). They will want to be successful students when dealing with fellow employees.

Building a Strong Educational Foundation

General courses make students become more balanced. They set the basis for specialization courses, making them understandable and easily allowing them to acquire the skills required to handle and solve challenging issues in the professional work place. General education is compared and likened to a child crawling because it sets the foundation for students to prepare for the core courses in their respective fields of study. It acts as a mind opener for the students and allows them to get a wider view of courses they seek to pursue.

Changing Perception of General Education

Students should get firsthand information on the reasons as to why they need general education courses. They are important to their lives. This way, they become less unaffected and develop a positive attitude towards them. Most of the daily routines of people’s lives revolve around this knowledge since it helps them develop strategies of recognition seeking, distinction and strong evaluation on situations. The everyday life is an important perception in cultural studies. This is a specific subject in the sociology field, involving working, thinking and solving problems (Eder, Douglas 141).

Preparing for the Future

General education helps to educate and build the students standards rather than just treating the college institution as a center of job training. Students with the skills obtained from these classes are well exposed to employment because of the experienced nature of the world. These course classes mainly come in hand with what the student is specializing. Consequently, students do not strain while learning in their field of study as they have acquired enough knowledge and are able to solve situations and think critically.

Individualized Learning and Personal Growth

Taking general education courses is worthy since it enables individualized learning (Sutton, Halley 2). As students tend to do independent work, they get more opportunity to regulate how they study based on their learning inclinations. This encourages group and team work especially when given assignments. Students tend to sit down together and discuss, analyze and evaluate their answers. This broadens and increases most of the students’ knowledge. It also enables the less active students to participate in the discussion forum, makes them less shy and valuable to the other students.

Flexibility and Time Management

Some of the general education courses can be undertaken online thus offering an opportunity for all students and ages. It also become less time-consuming time for them. Besides, one acquires personal discipline; encouraging responsibilities in all ways. General education enables helps students manage their time and skills quite effectively. Students understand their human thoughts, think critically and make the wise decisions that cannot be easily manipulated. Education is very crucial since it prepares the students for the busy working life. They become more experienced in what life has in store for them. (Eder, Douglas 152).

The Value of General Education

In conclusion, general education is essential for all degrees since they come hand in hand with each other. These courses are very applicable in ones area of study. They enable the students to broaden their knowledge as well as apply skills in their field of study. When it comes to deciding what major you want to take, general education courses prove quite beneficial. Students should not consider these courses as being time consuming and a complete waste of money. Through such knowledge, students acquire knowledge, think critically, and have good communication skills. Besides, they can easily access employment easily after graduation. They enable one to capitalize on more than one area of study – this allows one to pursue more than one interest.

Works Cited

Aldegether, Reem A. “”What Every Student Should Know”: General Education Requirements in Undergraduate Education.“(2015).

Bengu, T et al. ”Value for Money and Quality in Higher Education.“ (2007).

Eder, Douglas J. ”General Education Assessment within the Disciplines.“ The Journal of General Education, vol 53, no. 2, (2004).

Helfand, David J. ”The Social Conquest of General Education.“ The Journal of General Education, vol 62, no. 1, (2013).

Jean Henscheid et al. ”Embedding the Humanities in Cross-Disciplinary General EducationCourses.“ The Journal of General Education, vol 58, no. 4, (2009).

Jeske, Jeff. ”Nurturing Rich General Education Courses.“ The Journal of General Education, vol51, no. 2, (2002).

Lusher, Anna L. ”Assessing General Education Skills in An Undergraduate Business DegreeProgram.“ The Journal of General Education, vol 52, no. 4,( 2003).

Smith, Ben. ”The Value of GE or the Answer to “Why Do I Need to Take This Class?” (2017).

Sutton, Halley. “Provide Your Students with A Well-Rounded College Experience.” Disability Compliance for Higher Education, vol 22, no. 3, (2016).

Thomas F. Nelson Laird et al. “What General Education Courses Contribute to Essential Learning Outcomes.” The Journal of General Education, vol 58, no. 2, (2009).

Werts, Jennifer. “Gen Eds: Not a Waste of Time.” Collegexpress.com, (2017).