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Subject:Re: Getting that degree From:Jim Gifford <jgifford -at- SPU1 -dot- UWSP -dot- EDU> Date:Tue, 30 Nov 1993 12:46:00 CST
Is the impication that students should not be asked to take any sort
of general degree requirements? That all you should take at college
are those courses that relate to your major or those that "interest"
you? Has the notion that a college graduate has expanded her interests
as part of the academic experience, that education should expose students
to NEW interests, become passe (how does one use an accent in this
limited form of character based transmission?)?
Some would argue that not every requirement needs to be obvious in its
purpose to an undergarduate at the moment he is taking the course. Perhaps
some classes are like spinach--"It's good for you"
As an example, I began my education as a chemical engineering student, but
took a lit class to meet a distribution requirement. Changed majors as a
result. Also took a programming course for the same reason. Returned
to programming years later and now hold joint appointments in English and
Computing, teaching documentation to CIS majors. Without a requirement
that seemed an imposition at the time, all this would not have been
possible
Jim Gifford
Department of Mathematics and Computing
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
email: jgifford -at- spu1 -dot- uwsp -dot- edu
