KN Simon

General Education Should be Continued in College

General Education is common in most colleges. According to the University of California Admissions, “General education requirements are designed to give undergraduates a broad background in all major academic disciplines-natural sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts” (General Education & IGETC). Colleges set up general courses to help students develop various skills other than their major requirements. But nowadays, the increasing costs of college education, along with the decreasing interest among college students to continue studying subjects such as Science, History, and Humanity, cause some colleges to start discussing whether general education courses should be continued in college or not. There are two groups with different beliefs regarding this topic. One group supports to continue general education as part of the college curriculum, but the other demands to end general education courses.

I believe there is still a need for general education to continue in college. Some claim that general education wastes time and money, but in reality, general education will bring more benefits than harm.

Most people against general education being taught in college is based on the premise that all of the preparatory education classes were completed during the high school days of a student. Their opinion is that the general education courses are useless because these do not relate directly to students’ study of interest. Additionally, the extra cost of the general courses creates a tuition fee problem because these courses require additional class tuition payments to attend. According to a Logos Lite student David Becker, it is time to put a stop to general education courses because “politicians every year are always talking about reducing college tuition and making life better for the students of this country.” His opinion seems to make sense. When college students are paying for their college education through life-long student loans, parental support, and part-time jobs, it makes sense to lower the tuition fees by simply focusing on the learning materials that cost the most. Focusing only the essential skills that will help students perform well in their professional fields also seems more important. Nevertheless, what if the student fails to find employment in his field of interest upon graduation? What can he do then? This is where the benefit of having a general education comes in. If the student cannot get a job that is related to his major, he still has a chance to work in other fields since he has taken courses in other fields.

Becker also continues to argue that, “We do not live in the Laura Ingalls Wilder days or The Depression. Those people had to be “well-rounded” and familiar with a lot of different subjects because work was scarce, and anyone would do anything for paid work” (Becker). He believes general education is useless since people do not have to know everything for living. However, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the United States unemployment rate has declined to 4.5 percent as of March 2017. It does not mean that a college student can choose jobs in his interest after his graduation. Instead, it means that the student must be better prepared to join the workforce. He need be able to do any job among those available, temporarily jobs, while waiting for his dream job. We do not live in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, nor do we live in a time of Depression (Becker). However, we are still at a time when the competition for jobs is fierce. Students need to be prepared to take on any job until they get their chance to work in their preferred position.

General education not only provides a second chance for students to find jobs but also help to enhance the core skills learned in college. The general skills taught in the college helps a student to foster success in the coursework and beyond. A student becomes an all-rounded person in the community with the capacity to appreciate the diversity in the society. Therefore, general education prepares a grandaunt to fit perfectly in diverse cultures, lifestyles, and backgrounds through well-laid objectives and informed perspectives (Gylnn et al. 151). General education helps to set the tone for students on what they will expect in the society and the job market. According to Egan (78), general education equips a student with interdisciplinary skills that are vital to living a successful life. Interdisciplinary skills enable one to understand effectively and resolve complex problems in life that require more than one approach to resolve them.

General education exposes a student to several specialized disciplines of study that are vital in enhancing interdisciplinary awareness which help one to fit effectively in the world (Egan 79). Consequently, a college student can draw connections between different disciplines and use the knowledge acquired to solve most of the problems that arise in life (Gylnn et al. 159). Therefore, a student who undergoes general education can solve most life problems more effectively than students who pursue specific courses. Moreover, general education enables a student to become easily integrated into the society. General education presents a student with an array of mechanisms to effectively comprehend and transfer skills learned from college into complex life situations (Egan 79).

Therefore, general education does not only impart one with all-around life skills but also imparts one with techniques on how to transfer those skills from college into real life situations. With the ever-changing dynamics of life and job market, a student must be holistically prepared in a bid to integrate smoothly into the society. According to Eagan, knowledge does not exist on an island. Therefore, it is vital for students to embrace integrative learning through general education to acquire skills that are vital in enriching one’s knowledge in his/her field of study. Moreover, general education provides students with an increased sense of control over their education through increased engagement and participation in their learning process (Gylnn et al. 164).

Students feel more competent by acquiring more skills outside the courses they specialized in through general education. Moreover, general education enables college students to find a purpose and intention of their studies by promoting motivation beyond the goal of achieving a better grade (Tilus). Additionally, overall skills acquired through general learning prepare a person to maximize on opportunities in life. A student who has undergone general education is capable of drawing connections between knowledge and skills obtained and use them to seize employment opportunities that show up in life (Egan 81). 

General education equips one with significant skills that are rare in specialized courses. For instance, global awareness, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills are vital in post-college life, and they can only be effectively achieved through general education. General education sets a firm foundation for a person’s success in his/her career. A vital element should continue in college to prepare students to face challenges in life more profoundly. 

Works Cited

Becker, David. The Time Has Come to Get Rid of General Education Requirements. Logos Lite, 2017. http://www.niacc.edu/logoslite/2015/11/10/the-time-has-come-to-get-rid-of-general-education-requirements/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2017.

Egan, Kevin. “Academic Advising in Individualized Major Programs: Promoting the Three I’s of General Education.” The Journal of General Education, vol. 64, no. 2, 2015, 75-89.

Glynn, Shawn M., Lori Price, Aultman, and Ashley M. Owens. “Motivation to learn in general education programs.” The Journal of General Education, vol. 54, no. 2, 2005, 150-170.

N.A. “The Employment Situation: Bureau of Labor Statistics.” March 2017. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf. Accessed 15 Apr. 2017

Tilus, Grant. “How General Education Requirements Prepare You For Your New Career.” Rasmussen.Edu/Student-Life, 2017. http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/main/how-general-education-requirements-prepare-you-for-your-new-caree/.

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