2008 Woodie Awards
Are General Studies Classes Appropriate For Your Career?
Counter Point: Say yes to GS!
Paul Davis
Issue date: 9/30/03 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
We go to a Liberal Arts college, called Lakeland College, in case anyone needed that pointed out. Yet people want to get rid of the General Studies courses which make a Liberal Arts college what it is. There are many of these people, but there are also many that believe that GS courses should stay, and I am the media leader for the side that believes General Studies courses are needed because they give us a broader base of knowledge and understanding outside of our chosen majors and help in the real world.
We are coming here to learn a large array of subjects, even if they're only touched upon. We must learn a bit about linguistics or math, natural science, social science, history, literature, and religion. Allowing us to dabble in these areas makes us well rounded individuals when we get out into the world.
As stated in the Lakeland College Academic Catalog, "The goal of the division is to maintain a series of course offerings which will enable students to develop the necessary skills and knowledge...." This knowledge is so they can function in the real world and includes the ability to communicate, analyze, understand, and reason. So the classes are not only there to broaden knowledge, but they also are functional in the real world.
On a more basic level, I need to get so many credits anyway, and a major and minor is not taking up all that space no matter how hard I try. With a major and minor, I have about half my credits accounted for. If I were to double major, I would have about two thirds of my credits accounted for. I have no problems taking classes in subjects that give me a much broader base of knowledge. In fact, sometimes I take General Studies classes just to broaden my knowledge.
In the future I will have a better grasp on these subjects, allowing me to speak to others and comprehend their ideas more easily. If I ever get engaged in a conversation that is heavily set upon history, I will have some background in the area and I will know some of the information already. I may even be more interested in it, since I already do know a little bit and it never hurts to learn a bit more, making me a life long scholar.
Respect comes with knowledge too. People tend to be afraid of that which they do not understand. Now that I can understand the view point that someone has because I may have taken some class on their culture or I may have taken a language class that also exposes me to their culture on a certain level, I may have a better understanding of where they are coming from, instead of the confusion that so many others may face.
These reasons show how the General Study classes are essential, and, if nothing else, they are completely harmless. The classes will allow Lakeland students to function better in the world, even if it is a bit more work outside of the chosen major. So keep with the GS courses for your knowledge's sake.
We are coming here to learn a large array of subjects, even if they're only touched upon. We must learn a bit about linguistics or math, natural science, social science, history, literature, and religion. Allowing us to dabble in these areas makes us well rounded individuals when we get out into the world.
As stated in the Lakeland College Academic Catalog, "The goal of the division is to maintain a series of course offerings which will enable students to develop the necessary skills and knowledge...." This knowledge is so they can function in the real world and includes the ability to communicate, analyze, understand, and reason. So the classes are not only there to broaden knowledge, but they also are functional in the real world.
On a more basic level, I need to get so many credits anyway, and a major and minor is not taking up all that space no matter how hard I try. With a major and minor, I have about half my credits accounted for. If I were to double major, I would have about two thirds of my credits accounted for. I have no problems taking classes in subjects that give me a much broader base of knowledge. In fact, sometimes I take General Studies classes just to broaden my knowledge.
In the future I will have a better grasp on these subjects, allowing me to speak to others and comprehend their ideas more easily. If I ever get engaged in a conversation that is heavily set upon history, I will have some background in the area and I will know some of the information already. I may even be more interested in it, since I already do know a little bit and it never hurts to learn a bit more, making me a life long scholar.
Respect comes with knowledge too. People tend to be afraid of that which they do not understand. Now that I can understand the view point that someone has because I may have taken some class on their culture or I may have taken a language class that also exposes me to their culture on a certain level, I may have a better understanding of where they are coming from, instead of the confusion that so many others may face.
These reasons show how the General Study classes are essential, and, if nothing else, they are completely harmless. The classes will allow Lakeland students to function better in the world, even if it is a bit more work outside of the chosen major. So keep with the GS courses for your knowledge's sake.