Especially in times of tricky economic times, the importance of a general education could come into question. General education could be important in navigating successfully the job marketplace and also in giving well-rounded education.
The Elements of General Education
General education at an undergraduate level is called liberal arts concentration. Students are pursuing different courses in a specific subject as major. Oftentimes, the minor and major are related as in English and writing. Other combinations of minor and major are comprehensively distinct.
Humanities play a big role in general education. Most 4-year universities and colleges provide liberal arts program that can be the main portion or all of their provided coursework. Most 2-year institutions provide the liberal arts program as the option suitable for those students who want to transfer to any 4-year university or college.
General Education – The Advantages
There was a twentieth century educator and philosopher who wrote a highly influential book that was titled “How to Read a Book”. This author was named Mortimer Adler. Adler promoted a “Great Ideas” and “Great Books” curriculum that highlights the study of critical thought and classical literature. Adler assumed that general education was the greatest preparation that mankind have for life and work, while arguing that general education is giving the students with the skills needed so they can become better persons and citizens.
Aside from giving a well-rounded course of study, general education is also building a foundation for a more specialized study or learning in time. General education could also impart the skills like critical thinking and writing which are both significant in almost any workplace. Depending on your major subject, you can also find that general education is also providing a practical preparation for the workplace.
Other Benefits of General Education
The following are the supplementary benefits that general education can offer:
- It alters the belief that it is something to get distant
- It permits more in-depth content treatment
- Provides a chance to incorporate content from the previous courses
- Give more challenging and tough experienced to all students enrolled under general education
- Upper level general education programs may be tied to the major courses via co-requisite structure
- Higher level students are ready to get more from any general education course
- Open chances for interdisciplinary course development
- Open up hours for the major courses in the initial 2 years
- More specialized courses in general education could be more appealing to a faculty for educating
What are Your Considerations?
In this times when the economy is tough and challenging, many students who came from families with earnings that are under the average rate believe that general education, particularly in the humanities is a big luxury that their parents cannot afford for them. It is usually easier and simpler to make the move from general to specialized education instead of vice versa though moving in the other side is not unfeasible. The life situations of the students are possibly the leading influence on the option between specialized and general education.
