One of the most frequently asked questions I get as an Independent Educational Consultant and a School Counselor is, “why do I need these general education classes in order to graduate? Can’t I just take classes that pertain to my major?” On the surface this is a legitimate question but once you dig deeper in the reasoning of general education you begin to understand the purpose. General education is designed to prepare students for a broad education that complements what they learn in their major. One challenge is that many colleges offer general education as a “checklist” and as a result students usually choose the classes with the least requirements, instead of what truly interests them (www.chronicle.com).
More and more colleges are creating general education classes with the purpose of including experiential learning. Many courses now include concepts such as teamwork and ethical reasoning. These are all skills that can be applied across majors and careers, and can help you become a more well rounded individual. This is especially important because research has shown that less than 30 percent of college graduates are working in careers that are related to their college major, and that the average worker has 12 jobs in their lifetime. Therefore, it is imperative that students learn transferable skills that can be applied across many different areas of their life (www.chronicle.com).
It goes without saying that a broad, general education is what drives American innovation. The hard part is that students don’t realize the impact general education has on them until they get out in the real world and have to apply the skills they learned. It is important that college instructors explicitly tell them what they are learning and why it is important. This could help motivate students and help them make meaningful connections to their everyday lives.
Reach out if you have any questions or would like some guidance at info@atozeducationalconsulting.com or 612.735.1261.
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