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General Education Classes: Providing an Important Foundation
Most associate and bachelor degree programs require general education classes. These courses are typically prerequisites and must be completed successfully before moving on to your core area of study. Examples of these classes include English, history, humanities and more.
Although these general education classes may have nothing to do with your degree discipline, they are still important. The requirement to complete this coursework can be compared to a child learning to walk. Before a child walks, he or she learns to crawl. In fact, there’s an old saying to this effect.
Just like crawling is necessary before walking, general education is needed before delving into your core discipline. General education courses provides the foundation for future learning.
Broadening Your Education
Too often students get overly focused on their degree and a particular area of study. Developing expertise in a specific field is great achievement. But, the real value to earning a degree is becoming an educated person.
A degree represents a broad educational background. It means a person not only has achieved skill and knowledge in their specific area of study, but he or she has been introduced to a wide spectrum of disciplines and concepts.
General education classes help students develop different perspectives. By expanding a person’s knowledge base, general studies can improve problem solving and critical thinking. Even if you plan to study business administration, you should still know something about history and English. In fact, you never know how something you learned in a general studies class can help with a current work project.
General Education Classes – A Platform for Success
General education helps students develop the skills they need to use in more complex and intense courses. The higher level coursework in a degree discipline or major can be more easily accomplished if the student has completed general studies.
For example, almost every degree program and career path requires good writing skills. These skills are developed in general education classes and prepare students for the demands of upper level coursework. It will be much easier for students to complete the rigors of more intense courses if they start with general studies.
In addition to writing skills, general education classes also teach students how to conduct research. Term papers and projects require thorough research and analysis.
General courses introduce you to the educational environment and help you develop the skills and confidence to successfully complete your core studies. Few people are equipped to jump into their major discipline without first completing general education classes. These courses provide a necessary foundation for success in upper level, more intense study.
Students are presented with many choices when they attend college. Although your goal may be to get a job in a specific field, you should not discount the value of broadening your horizons. Taking general education classes can do more than meet a prerequisite for more advanced courses.
Science, math, history, English and other general education classes provide numerous benefits. They provide students with a “bigger picture” focus that will contribute to any profession. Students may take a more global approach to not only subsequent coursework, but future job responsibilities. An understanding of many disciplines prepare students to excel in whatever profession they choose. |
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About the Author:
Jamie Lawry has written these articles on behalf of Rio Salado College, one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and the largest online public community college in the nation. For more information about
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