What are courses every undergrad should take?`

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: cchen

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: cchen

Originally posted by: silverpig

Waste. Of. Time.

Here you just have to do 2 first year english classes + 4 other arts classes for your science degree. I did 2 intro latin (actually 1, but it was year long), symbolic logic (philosophy, in progress), and I'll probably do another philosophy class later.

LOL. Waste of time? I think not. This set of classes as the core curriculum is the cornerstone of a great education. Even as an engineer I feel these classes greatly expand your knowledge and give you a better understand of society and the world.

Then take them as electives

Other people want to get out early. If I had to take those classes I'd not have time for general relativity, fluids, cosmology, elementary particles, and atomic physics (my electives in my physics/astro double major). Those are pretty important to me, and I'd rather not stick around for an extra year taking those other classes. I took a brief summary of those courses in my HS AP electives. You don't NEED to take those in order to have a good understanding of the world.

What would you say if I said everyone should take E&M, general relativity, and quantum because they govern pretty much EVERYTHING we do every day.

I do understand what you're saying but its very possible to fit those in with other classes you want to take. Actually most people here want to take those classes as they are taught by some of the greatest minds in their respective fields.

If everyone wants to take them and can fit them in, then there shouldn't be any problem with leaving them as electives... Then the few who really don't want to take all of those courses don't have to.

I just think university should be about educational freedom. You go there because you want to, and you take what you want to. We have 3 world leaders in physics/astro at my university, and some people take their courses as electives, but no one is required to take them.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: silverpig

If everyone wants to take them and can fit them in, then there shouldn't be any problem with leaving them as electives... Then the few who really don't want to take all of those courses don't have to.

I just think university should be about educational freedom. You go there because you want to, and you take what you want to. We have 3 world leaders in physics/astro at my university, and some people take their courses as electives, but no one is required to take them.

justify your tunnel vision as much as you want, it's still tunnel vision

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: luvly
Many GE courses are offered in high school, including macroeconomics and microeconomics.

So here are my recommendations:

Philosophy, philosophy, philosophy, philosophy! I don't know how to stress this.

First off, take a course in [symbolic] logic. It is the foundation of mathematics and science. If you take logic, Discrete Mathematics will be a breeze for you . . . or at least easier than if you haven't taken the logic. You'll understand the meaning of conditional, conjunctive and disjunctive statements. It will also be useful in programming (ever heard of ProLog? ), to name a few. You'll also learn of how to make a constructive argument, avoiding many fallacies. Hardly would you feel the need to personally attack someone. Lastly, you'll learn of problems in our system of consistency. I'm always thankful to my sister for recommending the course and the particular professor. If it were not she, I would probably never have taken the course.

My second recommendation would be a course in history of philosophy/old and modern philosophy. Again, you will learn to appreciate other courses, including science and even psychology. Psychology was once a part of the philosophy department at my school. Physics (also known as natural philosophy) too stemmed from philosophers who wanted to understand their universe.

There are other courses to explore too. Of course a maths class that gives you a basic knowledge of mathematics, but I think high school pretty much did that. Maybe Discrete Mathematics?

Try elementary statistics. Don't bother if you're a maths major though, since you'll have to take stats in the maths deparment. However, elementary stats pretty much takes care of even statistics offered in the department of mathematics, except of course if you choose to wander into the subject of probability and computation. (Useful in economics, by the way.)

Consider Foundations of Mathematics if you have the stomach for it.

I suppose an English course (i.e., grammar and composition) is already required! Take it with a good professor of course!

A geography class, maybe? It lets you have a general knowlege of other cultures. If not, then religious studies that gives you a broad understanding of Asian religions to African religions.

My last recommendation would be a good dose of history. I don't mean US History, as that is taught in high school too. Any kind of history that isn't commonly taught. World history would be good or any history other than US History that requires in depth analysis. In high school, we hardly went in depth.

Hope someone out there appreciates my recommendations!

Aw fvck.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: silverpig

If everyone wants to take them and can fit them in, then there shouldn't be any problem with leaving them as electives... Then the few who really don't want to take all of those courses don't have to.

I just think university should be about educational freedom. You go there because you want to, and you take what you want to. We have 3 world leaders in physics/astro at my university, and some people take their courses as electives, but no one is required to take them.

justify your tunnel vision as much as you want, it's still tunnel vision

And there's something wrong with that?

 

[KthxBye]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: TheBDB
Why should everyone have to waste their time with those stupid classes?

Because the majority of them cover principles and ideals central to becoming a fully functional, intelligent, well-rounded adult in American society.

Suppose thats not what you want to be?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: silverpig

And there's something wrong with that?

nothing wrong with walking around with blinders on

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: KthxBye

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: TheBDB
Why should everyone have to waste their time with those stupid classes?

Because the majority of them cover principles and ideals central to becoming a fully functional, intelligent, well-rounded adult in American society.

Suppose thats not what you want to be?

Excuse me?

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: silverpig

And there's something wrong with that?

nothing wrong with walking around with blinders on

What do you call someone who goes to trade school, tech school, or just goes straight into the workforce then?

Just because you didn't take a class on western art doesn't mean you can't go to the library and pick up a book, or even buy the text book and read it. Am I the only one who's bothered by the idea of not finishing school until I'm 26-27?

Not taking classes does not equal purposefully maintaining ignorance.