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Code of Ethics

Andres Rivera
Managing Editor

Liberal arts colleges are an endangered species and for good reason. With the average person wanting to get in and out of college as quickly as possible, the demand for an institution that excels in providing a well-rounded education is miniscule. People that may consider having this type of education would be those aspiring to become teachers or the like. While having a well-rounded education through a liberal arts college is something that should not vanish, how necessary are all the requirements in the current general education here at the University of La Verne? Many believe the University’s requirements contains unnecessary courses. Although professors and students have voiced distaste toward the required classes, it seems change is too far from being a reality. The problem with change, particularly in universities such as this, is that there are far too many things that need to be kept in mind when discussing changes.

In this case the effects cutting the general education requirements will have on smaller departments worries department chairs and professors. If the foreign language department requirement is removed, for example, there will be less of a need in keeping those professors.

In truth, many students will not want to take a foreign language if it is not a requirement. What becomes apparent when glancing at the requirements is the overlapping of subject matter. Take the humanities and social science requirements as an example. Students need to take a total of six courses, three classes in each category. Although it may seem like two separate areas of study, they are similar. So why is it that we must have to take essentially six courses that revolve around the same area of study for general education? The two similar subjects should be condensed or merged into one subject with three or four classes. There are some other areas of study that overlap with other areas of study in some form or another. The problem is: What do we cut? For the most part the consensus of the students would condemn Core classes to their death. Core classes have a nasty reputation as being a waste of time and irrelevant to what a person wants to learn while in college. They are also a prime example of classes being repeats of previous requirements.The Core class on world civilizations and culture, for example can be applied to the humanities and social science subjects. Core 300 Values and Critical Thinking is another example of the déjà vu effect on campus.

If a student takes an intro to philosophy course, for example, critical thinking will be taught and used. The class is not as necessary as the University stresses. While the service learning class exposes students to humanitarian tendencies, the class itself is irrelevant.

The papers required for the classes can be easily turned in by e-mail. The only instance an actual class meeting should occur is in the presentation phase of the class. Core classes are not completely useless, they do provide for interesting ideas at times, but they should be integrated into the general education differently. Have the courses be an alternative not a requirement. There is a solution for this obese general education requirement. Departments may shrink, but they should not be done away with completely.

It is imperative that a balance is found between producing well-rounded individuals and producing individuals lacking in areas of study.

Andres Rivera, a junior journalism major, is managing editor of the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at arivera3@ulv.edu.