the PROFiles Blog

The Importance of General Education

A lot of students I know tend to complain about their general education courses. Someone who is an English major might not see the point in taking a math or science class. Someone who is getting a degree in computer science might not understand why they need to take an art class. A friend of mine once complained that he had to knit a quilt in order to finish his degree in Law and Justice. So why do all colleges require such things?

For one thing, they give a student a broader, more well-rounded education. While it might be hard to see how knitting would help someone with a degree in Law and Justice, there are a lot of other general education classes that can be helpful to anyone. Things like computers, history, writing, and psychology can help people with their careers in almost any field, by helping them learn more about how the world works, how they interact with other people, and how to better communicate in everything from emails to reports. These sorts of skills will be valuable to people in any walk of life.

For another thing, people taking general education classes might find out about other fields they might be interested in. Some students, like myself, eventually change majors if their first major doesn’t suit them. Taking a wide variety of classes can give students a taste of different majors, so that they have an idea of the different options available to them. Even if a student doesn’t change majors, they might still find some other areas of interest which they can use to fill their general electives.

Students that learn more about a wider variety of fields will also be better able to work alongside people in different professions once they graduate and start their careers. Collaborative efforts will be much more successful if the people involved have knowledge of things outside of their main area of expertise. For example, a future lawyer, teacher, accountant, or other professional will still need to work with a computer specialist in most offices, and some knowledge of computers could help them to better communicate their needs.

A wider knowledge about the world can also help people outside of their careers. Knowledge about history and geography can help people to better understand the country we live in, and someone with a more well-rounded education is likely to better understand political issues and how they affect society. Then there’s the fact that any and all classes help teach students about teamwork, responsibility, deadlines, and other skills that are useful in all walks of life.

Finally, there’s the fact that even if someone gets a degree in a certain field, there’s no guarantee that they will get a job in that particular field. Even if you go to college with a certain career goal in mind, there is always the possibility that you will end up in a different job, based on what is available in the current job market. General education will help prepare you for a wider variety of jobs that might not be as specialized as others. Many office jobs require a core set of skills that are offered by any general education program: computer skills, research, reading, writing, teamwork, and organization. These general education skills will make you more valuable to a wider variety of potential future employers.

The versatile education offered by gen ed programs is an important backbone for any college education. Sometimes the classes might not seem to be up your alley, but they still hold a strong value for a student’s future, both in their career and in life.

Published: May 22nd, 2013
Author: Jason Cantrell

Categories: Academics
Tags: Academics, blogs, Education, Rowan, Rowan University

Empty Summer Campus

Being on campus over the summer is a bit of a different experience from usual. Even just a week after graduation, it’s a bit stunning to walk around campus and see how quiet everything is. Only a small number of students take summer classes, so the buildings are much emptier. So are the parking lots (which certainly makes it a lot easier to find a parking space).

When I took a summer class last year, it was a more unique and personal experience than some other classes. Instead of the normal class size of more than twenty students, there were only eight of us in class. The upside to this was that each student’s unique voice was more easily heard, and the professor was able to spend more time addressing each person’s questions. The class was also shorter, lasting only five weeks instead of the usual sixteen.

Another big difference is that the lively activities in the student center are not as common of a sight. During the regular semester, every day that I stop by the student center, there are students holding charity events, bake sales, and activities to raise awareness for various causes. Most of the student organizations aren’t as active on campus over the summer, though they’ll be back again in the fall.

There are also less students seen in study groups around campus. Normally, the student lounge areas in most buildings are filled with students and their books and laptops, studying or getting caught up on homework. Things are much quieter over the summer, though, especially since some students are likely to only be taking one or two classes (instead of four or five during the main semester).

Before we know it, though, the fall semester will be right around the corner. The halls will be filled again, students will be all over campus, and finding a parking spot will once again be difficult to find.

Published: May 21st, 2013
Author: Jason Cantrell

Categories: Academics
Tags: Academics, blogs, Rowan, Rowan University

Doing the Right Thing

I’ve seen and heard a lot of things lately that sometimes make me question people’s actions and decisions. Sometimes it can be major things, like political scandals, violent attacks, and crimes. With that sort of thing, though, most people will stand together and agree “That’s wrong.” Knowing the right thing in such a situation is obvious. Other times, however, “the right thing” can be something smaller and less obvious. Or maybe it IS obvious, but people ignore it because it is small.

Here’s an example of what I mean: when was the last time you were driving someplace and saw a car broken down on the side of the road? Did you stop to see if they needed help? Or did you just drive by because it wasn’t your problem?

I’ve stopped to help strangers before, but I’ll admit that most of the time, I just drive by. Maybe I’m busy, maybe I look and can tell it’s not a “life or death” situation, or maybe I’m just lazy. Though I know there’s another factor that leads to people deciding not to help: the concept of “Social Proof.”

I read about Social Proof in my recent “Persuasion and Social Influence” class at Rowan, in a book titled “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini. The concept is very simple: when people are uncertain about something, we naturally look to others around us to figure out what to do. For example, if the fire alarm goes off, and we see other people reacting as if it’s just a drill, we also stay calm and figure that it’s not an emergency. Such basic reactions are very commonplace. The deeper, less obvious effects, however, can be more complex.

Studies have shown that people are far less likely to help someone in need if they see others nearby who are ALSO not helping. There’s lots of reasons why. If others are around, you’re not personally responsible for what happens. If others aren’t helping, you might think it’s okay to not help since “everyone else isn’t either.” Also, if others don’t react as if the situation is an emergency, you are more likely to think everything is fine.

Now, if the situation was a car accident with someone injured, it would be obvious that help was needed. But what about someone who just has a flat tire? You see others driving by without helping, you think you don’t need to help either, that it’s not an emergency, and that it’s not your personal responsibility. And while the psychological concept of “Social Proof” might explain WHY we act this way, it’s no excuse for not doing the right thing and offering aid to a person in need.

There are plenty of other situations where we should learn to do the right thing. It could be anything from helping out with a charity, to signing a petition for a good cause, to simply holding the door open for someone. It doesn’t always have to be something major. But even when it’s little things, we should all try to do the right thing.

I do see a lot of people who work for causes they believe in. It’s a common sight at Rowan to see various groups raising money for charity or spreading awareness for good causes. There are environmental groups, political rights activists, fraternities and sororities that do charity work, and people that try to spread healthy campus initiatives. But such things shouldn’t be limited to on-campus events, and they shouldn’t be limited to the big things, either. There are a lot of people who need help, and sometimes we need to be reminded about that.

Hopefully you’ll remember this the next time you see someone in need, even if it is a minor need. I believe that most of us would always do the right thing in a serious emergency. But I know sometimes I don’t get involved when I think it’s something minor, and a lot of other people are the same. Maybe sometimes we just need to be reminded that even the little things count, and can make a difference in someone’s day.

So the next time you see someone who could use a little help, think about stopping and doing a good deed. Help someone change a tire. Offer to carry a heavy package. Pick up a piece of garbage from the side of the road. Hold the elevator for someone. Do something good for another human being. It’ll be worth it.

And if you know someone who needs serious help, step up and take some action. It could be encouraging someone to start counseling, it could be an intervention, or it could just be offering to be a support line for someone to call when they need to talk. Anything you can do can have a huge impact.

Published: May 20th, 2013
Author: Jason Cantrell