Page 233 - Crisis in Higher Education

204 • Crisis in Higher Education

and diverse world, and it encourages and facilitates lifelong learn-
ing. It provides critical thinking skills and perspectives that help
students with decision making. The contents usually include English
composition, communication, mathematics, economic, humanities,
fine arts, social science, natural science, and cross-cultural studies.
Many times, students are given a list of courses in each area of study
and must select one or more. General education requires about two
full-time semesters of coursework, and it is typically completed in
the first two years.
2. Disciplinary core: This is a set of courses that are foundational and/
or complementary to the field of study selected by students and are
typically taken during the first three years of a four-year degree.
The following examples illustrate this point.
a. Business administration degree: Requires basic course work in
accounting, statistics, information technology, management,
marketing, finance, operations and supply chain management,
and international business.
b. Education degree: Requires knowledge in applied psychology for
teaching, instructional methods, technology and multimedia,
and assessment and remediation.
c. Engineering degree: Often requires knowledge in computer-aided
design, materials science, technical writing, engineering statics,
and mechanic of materials.
d. Social work degree: There is supporting course work in psychol-
ogy, anthropology, and human behavior that complements a
major in social work.
e. Geography and planning degree: Students seeking this degree
may take courses in closely related fields such as sociology, eco-
nomic, and anthropology.
3. Major field of study: This segment of the curriculum defines the
specialty area where students study and plan to gain entry-level
employment. The major is usually completed during the last
two years of study. Business students may major in accounting,
finance, supply chain management, and a dozen or so additional
fields. Engineers may build expertise in several fields, including
civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Educators may spe-
cialize in elementary, secondary, or other educational choices.
Social worker, geographers, biologists, geologists, and others build
depth in their fields of study.