¶ … College Education
What should be included in a college education? What courses, skills, experiences, and expectations should be required? Research the requirements of other campuses and compare these to Appalachian State University's requirements. What ideas would you recommend Appalachian keep and what ideas would you take from other campuses?
No college education can be 'all things' to 'all people.' Every campus and college community is diverse, and must cater to the needs of its own unique population. Given this stipulation, however, no college can ignore the state of flux and change in the world. A college education must meet the changing needs of the student, the economy, and the demands of life. It must give students the necessary skills to succeed in today's economy and learning environment and prepare them for the future, not the past. Thus, changing the components of a college experience is something that a school must consider from time to time, to keep its outlook 'fresh.' In considering changes for Appalachian State University, and to gain a broad sampling of what is common for colleges to require today, it is useful to examine examples of what is considered the quintessential pinnacle of academic college education, that of the 'Ivy League' experience, a nontraditional college experience, and finally a trade school.
The Ivy League university, Columbia University, informs its undergraduates in the school of arts and sciences: "the Core Curriculum is the cornerstone of a Columbia education. Central to the intellectual mission of the Core is the goal of providing all Columbia students, regardless of their major or concentration, with wide-ranging perspectives on significant ideas and achievements in literature, philosophy, history, of areas, as most schools ask of their undergraduates. Rather, Columbia freshman are offered a choice of a group of specifically freshman seminars. They are offered a limited choice, but must select a certain number of required area, to ensure that regardless of their major, all students will be exposed to a similar yet diverse array of subjects, texts and theories. Writing seminars specifically designed for freshman are an added component of the core, as is a foreign language. The bonding experience of all freshman taking similar courses before deciding on a major also creates a cohesive identity at the school and reflects the school's ideal that all students have a common sense of one another as learning together as a college community, even if they have different vocational aims.
In contrast to Columbia, the nontraditional school Colorado College offers its undergraduates the ability not simply to learn together, but to work together to learn research and life skills during their college education. For example, students engaged in environmental studies conduct field research in required hands-on components…
The act gives the Department of Education the right to withhold funding if it believes a school, district, or even a state is not complying and is making no effort to comply." (New York Times, Teachers Dig Deeper to Fill Gap in Supplies, 2002). Control issues Because the American Constitution does not contain any legislations on education, the U.S. government can not exercise its controlling role over the educational system. However,
Within the field of psychology, I hope to qualify as a marriage counselor - a decision I made after I experienced the pain of my parents' divorce and subsequent break up of my family. For it was at this time that I realized the important role that family plays in an individual's sense of psychological well-being. As a first step to achieving my career ambition and dream, I plan to
One of them is the presence or absence of the financial resources required in this regard. Another one is represented by the long-term importance that actual work experince might have. Some might choose to get a job instead of going to college, believing that in this manner they will get more relevant experience, learning from doing instead of learning from books. The individual's value is intrinsic, but society often does not
college education increase one's human capital? College education has a positive impact on human capital. The reason why, is because the various concepts and ideas that you are learning are establishing a foundation for an individual to learn specialized skills. This will allow them to work in those areas that require greater amounts of technical training. Once this occurs, is when this person can begin working in these career fields
Consequently a student when graduate is already under debt thousands of dollars. Most of the time those students are awarded aid that are need-based but quite a number of students are entertained based on academic merit, sports ability or musical talent rather than financial need. Universities gave almost half of their $14.5 billion in scholarship money in 2000 to students based on merit or ability. Students gaining admissions and financial
"The younger children of college graduates display higher levels of school readiness indicators than children of non-college graduates" (Baum, 2005). Moreover, the report continues, after they graduate from high school, students whose parents have attended college are "…significantly more likely than those with similar incomes whose parents do not have a college education to go to college themselves" (Baum). Knowing that my pursuit of a college education at this point
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