Whether it is/was Harvard or not, Harvard gets the credit for the idea that all students should take common courses regardless of their field of study. That is, all college curriculums should contain general education common to all students.
However, Harvard has been rethinking their approach to general education and wants to update the system it established more than a quarter of a century ago.
This week Harvard released a plan that would require all students to take courses in:
1. Cultural traditions and cultural change
2. The Ethical life
3. The United States
4. The World
5. Reason and faith
6. Life science
7. Physical science
Additionally, the curriculum calls for students to have a more 'activity based learning' as well. In other words - students need more than just book learning.
Students will be able to pick and choose courses within each of the above cores that will meet the requirements and the student must also work with a faculty member on the activity portion to decide what meets the requirement and what does not.
It is an interesting approach and what that is sure to generate much discussion. What courses will meet the ethical life requirement? If I study devil worship will I meet the requirements for reason and faith? And...well...anyway, this is what education is about, discussion and a search for the truth.
What Harvard does is noticed by the rest of the academic world...and now Harvard has stirred up the pot.
What do you think?
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