4 ms·

In the US, enrollment has been declining at smaller liberal arts colleges. These are private schools that rely primarily on high tuition costs and alumni donati

by nhebb 8y ago

In the US, enrollment has been declining at smaller liberal arts colleges. These are private schools that rely primarily on high tuition costs and alumni donations to operate. Public universities have had steady enrollment, receive government funding, and are in no danger of shutting down.

HeadsUpHigh 8y ago
>In the US, enrollment has been declining at smaller liberal arts colleges. These are private schools that rely primarily on high tuition costs and alumni donations to operate. Does that surprise anyone? As an EU citizen I'm just dumbfounded that people have to pay so much money to get some minor that is totally worthless to the marketplace in order to get a more worthwhile major. Especially in liberal arts, like who in the world thinks getting a gender studies minor in order to enroll to some kind of teaching major is a sound idea, especially given the current wages of teachers? I understand the allure for lawyers though.
- wahern 8y ago
  In the U.S. 4 year degrees revolve around a shared, core curriculum. This is the case at both small, liberal arts colleges and large universities. A biology major has to take multiple writing classes; a gender studies major has to take multiple math classes. Both will take core classes in history, economics, sociology or psychology, etc. Moreover, the way students are taught and graded can be different, especially compared to say, a German university. An American education emphasizes the process and discipline of learning. Seminars or seminar-style classes are common, even in the first two years. Basic facts and formulas can be learned on your own. If you don't care much for the process travel to Germany, sign up for the exams, and get a degree in a semester. It's a different, more traditional, approach. Whether its better or worse depends on your metrics and goals. Also, I've never heard of a minor being required. According to Google it's a thing, but also appears to be an exception rather than the norm. Anyhow, once you get past the distinctions between liberal arts, science, and engineering programs, employers couldn't care less about majors and minors, precisely because the primary indicator of a degree is that you've persevered through the core curriculum. You may hate writing/arithmetic but if you've made it through 3 college-level writing/math classes that says something about your discipline and follow-through, regardless of whether the material is relevant to a particular job position. Esoteric majors and minors is mostly a way for colleges to distinguish themselves; it's a sales strategy. I think the U.S. would do well to adopt European models of higher-education. But I don't think such schools would ever replace a traditional 4-year degree for the upper-middle class or wealthy, for both substantive and cultural reasons. I also don't think it will ever happen, period, because the European model of education goes hand-in-hand with government policy, corporate culture, and union structures. The U.S. is unlikely to mimic the latter three, so the more generalist educational model will dominate.

by nhebb 8y ago

HeadsUpHigh 8y ago

>In the US, enrollment has been declining at smaller liberal arts colleges. These are private schools that rely primarily on high tuition costs and alumni donations to operate. Does that surprise anyone? As an EU citizen I'm just dumbfounded that people have to pay so much money to get some minor that is totally worthless to the marketplace in order to get a more worthwhile major. Especially in liberal arts, like who in the world thinks getting a gender studies minor in order to enroll to some kind of teaching major is a sound idea, especially given the current wages of teachers? I understand the allure for lawyers though.

wahern 8y ago
In the U.S. 4 year degrees revolve around a shared, core curriculum. This is the case at both small, liberal arts colleges and large universities. A biology major has to take multiple writing classes; a gender studies major has to take multiple math classes. Both will take core classes in history, economics, sociology or psychology, etc. Moreover, the way students are taught and graded can be different, especially compared to say, a German university. An American education emphasizes the process and discipline of learning. Seminars or seminar-style classes are common, even in the first two years. Basic facts and formulas can be learned on your own. If you don't care much for the process travel to Germany, sign up for the exams, and get a degree in a semester. It's a different, more traditional, approach. Whether its better or worse depends on your metrics and goals. Also, I've never heard of a minor being required. According to Google it's a thing, but also appears to be an exception rather than the norm. Anyhow, once you get past the distinctions between liberal arts, science, and engineering programs, employers couldn't care less about majors and minors, precisely because the primary indicator of a degree is that you've persevered through the core curriculum. You may hate writing/arithmetic but if you've made it through 3 college-level writing/math classes that says something about your discipline and follow-through, regardless of whether the material is relevant to a particular job position. Esoteric majors and minors is mostly a way for colleges to distinguish themselves; it's a sales strategy. I think the U.S. would do well to adopt European models of higher-education. But I don't think such schools would ever replace a traditional 4-year degree for the upper-middle class or wealthy, for both substantive and cultural reasons. I also don't think it will ever happen, period, because the European model of education goes hand-in-hand with government policy, corporate culture, and union structures. The U.S. is unlikely to mimic the latter three, so the more generalist educational model will dominate.