Exploring On What Students Can Specialize Receiving a college education is an experience that each individual deals with differently. While some claim that the purpose of college is exploring, others find that specialization is the way to go. Exploration involves a student taking a variety of courses that will allow them to think critically about the world around us while having them take their time and explore other fields. On the other hand, specialization, also known as vocational education, focuses on getting a student straight to their desired major and into the work force as soon as they possibly can. However, which method of education is the actual purpose of college? The answer is neither; you need a mix of both in order to get the
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This causes them to think critically and reflect on matters they would normally not think of. It is a vital part of growing as a person to constantly question why things happen because it allows us to dig deep within ourselves and decide if some things are “right” or “wrong”. From an economic standpoint, it is also important to think about whether or not your attention is worth giving. Andrew Deblanco, a teacher at Columbia University, describes one of the important reasons to use critical thinking in one of his articles called “3 Reasons College Still Matters”. “All of us are bombarded everyday with pleadings and persuasions,” Deblanco says. “…Designed to capture our loyalty, money, or… our vote… The best chance we have to maintain a functioning democracy is a citizenry that can tell the difference between demagoguery and responsible arguments” (Deblanco 507). Another part of the exploration experience that is beneficial to students, is that it allows them the time to understand what they want to be when they …show more content…
Just because a student decides to want to focus in on their career choice early on, does not mean they have to miss out on the essential teachings in liberal education. In Alina Tugend’s article, “Vocation or Exploration: Pondering the Purpose of College”, she quotes professor Anne Colby at Stanford University that studies programs that include a combination of specialization and exploration: “One example… is the Pathways program… in which students in all majors take thematically based sequences of courses that draw together several disciplines” (Tugend 519). Tugend then mentions in her own words about a different program that also mixes exploration's liberal arts and vocational education: “…At Indiana University, the Liberal Arts and Management Program offers interdisciplinary courses like “The History of the Automobile: Economy, Politics, and Culture. This… enables students to learn their specialty in the context of… other liberal arts” (Tugend 520). Not only do they get to learn specifically about their ideal career, but they get to apply different theories and ideas to help build on what they’re learning to specialize in. It may be difficult to find courses and colleges that offer these types of programs that mix both educational methods, which is why it is very
This causes them to think critically and reflect on matters they would normally not think of. It is a vital part of growing as a person to constantly question why things happen because it allows us to dig deep within ourselves and decide if some things are “right” or “wrong”. From an economic standpoint, it is also important to think about whether or not your attention is worth giving. Andrew Deblanco, a teacher at Columbia University, describes one of the important reasons to use critical thinking in one of his articles called “3 Reasons College Still Matters”. “All of us are bombarded everyday with pleadings and persuasions,” Deblanco says. “…Designed to capture our loyalty, money, or… our vote… The best chance we have to maintain a functioning democracy is a citizenry that can tell the difference between demagoguery and responsible arguments” (Deblanco 507). Another part of the exploration experience that is beneficial to students, is that it allows them the time to understand what they want to be when they …show more content…
Just because a student decides to want to focus in on their career choice early on, does not mean they have to miss out on the essential teachings in liberal education. In Alina Tugend’s article, “Vocation or Exploration: Pondering the Purpose of College”, she quotes professor Anne Colby at Stanford University that studies programs that include a combination of specialization and exploration: “One example… is the Pathways program… in which students in all majors take thematically based sequences of courses that draw together several disciplines” (Tugend 519). Tugend then mentions in her own words about a different program that also mixes exploration's liberal arts and vocational education: “…At Indiana University, the Liberal Arts and Management Program offers interdisciplinary courses like “The History of the Automobile: Economy, Politics, and Culture. This… enables students to learn their specialty in the context of… other liberal arts” (Tugend 520). Not only do they get to learn specifically about their ideal career, but they get to apply different theories and ideas to help build on what they’re learning to specialize in. It may be difficult to find courses and colleges that offer these types of programs that mix both educational methods, which is why it is very