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This map displays the number of schools around the world that have general education programs.

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General Education: Waste of Time?

It’s no secret that every college student hates having to take those random classes required by their school’s individual General Education Program. Because Winthrop is a Liberal Arts school, it is required to give students an education compiled of many areas. Many students get upset when they find out the amount of courses they must take outside of their major in order to be considered to graduate.

But there has to be a reason why someone put these courses into place. General Education programs, such as the Touchstone Program here at Winthrop, are placed to help students become better, well-rounded students and potential employees.

“In order to create an academic environment in which students use their talents to achieve excellence, take responsibility for the integrity and quality of their own work, the faculty developed the Touchstone Program at Winthrop University, our distinctive general education experience,” Winthrop’s Mission statement for the Program said,  “The Touchstone Program captures the dynamic quality of Winthrop’s academic environment that provides students with a framework for learning and responsible decision-making that they will use throughout their lives. The courses in the Core program will acquaint students with academic writing and critical thinking and will build capacities that students will use throughout their university experience and their adult lives.” 

Many students, however, do not see the use in wasting their time stressing over unnecessary classes. They come to school believing they will gain knowledge in their specialized are when they actually are taught many different areas.

“Personally, it really upsets me that I am a Graphic Design major, yet I’m spending a majority of my time stressing over writing an essay for my HMXP (Human Experience) class. I obviously will never be using this in my career,” freshman graphic design major Xavier Thomas said.

This poses a great question. If students come to Winthrop in order to gain a degree in one specific area, why are they being forced to take courses that are the farthest thing from their major?

“I can understand why we all need to take writing and speech classes, but I, as a Mass Communications major, should not be stressing or even taking for that matter, a chemistry class," sophomore Chelsea Brown said.

Another question posed is how badly these classes that are required by the Touchstone Program are affecting the GPAs of many students, consequently affecting their standing in their graduating class and maybe even whether or not they get many job opportunities. An option students have is the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading system, however, only 4 are allowed.

“I remember my freshman year, my grade in my Political Science class almost killed my GPA. It was really disheartening because I knew from the beginning that class wasn't going to be beneficial to me and I couldn't use any more of my S/U opportunities for that semester so I was really just out of luck," junior Psychology major Rashawne Coates said.

All in all, the Touchstone Program at Winthrop has great intentions but maybe a few faults. Students believe the program can stay in affect but the school officials should consider making a few, minor alterations. Students at Virginia College wrote this article voicing their opinions on what should be changed with their General Education Program at their school. One student understands both the advantages and disadvantages of general education, but offers a few suggestions.

              “I understand the purpose for the program and why some felt it necessary to add to graduation requirements. After all, we did come to college to become better people and individuals. But it also is important that the classes required by this program is not setting our students up for failure," freshman Psychology major Courtney Williamson said. "In order to successfully help each student, maybe courses outside of the anticipated major should not affect the academic standing as much."

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This graph shows the completion of a school in Arizona and how well students did throughout the years of 2007-2011.

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Final Project- Actual General Education Requirements for Winthrop University- Extra

These are the credits that must be fulfilled along with major credits in order to graduate!! General Education Courses		Semester hours
ACAD 101	Principles of the Learning Academy	1
Critical Skills		15-21
Writing and Critical Thinking
WRIT 101 & CRTW 201	Composition, Crit Reading, Thinking & Writing	6
Quantitative Skills
MATH 150	Intro to Discrete Mathematics	3
Logic/Language/Semiotics	See approved list, p. 16	0-6*
Technology	See approved list, p. 16;	3
ARTS 281	Computer Imaging in Design
Oral Communication	See approved list, p. 16	3
Skills for a Common Experience and Thinking Across Disciplines		3-9
HMXP 102	The Human Experience	3
Global Perspectives	See approved list, p. 16; may be met with ARTH 175.	0-3
Historical Perspectives	See approved list, p. 16; may be met with ARTH 176.	0-3
Developing Critical Skills and Applying them to Disciplines		16-22
Constitution requirement
ECON 103 or PLSC 201	Intro to Pol Econ or American Govt	3
Social Science	See approved list, p. 16; cannot use course with	3
	the same designator as Constitution requirement
Humanities and Arts (2 designators)		3-9
See approved list, p. 16; must have one course outside CVPA and other may be met with ARTS 120 & 220, or any other 2 Gen Ed approved courses in the major.
Natural Science	See approved list, p. 16; must include one lab science.	7
Intensive Writing	See approved list, p. 16	0**

*Hours may be covered in Technology and Oral Communication only if applicable CSCI courses and SPCH 201 are selected.
**Hours may be counted in Major requirements.

Final Project- Sidebar w/ bullet points (numbers)

The Touchstone Program at Winthrop University was not just put in place by some professor try to complicate the lives' of Winthrop students even more. But, in fact, the program does add some value to the education each student will gain while spending there 4+ years at this institution. Listed below is the seven goals the program have as to give the students a well-rounded education and set them up for success in the future.

The Touchstone Program for Winthrop University consists of seven goals: 

1.    to communicate clearly and effectively in standard English

2.     to acquire and appreciate quantitative skills

3.     to use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research methods

4.     to recognize and appreciate human diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles

5.     to understand scientific knowledge in terms of its methods or acquisition, its specific quantitative nature, and its dynamic and contingent character

6.     to understand aesthetic values, creative process, and the interconnectedness of the literary, visual, and performing arts throughout the history of civilization

7.     to examine values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and quality of life




Courtesy of Office of Records and Registration- Winthrop University