“Education is an adventure,” or so says the DU Prospective Students’ web page. All of us who made it here know perhaps it’s a little more restrained, certainly involving a little less independence and variety than might be advertised. Without denying that DU has quite the catalog, it does still appear that there is room for more applicable, diverse and inclusive courses. In addition to the laundry list of required classes, opportunities to explore a wide spectrum of topics is limited by what college you’re enrolled in, what is or is not your major, what is or is not your minor, and those pestering prerequisites.
Undoubtedly, there are a lot of subjects and material necessary to cover within our academic careers. Common curriculum does encourage students to engage in classes from theater to ecology so as to cultivate a “well-rounded” education and self. College, in reputation, is a place to investigate a myriad of ideas, texts, questions and so forth. In one sense, regardless of the title, department or content of a class, a student expands their mind. Learning in itself contributes to stimulation of the brain and self-development. Nevertheless, if students are disinterested in the content, they are likely less engaged and therefore not reaping those benefits.
Students should not have to take only what is required — classes restricted to a certain discipline or those that are pertinent only to their major. Perhaps the most productive and transformative class of a student’s career is that one random course in website development, ceramics or nutrition they took. And though we all came to college to prepare for careers, and our courses, understandably, are career focused, what about the other aspects of life? Non-traditional courses should be incorporated that develop an individual’s success and enjoyment in the many other necessities of life.
We should offer cooking classes to those beyond hospitality majors so as to encourage creativity and satisfaction within the ordinary. Math options should include a course in crucial skills for everyday needs and long-term financial responsibility. An art journaling class for art or non-art majors should be offered to expand student self-reflexivity through different mediums. Botany for the non-science inclined should be offered in order to re-engage and familiarize students with nature.
These courses should be integrated into the Common Curriculum required for all students. This would provide those with strict course schedules an allotted time to explore, enabling all students to rejuvenate the monotony and draining format of quarters dominated by the more traditional classes. DU needs a wider spectrum of classes that not only educates but inspires, expands the imagination and develops life-long skills, tools and passions.
College should not only be about creating educated, scholarly people; it should be about facilitating a creative environment and giving students the option to take classes that develop them into fully functioning adults: Courses that get people off their computers and phones for a while; courses that work with different mediums and develop additonal skills not found in other classrooms; courses that develop practical knowledge of the everyday world we can take with us; courses in which we can learn how to be better people and how to live better lives; education that not only enables careers, but inspires students’ lives.
