The Evolution of Individualized Major Programs

Brady and Kennedy (2007) explain the stakeholders that influence the curriculum are classified into two specific groups. Individuals which consist of students, parents and teachers and their concerns with the curriculum and groups consisting of government, community groups, business community and Universities all of which garner their own interest to ensure society continues to be shaped by the correct curriculum (Brady & Kennedy, 2007). This highlights the need for a diverse level of input into the curriculum. Brady and Kennedy (2007) convey that everyone in the community has a role to play to shape the curriculum and as a society we look to give the young people and adults the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to be productive and informed citizens. All individuals and groups help form and improve the curriculum and are an integral part of the future learning of

Before reading the Andrew Delbanco book, College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be, my view of Liberal Arts education was positive. A Liberal Arts education consists of a curriculum based in the sciences and humanities while maintaining the freedom to pursue interdisciplinary study. Studying at a university with such a curriculum and freedom can be compared to an all-you-can-eat buffet; the student attending would not need to commit to a single area of study, trapped in confined course-load in one building on campus. Rather, that person could dish a little bit of business, with a side of art history, and a healthy helping of biology onto their academic tray and consume to their heart’s content, scraping the sides of the university in order to

Curriculums are the roadmaps for schools which provide purpose and direction for administrators, educators, parents, and students. Curriculum typically refers to, “the knowledge and skills students are expected to learn, which includes the learning standards or learning objectives they are expected to meet; the units and lessons that teachers teach; the assignments and projects given to students; the books, materials, videos, presentations, and readings used in a course; and the tests, assessments, and other methods used to evaluate student learning.” (Curriculum, 2015, para. 1) Curriculums may come in many shapes and forms, whether they’re purchased as a package at the school or district level or they’re created or refined by educators and

Also, throughout curriculum development the goals and aims of the curriculum need to be taken into account. Without specific goals and aims for the curriculum, the curriculum could be unfocused with no purpose identified. Within the social studies curriculum that I analyzed, I noticed societal goals for the curriculum (Posner, 2004). Societal goals are emphasized because the curriculum supports the development of knowledgeable and engaged citizens within our country. By understanding the goal of my curriculum I am better able to understand the purpose of what I am teaching, which in turn helps me to differentiate for my students while still keeping the ultimate goal in mind. I also was able to identify the further learning aims within the curriculum (Posner, 2004). By identifying this aim I was able to see how the curriculum I was teaching tied into the curriculum that the students would experience in subsequent grades. By reflecting on the further learning aims I was able to see how my teaching was a valuable piece of a bigger puzzle

There are many benefits to getting a Liberal Arts degree in today’s economic market. It is a message to your employer that you are willing to take on new information, and learn more then what is necessary to succeed. It shows initiative and the ability to expand your horizons beyond yourself. In a Liberal Arts education there is more purpose then just learning the career field of choice. It is a program that teaches critical thinking and self-thought. It teaches the student how to learn and teach themselves, to achieve more than just memorization of facts.

The view of what college is and what the experience of college offers, differ dramatically between an individual and the society he or she lives. College has traditionally been viewed as the place young adults go to find themselves, find their career, and start their adult lives. Some have argued that education has veered too far away from tradition, while others argue that the whole idea of Liberal Education needs to keep evolving to meet the demands of the modern world. Those in favor of change argue for more diversity within the curriculum, such as more non-western world education and feminist thought. However, the traditional educational ideal has not completely vanished. At the majority of colleges in America the Liberal Arts, or

Philosophers of education have been pursuing the ideal curriculum for as long as formal education has been implemented. In that span, it has likely been captured many times; however, given current dropout rates, it can be reasonably stated that the United States has yet to do so. While it is easy to discern where education is lacking, defining what it is to successfully educate is a complex endeavor encumbered by the many conflicting notions of what personal success is. In my experience, these many arguments can be divided into two parties: those who believe the primary contributor to success is economic, and those who believe success is dependent on an individual sense of happiness. The first party often argues that happiness is too intangible

Brady and Kennedy (2010) define the term curriculum as ‘the means by which young people and adults gain the essential knowledge, skills and attributes they need to be productive and informed citizens in a democratic society.’ However the term has many varied definitions, it can be described as being the subject matter, the overall plan for teaching or the outcome of what is taught (Wiles, 2005). Marsh and Willis (cited in Marsh, 2009, p. 3) break curriculum down into three individual areas of ‘planned curriculum’, the objectives and aims, ‘enacted curriculum’, how the objectives are

Throughout childhood, most have been told that they need to go to college in order to receive a well-paying job. Therefore, students immediately decide to major in something that will help them either get a job that pays very well and many of their courses are targeted at their major of choice. However, another route that many students don’t consider is a liberal arts education. Many believe that liberal arts is a waste of time and doesn’t truly prepare them for a future career.

Recently, the job market has been very competitive especially for students straight out of college, however students with a liberal arts background have a greater advantage as they are more appealing to employers. There are hundreds of liberal arts colleges in the United States, however they are often overlooked due to false perceptions regarding price. Liberal arts schools prepare students for the real world by providing a well-rounded education, smaller class sizes that allow for more individualized learning, and a unique college experience. Liberal arts schools aim to provide students with a wide variety of knowledge instead of requiring them to specialize as freshman. General education classes help set students up for a successful career path.

The author concludes that the debate of liberal education will continue throughout generations to come. That students should immerse themselves within liberal arts not to just make a living, but to become more complex and diverse, to find creative ways to solve new problems, and develop as a person as a person. (Ugar 196) By incorporating the gained knowledge of the liberal arts, undergraduates can pass it down to the future

A liberal arts education consists of many things. It can include literature, foreign languages, history, philosophy, religion, mathematics, science, and also psychology. Every area of study benefits each student, regardless of their major. Students learn from every course they take.

I have always liked the structure of liberal arts colleges, because of their main objective of shaping a student's education in all areas of study. Grinnel College type of education is the most appealing to me, as it provides students with a well-rounded education. I assisted student's through the admissions process to private liberal arts colleges and something that makes their type of learning ideal is the flexibility of their degrees. Students are given the option of even creating their own degree, by blending different areas of

Liberal Arts also nurture other hidden talents that the student might not have realize before attending that said liberal art college.

Liberal Arts is defined as academic subjects such as math, philosophy, literature, and sciences that are majors in college and are subjects that are required to take in order continue with education. Numerous people may believe that liberal arts should be taken away from the universities so students could focus on their career field, while others may believe that liberal arts has its benefits that could help those students in their career. The benefits Liberal Arts offers include, expanding the students’ knowledge and helping students remember and or improve on these subjects. While the downfall of Liberal Arts is that people would not focus and go straight towards their career path because they are too busy trying to finish basic requirements.