[HPforGrownups] Heather

[Denise Rogers]

No: HPFGUIDX 5100

Not certain about the others, but I think I absorbed the jist of your post.

In a traditional local 4-year college, we have to have what I was told is
called a "well-rounded" education.  This means we are forced to take classes
like "The History of China" when we're Engineering majors (a friend's
courseload currently), or the "Physics of Light" when we're an education
major.  These "extra" courses are supposed to give us a firm base for doing
our job later.

I for one don't understand the reasoning behind this (where on earth in the
computer field are you going to use the history of china unless you go
there?) but I agreed to it when I was attending Akron U.  At SSC, the
two-year, we didn't have to take as many, and the "other" classes were more
geared towards our majors.  English, Speech, Math...  Things that make sense
in computer programming.  The rest were our main "food", like COBOL 1 and 2,
RPG 1 and 2, etc....

I plan to go upgrade my two year to a four year Computer Science degree, and
I know that I will be forced into those extra classes.  Wouldn't mind if I
could do perhaps "Swimming" for gym?  And a dance-like class?  (Two classes
are mandatory at UofA--but you get to decide the class, alot of folks choose
Racquetball, hence my not; I'd never get in, and with these old bones...!)
They also require things like one language, of your choice. Should be
interesting....

To check out what the colleges are doing I think the Akron U website is
http://www.uakron.edu/

I hope this helps?  Not certain if you're just doing a comparison for class
or personal reasons....

:)
Dee

----- Original Message -----
From: "Heather Edmonds" <Heather at hedmonds.fsnet.co.uk>
To: <HPforGrownups at egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2000 10:18 AM
Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: I have a problem, Socio Economic data and HP +
OT question about American College education.


> Thank you Peg. I now have an excellent explanation for my obsession and
yes
> I was  a gifted child too. I was labelling it a delaying tactic but your
> explanation is far more flattering
>
> I am now a not so gifted adult who is reading HP4GU instead of essay
writing
> and lesson plans. Do you think my tutor will accept it as a reason for my
> missing essay? Or the three people to whom I owe articles promised at the
> beginning of the year?
>
> Drifting off the point a bit, but from general information on this list it
> appears the majority (if not all) of the  Harry fans on this list are a)
> well educated (university or its equivalent or preparing for the same), b)
> Very well read and c) Those who have left education are or were what UK
> sociological tables would call ABC1 professionals (Please don't ask me to
> elaborate because as a non sociologist who had to do a bit as part of her
> course I can't). Is there any connection I wonder beyond the obvious of
> being able to afford a computer and net connection.
>
> Final OT point someone I think it was Carole said something about only
> having to take one humanities course on her Science based degree. Is it
> usual to have to take courses from another discipline in the US? In the UK
> unless you are doing a modular degree (This is a generalisation but
usually
> you only do those if you didn't get the grades for your first choice or
you
> decide at the end of your first year you hate your subject and want to
> change.) you stick purely to courses on your subject. Sometimes you are
> encouraged to do a European language course alongside and I had a
compulsory
> computer course but it was not part of the degree nor did my mark count
> towards my final mark. Sorry if this sounds garbled I'm just very curious
as
> discipline boundaries are rarely crossed in the UK. This could be
partially
> a result of the restrictive nature of A-levels. In most cases you chose
arts
> or sciences at 16.
>
> Heather, waiting for the torrent of rebuttals to land in her inbox.
>
>
>
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>
>
>
> .
>  group, send an email to:
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>
>
> .


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