Why is She Taking So Many Courses That Aren’t in Her Major?

Nine times out of ten, parents, especially those who didn’t have the chance to attend college look at their daughter’s first semester schedule and ask: why is she taking so many courses that aren’t in her major? It’s a normal question, After all, if your son wants to study business and in the first semester he’s taking courses in Psychology and English rather than management, what’s going on? The simple answer is: preparing your student for long term success.

Courses or experiences in their major are only one part of the college experience for students. Colleges and universities are preparing tomorrow’ leaders in every field, and the skills necessary for success and leadership require much more than simply technical knowledge. Colleges talk often about the things their students should be able to upon graduation. You’ll hear them talk about critical thinking skills, the ability to communicate both orally and in writing, and the ability to understand and use data effectively. Students often think that their major determines everything they’re going to do in life, but that doesn’t have to be true.  In fact, it’s often those courses not in a student’s major that give them the skills to build and create careers, rather than just follow one.

I remember a student angrily objecting to being required to present a lab report in her biochemistry class, saying “This is not a speech class; it’s a Biology class.” True enough. Yet I reminded her that if she wants to be a biologist, she’ll be presenting her test results regularly to supervisor and colleagues. Getting practice doing it now will help her succeed in her field. Success in many careers isn’t just based on expertise on courses in that field. An accountant serving as an auditor, makes frequent presentations to boards and others about their findings and they need to be able to produce well-written and understandable reports are well. And journalists who are interested in politics may instead find themselves assigned to cover the economy. Having an understanding of financial markets and cycles gained from a class in Economics would help that journalist get the job done.

Courses in what we refer to as “general education” also encourage students to work in teams and exposes them to concepts and issues they weren’t even aware that they cared about.

According to Wendy Sherman Heckler, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of University Programs at Otterbein University, (General Education) “A truly well-rounded education will help students think for themselves, deal with unforeseen issues, think critically, and solve problems.” And these are the skills that students learn from courses both inside and outside the major.

Also, students in colleges and universities tend to change their majors two or three times while they’re enrolled. Which this usually drives their parents nuts, it’s also true that students change their majors based on the experiences they have already had in college, often through those courses that aren’t in their original major. Those general education courses often help students find their passions. And identifying a passion is a key ingredient for long term career success.

When your student takes courses in English or History or Psychology when she’s an accounting major, don’t fret. She’s just learning the skills that will make her the best and most well-rounded accountant she can be, and to be able to lead accountants in the future.

It’s all about the long game.