Math and science classes for every major is a major waste of time – The Whit

A new semester starts, and you look down at your schedule, and what does it have? Another math class and another science class that has nothing to do with your major. 

Thousands of dollars are spent on classes that have little to do with your major, and time and money that could have been spent on advancing your education are spent on something you could not care less about. While there are, of course, students whose majors are rooted in math and science, it is not always the norm. Many students who are in majors that are in no way correlated to math and science find themselves in difficult situations where they are forced to take classes that are harder, more time-consuming, and more often than not, expensive. 

Nearly every student will be required to take a math or a science sometime in their college career. This may be because colleges feel it helps build a well-rounded education, as well as helping to prepare students for the future, but what colleges don’t understand is that it can hinder a student’s future as well. Students who are in majors tailored to their strengths taking math and science classes that they struggle deeply with can damage an otherwise strong GPA.

It is also important to note how much time and effort math and science classes require. This takes up a large portion of a student’s free time, which could be better spent on subjects that have more impact on their future. This can add unnecessary stress and prohibit students from thriving in their major of choice. Additionally, having students take multiple of these classes can take focus away from other courses and classes that demand more time and effort put into them. 

Having students spend hundreds of dollars on courses that they have little to no say in, especially when it has almost nothing to do with their major and will contribute little to their future careers, should not be the norm. The average student already has finite income and money in the bank, and having them spend it on classes they don’t want any part of is not going to help anyone in the long run. 

There is an argument to be made that math and science courses can help students achieve a well-rounded education and build critical thinking skills; they are by no means the only courses to do this. Many believe because we now live in a tech-based society that it is integral for students to know and understand math and science to thrive in this new world that we find ourselves in, but this is fundamentally wrong. One’s student’s strengths and potential are not equivalent to another. Where someone thrives, another will struggle immensely. Critical thinking skills and a well-rounded education can be found all across college. 

At Rowan, students have the potential to explore any variety of majors and courses. They should not be tied down by mandatory classes like math and science that will contribute nothing to their future and have the potential to damage their overall grade point average. 

Andrew Badalamenti, a freshman marketing major, felt that having students whose majors had nothing to do with math and science was gratuitous and unneeded.

“I think it’s unnecessary because if you’re taking a major, you are choosing to study that topic specifically for a job in that field,” Badalmenti said. “I think we learn more by people and experiences in classes where we talk to other people instead of just sitting in math class.”

Christopher Otto, a junior journalism student, felt his time was better spent in furthering his major as opposed to spending time in classes that he did not think were worthwhile.

“I don’t really understand why we have to take math and science classes as a journalism major. For me, I want to learn more about writing media and telling stories to people. I don’t really understand why I’d have to sit through a biology or a statistics class to advance my career.” Otto said.

It is important to note that these are only two students compared to a whole student population who also have similar complaints about taking these classes. Many students feel that taking these courses is pulling them away from their majors. This is part of a greater issue that is not unique to these students. It is creating widespread disengagement and disinterest across the student body.

To end this little lecture, repeatedly taking a math and science course when your major has little to do with those subjects is not necessary. While it can lead to helping critical thinking and contributing to a well-rounded education, these courses are not the only ones that lead to that. As it stands currently, this is the standard and norm, but it does not have to stay that way, and hopefully, more and more schools recognize the flaw in the system and open new possibilities for student and their future.