Ask the Canes

Do you think all core and elective classes are necessary?

Senior Psychology Major

“Core and elective classes are good in the fact that when you take them, they give kids an opportunity to learn information in other areas that they may not consider. They become well-rounded students, but the number of core/elective classes that we are supposed to take is just ridiculous. I think between electives, not even core classes, I’ve had to do twelve elective classes that have nothing to do with my major. I do not think they are necessary. Not that many. I don’t think the university should make anyone do more than five electives. A lot of our elective classes tend to be lower level so I don’t think they’re hard, but because there are so many, because they’re so expensive, they add up. And to me it’s an unnecessary expense to have a student pay that much just for a class that doesn’t matter.”

Freshman History Major

“Yes, it’s beneficial to be exposed to broad information from a variety of different subject areas that can act as background knowledge & increase your understanding of the world. They’re necessary and each class has its own importance.”

Junior Nursing Major

“If you were to ask me this question when I first started college, I would’ve said they were a complete waste of time! However, as I continued and finished my prerequisites, I noticed the upsides for certain classes. As a nursing major, core classes such as biology, psychology, and anatomy & physiology helped prep me to get accepted into nursing school. However, core classes and electives such as music appreciation and history did not help at all and are not helpful for the topics and materials we get tested on today.”

Junior Visual Arts Major

“As a Fine Arts major, I personally feel that I should be focusing on my art studio classes, art history, philosophy, humanities, and liberal arts courses I need for my major, and to better understand art, which is what I’m interested in, rather than having to use that energy, time, and money to take math and science courses that have nothing to do with my major, what I’m interested in, or what I want to do. I think taking electives is good though because it lets you try new things, and helps you find new interests you may not have been exposed to without taking them.”

Senior Theater Major

“I like taking electives, but I wish we didn’t have to take as many core classes. I don’t really feel like I need three to four classes in science courses. I would rather use that time taking theater, arts, and humanities classes to better understand my major.”