I live in Australia where if you study a particular degree, all (or the vast majority) of your subjects are directly related to that field.
I may be wrong but movies tend to give me the impression that at American universities/colleges, all students study a wide array of subjects, attend random lectures, and students room with people studying different things.
It also appears to be a lot about the lifestyle and not just get in, do your study, get your degree.
Are American studies specialised or more general?
Thank you! 🫶
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Typically in American universities, there’s a “general education” series of courses that need to be completed by all students, and then your Major/Minor has specialized courses that only apply to your degree (or a limited number of degrees). The idea is that a graduate should have some general skills to make them better members of society, but then be highly competent in one field. Usually, you complete most of your “gen ed”s in the first year or so, and the remaining three years are largely major-specific. Of course, there are also electives, so if you have room in your schedule, you can take something completely unrelated to your field, but there’s usually only time for a limited number of those.
Typically in American universities, there’s a “general education” series of courses that need to be completed by all students, and then your Major/Minor has specialized courses that only apply to your degree (or a limited number of degrees). The idea is that a graduate should have some general skills to make them better members of society, but then be highly competent in one field. Usually, you complete most of your “gen ed”s in the first year or so, and the remaining three years are largely major-specific. Of course, there are also electives, so if you have room in your schedule, you can take something completely unrelated to your field, but there’s usually only time for a limited number of those.
The movies are usually correct. We have what are called “general education” requirements. So in high school and college, you’re usually expected to take a math, science, english course on top of specialized course in your major or minor track.
The exception is grad school – that’s where it’s all focused on your specialty. That’s where if you’re getting a Masters in Psych, all your classes are psychology focused. Law school, all the classes are law, etc.
Classes are specialized towards your degree, however, many colleges make you take basic classes your freshman semester. Additionally, the degree may have a few electives you can pick not related to your degree. I majored in a science degree, but I took a few classes not related that I was interested in, and it counted for credits towards my degree.
The movies are usually correct. We have what are called “general education” requirements. So in high school and college, you’re usually expected to take a math, science, english course on top of specialized course in your major or minor track.
The exception is grad school – that’s where it’s all focused on your specialty. That’s where if you’re getting a Masters in Psych, all your classes are psychology focused. Law school, all the classes are law, etc.
Classes are specialized towards your degree, however, many colleges make you take basic classes your freshman semester. Additionally, the degree may have a few electives you can pick not related to your degree. I majored in a science degree, but I took a few classes not related that I was interested in, and it counted for credits towards my degree.
Typically in American universities, there’s a “general education” series of courses that need to be completed by all students, and then your Major/Minor has specialized courses that only apply to your degree (or a limited number of degrees). The idea is that a graduate should have some general skills to make them better members of society, but then be highly competent in one field. Usually, you complete most of your “gen ed”s in the first year or so, and the remaining three years are largely major-specific. Of course, there are also electives, so if you have room in your schedule, you can take something completely unrelated to your field, but there’s usually only time for a limited number of those.
I’ll chime in here and add that some non-American universities allow for mixing your curriculum. Glasgow University science students will have a set number of credits to achieve to graduate the year, but they can be achieved across courses, typically in the form of taking three sciences in your first year then two in your second, and you specialise after that.
There are requirements for progression- you can’t enter 2nd year Computing Science without having a passed all the modules in 1st year Compsci and also all of them in 1st year Mathematics, for instance. However you can make up the additional credits doing another science like chemistry or biology, or a business studies course. Provided none of it conflicts with anything else of course.
I’ll chime in here and add that some non-American universities allow for mixing your curriculum. Glasgow University science students will have a set number of credits to achieve to graduate the year, but they can be achieved across courses, typically in the form of taking three sciences in your first year then two in your second, and you specialise after that.
There are requirements for progression- you can’t enter 2nd year Computing Science without having a passed all the modules in 1st year Compsci and also all of them in 1st year Mathematics, for instance. However you can make up the additional credits doing another science like chemistry or biology, or a business studies course. Provided none of it conflicts with anything else of course.
The movies are usually correct. We have what are called “general education” requirements. So in high school and college, you’re usually expected to take a math, science, english course on top of specialized course in your major or minor track.
The exception is grad school – that’s where it’s all focused on your specialty. That’s where if you’re getting a Masters in Psych, all your classes are psychology focused. Law school, all the classes are law, etc.
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