There’s one thing every college student must do but often procrastinates until the very last minute: general education requirements.
In order to graduate, students must complete a series of required general education courses, earning credits from various disciplines, including fine arts, humanities, life sciences and American institutions. Some students put these courses off until their senior year while others get them done in their freshman year.
Emma Martin, a freshman in international relations and French, said she would like to finish her required classes before she becomes an upperclassman.
“I am trying to get my gen eds done before the second semester of my sophomore year,” Martin said.
Katherine Harris, a senior in business, said she also tried to get most of these classes done early.
“I fulfilled my gen ed requirements my first two years of college, but I left one class off until my senior year,” Harris said.
The U offers a way to help students get their general education requirements completed as quickly as possible, encouraging them to graduate sooner.
Twice a year — once in the fall and once in the spring — the U offers a way to fast-track your general education requirements at the U’s Murray Campus. This Spring Semester, three intensive classes will provide three credit hours each and will meet January 5 through 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a one-hour break provided for lunch each day.
Students may choose from POLS 1100 (U.S. National Government), LING 3600 (Cross-Cultural Communication) and MUSC 3600 (World Music), all of which fulfill one of the required general education classes.
Lauren Doxey, a sophomore in political science, said she would choose World Music out of the classes offered.
“[World Music] seems the most interesting,” Doxey said. “I wouldn’t need a full semester for a music class.”
The general appeal among students is the fact that they can finish their general education classes faster, rather than having to drag them out over an entire semester.
Harris said she thinks the fast-track method is a good idea.
“It allows students to concentrate on getting done with school faster and jump into their career sooner,” she said.
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