Relevance of General Education Requirements

Connor BortolazzoJessica Osa

Philip PatalanoAllison Refermat

Tyler Norden

Point Loma Nazarene University

April 24, 2014

Introduction53.6% of college graduates under the age of 25 are either unemployed or underemployed

According to a 2012 Associated Press analysis of the 2011 Current Population Survey by researchers at Northeastern University

● In the slides that follow, we will share what was concluded from our research.

● We believe that General Education requirements should be minimized.

Background of StudyAre General Education courses necessary?• There are 2 sides to the argument

o Those in favor of General Education are concerned with producing well rounded graduates who have had the opportunity to study a wide variety of material.

o Those against General Education are concerned with the wasted resources: credits, money, time, and faculty’s focus being placed on general education courses instead of core classes that the students need to be prepared for the work force.

Literature Review

Arguments against General Education:

● Cost of College

● Post College Costs

● Delaying Graduation

Literature Review

Arguments for General Education:

● Well-Rounded Education

● Respect Other Majors

● Learn New Skills

Statement of Problem

• Unapealing

• Burden to students and Professors

• General Education Free Model

Purpose of Study

• Gain a better understanding of the value of focusing on a specific education

• Take the burden off students (loans, course load, etc.)

• Question the General Education system

Research Questions1. What relevance does society and employer

put on General Education requirements today?

2. How have General Education requirements benefitted employers today?

3. How have students that go into specific fields gained from General Education and how have they not?

Overview of Methodology• It is a quantitative and qualitative research

survey

• Use an online survey program to make it quick and easy

• Give survey (appendix A) to top 100 employees in top 10 companies in each industry

Limitations of Study

• Survey Strongly Opinionated

• Participatory

• Sample size (Qualitative, Quantitative)

Significance of Study

• Reevaluate the need

• Viewed as an Obstacle

• Free Intellectual will

Appendix AGeneral Education Survey:

1) What field of work are you in?_______________________________________________ 2) How long have you been working in your current industry?________________________ 3) Tell us how a general education requirement such as history, literature, science, and physical education

benefited you in your current position?

4) On a scale of 1-5 how satisfied are you with the education you received (1-dissatisfied, 5-extremely satisfied) 1 2 3 4 5

5) On a scale of 1-5 how rigorous were your general education requirements in college/university?1 2 3 4 5 6) Is General Education relevant to the industry that you work in? Yes No 7) Do you prefer for your employees to havea. General Educationb. Focused Education8) Do you believe General Education should be required? Yes No