More whining. Don't mind me. I just learned that I won't be getting the classes I had wanted for next semester. I'm not whining that I didn't get them, just of something else. But perhaps, this is what college is like? I suppose I had expected more.
My degree pattern requires 14 classes. The first quarter requires two intros. The second quarter requires one intro, and it is only offered once a year. One class. One class, as in one period, on one day, in one quarter a year. It is a prerequisite for the real classes, and they cannot be taken concurrently. I'm whining because that basically means I don't even get to practice my major until the third quarter. Of the 14 classes I have to take for my journalism major, one is reporting, one is intro to the writers of the genre, and the next one that is only offered once a year is the history and theory of the genre (literary journalism, creative nonfiction, immersion journalism, new journalism). That means I have to take three English classes, two upper division History classes, and three more English or Writing courses before graduation. In between next quarter and all that additional'ness is the real gist of my genre--three workshops on such awesome topics as "immersion journalism," "conflict of war," and a hundred other such titles with amazing descriptions that don't get recycled.
I don't doubt that I'll receive a proper education from talented instructors. I suppose I am disappointed because I expected more. Mrs. 13 was talking to me of her own similar university experiences, and she said, "Just play the game. It's like the Army, but with intelligent people."
6 comments:
I'm sorry to say, yes, that is pretty common. When I was in college I barely managed to get all of my requirements in to graduate on time, mostly because of poor planning on their part.
Then, for my minor, there were several classes that I really wanted to take but they were supposed to be offered only once every four years. I was there for four years and they were never offered. I even asked for them and they still weren't offered. Instead I had to take classes that I really had no interest in.
And I've heard worse stories from friends at different schools. I guess that's the college experience. With bureaucracies you just can't win.
The history and theory course sounds like something that might be offered through a consortium of state schools to be transferred back in to your school. It would be worth checking out if you can stand the aggravation. Answer still could be no, you have to wait.
I once knew a student who rounded up enough students to convince a retired professor to come back and teach a course he really wanted as a special seminar. He did that twice. Biology major - prof in question was a specialist in his area of interest. There are sometimes wiggle and squirm ways to accomplish such things, not usually with introductory level courses though.
A degree is a patchwork quilt. You will get there. Whining is allowed.
Your whining is nothing compared to my ex getting an M E degree, but you haven't been enrolled that long... you'll improve!
It comes with the turf, and you'll get there! Dude, I'm just happy you're in school! z
Sadly, your student situation is very common, especially in publically funded colleges and universities. State funding cutbacks is limiting the number of faculty needed to teach required courses for majors. The result is 5 or 6 years to graduate instead of 4, even for full-time motivated students like yourself. Maybe the solution is to make faculty offer the required courses every semester, and not limit the number of spots for students seeking these classes. If institutions of higher learning are going to require certain classes before granting their degree, the least they should do is make these required courses readily available. Maybe this would be a good article for your student newspaper? Sounds like the sort of topic that could earn a national student journalism award. You could interview deans, faculty, and students adversely impacted by the current policy.
Sorry you're having to deal with this.
Things have changed a lot since the 60's when I was in college. Sometimes a class closed before we could get registered but I don't remembering it hurting anybody. We registered by lining up in the gym in front of signs naming the class we wanted ie; Math 101, Eng 101. It went really fast - we were handed what I guess were ibm punch cards. Get the card, you got the class. Back then classes were small 12-24. The only time I sat in a large class was the year they introduced Afro-American Lit.
Maybe all that was because I went to an aggie school - Cal Poly, SLO - and I was a journalism major, not a lot of competition for classes and lots of cowboys around. Such fond memories ;)
~P~
Hi Jason,
Mrs. 13 is right... you have to play the game and you have to learn how to beat them at it! I swear it is a plot to force students to stay in school longer thereby generating a lot more money in additional tuition and fees. Take a very proactive roll in plotting out your course work, your requirements for graduation, options for summer school or winter break, prerequisites, etc. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row or it will be BOHICA all over again. If you can afford to take the scenic route it's great, otherwise, get your degree and get the hell out. It also doesn't hurt to search out department heads and ask for exceptions to the rules...the squeaky wheel does get the oil and it can't hurt to ask and/or point out the absurdity of certain rules and requirements.
Best of luck with your journey the maze of higher education. Take care Jason.
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