general education

OPINION: The liberal arts hold significance not measurable by conventional statistical analysis

Perhaps the most common and most bothersome question every student is asked, starting in the latter years of high school and ending—I hope—after college graduation, is in regard to one’s intended area of academic pursuit.

“ What is your major?”

“ What do you want to study?”

OPINION: Mason should offer a greater variety of courses in the arts

Though George Mason University is not an art school, it needs to have more options to fulfill the general education fine arts requirement that all students must complete before graduation. Mason should offer classes that both fulfill the arts requirement and appeal to a greater variety of students’ interests.

Right now, Mason offers art courses that involve art history, dance, music, theater and art and visual technology. Basically, you can sing, dance, draw, paint, act, play with Photoshop or sit through a boring lecture.

OPINION: General education is vital to the ultimate success of university students

As a freshman, my courses this year are varied; many of them are not particularly relevant to my major—this being a product of the dreaded general education requirements at Mason, or “gen eds.” Overall, many students feel that gen eds are an unnecessary waste of time. I, quite honestly, beg to differ.