[ High School and Self-Education Board ]
Posted by Kathleen on 13:36 May 10
In Reply to: Question about college curricula posted by Gwen in VA
For example, my son is an English major at the University of Dallas, and unlike Laura's experience, below, he has to take *many* focused English literature courses, and they definitely get more intense and "harder," for lack of a better word. He took graduate level courses (by special permission) this semester in Russian novel and Don Quixote, along with a course in early modern literature and one other lit course the name of which escapes me right now.
The only non-English course he took this semester is an advanced Latin class. He still has to fulfill a couple of core requirments next year (a science and philosophy I think), but everything else will be in his major--including a brutal senior project.
The same is true of a history major at UD, AND there is no postmodernism (or really any other isms) at UD. The coursework is very demanding, and all students must take a core that includes literature, history, philosophy, art, science, math, and language. And they all take the same courses (though they have a few choices in math, language, and science)--it's not a grab bag. So, they all take Western civilization I & 2, studying the same works, they all take American history 1 & 2, literary traditions 1-4, etc. It's great, because all the students are discussing the same literature and history throughout the campus during the freshman year and a lot into the sophomore year, too.
Anyway, I'm sure what you are finding is typical of the university experience at large, but there are gems out there!
~Kathleen