As an English major whose interests lie in writing, cinema and literature, I was not happy to have to take math and science courses for my diploma. I have been terrible at anything involving numbers from day one, so comprehending a lot of the material in these courses has always been a struggle. 

We all wonder why we have to bother with classes that have next to no relation to our field of study. I’ve even heard some argue that a well-rounded education is potentially harmful; after all, wouldn’t you rather have an excellent doctor who flunked his class on early world literature than a mediocre doctor who passed that course?

In spite of that, I think much can be gained personally and professionally from having a well-rounded education.

First off, taking a variety of courses gives you a broader picture of the world and opens a universe of possibilities. Most people are uncertain of what path they wish to take when they enter a university. Some people come in pursuing literature only to decide they want to have a career in foreign language or communications instead. Some come in for mathematics and switch to computer science or even biology.

Also, your future career will likely involve more than just your main area of study. I recently did a piece on the several graduate entrance exams out there, and one of the people I contacted, Dr. Volker Stiller, told me that the MCAT exam now includes psychology and sociology. The medical world currently realizes the influence of socioeconomic backgrounds in its practice. There’s more to it than just the sciences.

In my own field, I too have to branch out to other areas of study. Historical and cultural context are often required when studying the literature or cinema of other times and places. 

In general, you will always encounter math in some shape or form. A basic knowledge of biology or chemistry is desirable. Literature can open our minds to how those different from us view life and the world. And the growing numbers of Spanish-speakers in the United States as well as the globalization of the modern world also give us a greater need for foreign language courses. Were we to keep college curriculums solely to one field of study, we would be ignorant to a great many things; intellectual tunnel vision has few virtues.

However, I do think that with classes outside of one’s field, the grading scale should be a little more lax. It doesn’t need to be infantile, but when an art student whose mind is not wired for algebra and trig has to take a mathematics course, the professor should be a little easier on them.

While there are more than a few issues with the well-rounded education model as it currently stands, it should not be done away with in entirety. Having general knowledge of areas outside your field of study can help you grow as a person and make you even more valuable to potential employers. So next time you groan about memorizing biology definitions or making sense of the Elizabethan verse in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ think of it as a chance to broaden your mind and intellect.