Pratik

Nerve Endings Firing Away

Liberal Arts vs. STEM

Reading about Parag and his son’s college tours reminded me of how eagerly I’m looking forward to those trips. My wife might think I’m trying to kick our son out of the house sooner, but I really love college tours. Both of us work in K-12 and postsecondary education research, so we are highly aware of the benefits of college regardless of what some Americans now think about it. I’m always blown away by the choices and flexibility that students have in the colleges in the U.S.

Growing up in India, we had to decide between Arts, Science, and Commerce (accounting, finance, etc.) at age 16, and once you picked a stream, it was tough to change. In contrast, students here can go to an English classics class in the morning and an astrophysics class in the afternoon.

But I understand that not all colleges are the same, even in the U.S. At times, I’m torn between recommending our son opt for a STEM major for his undergraduate degree and then explore other avenues. You know, just to make yourself future-economy-proof. But at the same time, I’ve been around enough tech bros, intolerant engineers, and outright bigots who academically are smart but don’t have an ounce of empathy. Our son is naturally a sensitive person and deeply empathetic, and I want him to explore that aspect of his personality and study majors that will tap into his potential. But I also don’t want him to be a starving artist. If only there were a way to do both.

The building I work on campus at the University of Texas at Austin has a boringly-named department, Plan II. I have seen students milling around and sometimes even parents seated outside in the waiting area.

Reading about it revealed something fascinating.

Plan II is a carefully designed core curriculum honors major with very specific multi-disciplinary course requirements and a strong emphasis on problem-solving, critical and analytical skills, and particularly on writing—including a capstone thesis requirement.

Plan II is a four-year interdisciplinary arts and science honors major with a core curriculum.

Now that’s interesting since I’ve always believed a strong foundation in n problem-solving, critical and analytical skills, and particularly in writing, sets you up for success in anything you choose to do and leads to a happier life. But this paragraph caught my eye:

Many students complete the premed curriculum or a pre-law concentration in conjunction with their Plan II major and go on to medical school or law school. Often, Plan II students take an additional year and simultaneously earn a second degree––in business, engineering, or architecture, for example. Hence, it is possible through the electives to achieve some degree of specialization in tandem with the broad-based Plan II curriculum.

Perfect. Even if my son doesn’t go this route, this makes for better doctors, engineers, architects, and even…lawyers. So in the future, if a brain surgeon decides to run for President, they won’t be a complete numbskull.

This video gives you a better perspective from the graduates themselves.


Reply by email Also on Micro.blog