College Grads Un- Under- Employed

[Deleted]

I took pre-calc. There weren't "math" majors in my class, but there were people in there that did need math for their discipline. FWIW, I got an A. I could have taken calc, but I didn't need to. My second math class was Intro to Logic - a philosophy class. There were a few comp sci students in my class because it dealt with if/then arguments.

[swamp]

Interesting. There were no science majors in my advanced history classes. Science and math majors were in things like American History 101 and English 101. In fact, I believe our advanced classes in certain majors were reserved for majors of that particular field. In other words, majors got first dibs on the seats available

Good point. I don't remember any Chemistry majors taking upper level French Literature classes with me.

[973beachbum]

Apr 25, 2012 14:01:34 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

And furthermore, why is it okay for math and science majors to not be "well rounded" by having to take more English, History and Foreign Languages (after all those subjects are obviously a waste of time) but when a History major is not well-rounded because they only have to take one math class that makes them a moron.

At the first college I went to, I had to take 9 humanities classes, and they weren't the remedial Mickey Mouse classes for non majors either. I took English classes with the English majors, history with the history majors, social work with the social work majors. How many of you non-science majors had to take that many non-remedial math and science classes, the same classes the science majors were taking? I'm not sure if this is the norm. I guess we'll have to take a poll on this.

At the second college I attended, most students didn't have to take anything higher than 'college' algebra, and maybe a couple of remedial science classes, but they were in the process of doing away with the college algebra requirement since half of the non-science majors flunked it anyway.

Are you sure you went to a regular school or one for spechul people?

Seriously there is an entrance test just to get into college. They must pass it and qualify for "college" algebra. I know from having a daughter in HS and DH teaching math at the college, that algebra class is equivelant to Algebra 2. I don't know where that falls on the fuzzy scale but it is just your normal algebra 2 class. I have never actually heard of a algebra class for math majors only, or a science class for science majors only. Sure people who weren't science majors probably only took Chem 1 & 2 but it was the same class regardless of what your major was.

DH also has a lot of returning students in his classes. Most of them have blocked their HS math from their brain. It takes them most of the first semester to get it back. It doens't make them mororns just not something they have used in a while.

[muttleynfelix]

I teach Sunday School to 2nd through 5th graders. I usually only have 2 kids in my class and a new student came and his mom joined him. His mom is a high school English teacher. Part of our lesson was to name different countries we could pray for. The mom (a high school english teacher) could not name countries. She named some states and some continents, but she could not remember any country the kids had not already named (she did get lucky and say Georgia). I highly doubt she failed History or Social Studies or Geography in school. She just put that information out of her brain.

I have issues with people who need to know algebra and geometry not being able to use it. I had a draftsman who asked me if a slope was 0.5% or 5% based on where the decimal point was. He needed to be able to do that for his job and couldn't. That is a problem.

[hurley1980]

At my CC, the college assessment test places you at your level of math understanding. If it is not at a level that is needed to meet the general education requirements, then you have to take the prerequisite classes until you understand enough to pass the gen ed level courses. So while some people who have a good understanding of math may only take 1 or 2 classes to meet the gen ed requirements, others who don't understand may have to take 2 or 3 classes until they are even able to take the gen ed courses to ensure they can pass and meet the requirements. I thought most CC's worked this way. Its the same with english and reading comprehension. Everyone who graduates has at least a certain level of each. Those who are majoring in the subject of course, will reach a much higher level.

[swamp]

I have issues with people who need to know algebra and geometry not being able to use it. I had a draftsman who asked me if a slope was 0.5% or 5% based on where the decimal point was. He needed to be able to do that for his job and couldn't. That is a problem.

[muttleynfelix]

Apr 25, 2012 14:31:46 GMT -5 swamp said:

I have issues with people who need to know algebra and geometry not being able to use it. I had a draftsman who asked me if a slope was 0.5% or 5% based on where the decimal point was. He needed to be able to do that for his job and couldn't. That is a problem.

Yeah, my company stopped hiring from that "technical" school after him. He didn't last very long. The local community college had a much better drafting program anyway.

[milee]

Apr 25, 2012 14:16:03 GMT -5 swamp said:

Interesting. There were no science majors in my advanced history classes. Science and math majors were in things like American History 101 and English 101. In fact, I believe our advanced classes in certain majors were reserved for majors of that particular field. In other words, majors got first dibs on the seats available

Good point. I don't remember any Chemistry majors taking upper level French Literature classes with me.

Well, I got a BS in Accountancy, so not a Chem major, but I had to take at least one upper level literature course in a foreign language, so for me it was French Lit - all reading, discussion and writing in French. I still have nightmares about Manon Lescaut.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Apr 25, 2012 14:30:53 GMT -5 hurley1980 said:

At my CC, the college assessment test places you at your level of math understanding. If it is not at a level that is needed to meet the general education requirements, then you have to take the prerequisite classes until you understand enough to pass the gen ed level courses. So while some people who have a good understanding of math may only take 1 or 2 classes to meet the gen ed requirements, others who don't understand may have to take 2 or 3 classes until they are even able to take the gen ed courses to ensure they can pass and meet the requirements. I thought most CC's worked this way. Its the same with english and reading comprehension. Everyone who graduates has at least a certain level of each. Those who are majoring in the subject of course, will reach a much higher level.

This is the way ours works too. The placement test is required, and prep classes are offered if you need to start at a lower level. But everyone in a degree program (transfer & nontransfer) must pass a certain level of math along with various other Gen Ed courses.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2012 14:34:33 GMT -5 milee said:

Apr 25, 2012 14:16:03 GMT -5 swamp said:

Good point. I don't remember any Chemistry majors taking upper level French Literature classes with me.

Well, I got a BS in Accountancy, so not a Chem major, but I had to take at least one upper level literature course in a foreign language, so for me it was French Lit - all reading, discussion and writing in French. I still have nightmares about Manon Lescaut.

OMG, I had to do that for Spanish. It was only a 200-level class, but DAY-UM! I wasn't even close to being fluent in conversational Spanish, and you want me to read and analyze literature?!?!

[formerroomate99]

Good point. I don't remember any Chemistry majors taking upper level French Literature classes with me.

Yes, but did you have to take the same intro to chemistry class that the chem majors took, or the same physics classes that the physics majors took or could you get away with some 'Chemistry/Physics for non majors' or "mickey mouse science" class? And were there any science majors in the french classes you took your freshman year? I bet there were plenty.

From what I've seen, it's pretty common for colleges, especially the less selective ones, to expect the science majors to take a higher number and higher level of humanities classes than the math and science requirements for humanities majors. When that happens, the only well rounded graduates are the science majors. Though, on the other hand, I've also heard of some colleges having various mickey mouse humanities classes for engineering majors. In either case, they aren't doing their students any favors. A college education should be well rounded.

[milee]

Apr 25, 2012 14:37:05 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

Apr 25, 2012 14:34:33 GMT -5 milee said:

Well, I got a BS in Accountancy, so not a Chem major, but I had to take at least one upper level literature course in a foreign language, so for me it was French Lit - all reading, discussion and writing in French. I still have nightmares about Manon Lescaut.

OMG, I had to do that for Spanish. It was only a 200-level class, but DAY-UM! I wasn't even close to being fluent in conversational Spanish, and you want me to read and analyze literature?!?!

OK, this is one of those times I'm glad it's an anonymous message board, because I can't believe I'm going to tell this story.

My French Lit teacher was a gorgeous French lady and she was fun to talk to. Remember, I was 19 and pretty naive about certain things, so it took me a while to realize she was hitting on me.

Here I just thought she recognized my efforts and brains.... Anyway, that was the one and only time in college I flirted shamelessly with a professor to ensure a decent grade.

[swamp]

Hmm, Milee swings both ways. Good to know.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I had quite a few non-STEM majors in my Organic Chemistry class, a big one was sports majors (shock gasp horror choke) becuase it was a pre-req to several courses they needed to take for their major.

It was the same class for STEM majors as it was for them. They did not have a separate class for each and everyone was held to the same standard.

Sports majors went on to take sports medicine or whatever. Chemistry majors went on to Analytical Chemistry/Pchem. Biology majors took biochemsitry. etc. The course cirriculum had to be such that everyone could pass and get onto the next level.

I don't see why the sports majors should be considered stupid and told they are getting a "fluffy" degree just because taking O-chem 101 didn't translate into taking PChem.

I don't see why everyone needs to take a course like PChem just so they can prove to a bunch of random people they aren't stupid and their degree is valid. If you don't need it then don't take it.

If you want to take it for the fun of it. . .well you are freaking psycho.

[Deleted]

Message deleted by Moneyjenny82.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2012 14:43:57 GMT -5 milee said:

Apr 25, 2012 14:37:05 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

OMG, I had to do that for Spanish. It was only a 200-level class, but DAY-UM! I wasn't even close to being fluent in conversational Spanish, and you want me to read and analyze literature?!?!

OK, this is one of those times I'm glad it's an anonymous message board, because I can't believe I'm going to tell this story.

My French Lit teacher was a gorgeous French lady and she was fun to talk to. Remember, I was 19 and pretty naive about certain things, so it took me a while to realize she was hitting on me.

Here I just thought she recognized my efforts and brains.... Anyway, that was the one and only time in college I flirted shamelessly with a professor to ensure a decent grade.

Oh please! I would have done if it I knew I could get away with it!

[formerroomate99]

I have issues with people who need to know algebra and geometry not being able to use it. I had a draftsman who asked me if a slope was 0.5% or 5% based on where the decimal point was. He needed to be able to do that for his job and couldn't. That is a problem.

That was the big issue I had with the structure of the college algebra class when I was a TA in the math department. We spent all this time going over how to manipulate equations, wasted gobs of time on polynomial division (which is pretty much useless) and then had to zip through story problems so fast that most of my students didn't get it. What good does it do to be able to manipulate equations if you can't apply it to real life?

[milee]

I did get an A.

[Deleted]

I readily admit that I took bo-bo science classes because I wasn't about to spend half my free time studying for classes that had zero to do with my major. I really wanted to take Intro to Biology (I heart biology), but I heard from lots of my friends that it was rigorous and geared toward students who needed it for their majors.

[Deleted]

milee, what tipped you off? Did she start singing the chorus of "Lady Marmalade" to you?

[movingforward]

Apr 25, 2012 14:43:51 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Good point. I don't remember any Chemistry majors taking upper level French Literature classes with me.

Yes, but did you have to take the same intro to chemistry class that the chem majors took, or the same physics classes that the physics majors took or could you get away with some 'Chemistry/Physics for non majors' or "mickey mouse science" class? And were there any science majors in the french classes you took your freshman year? I bet there were plenty.

From what I've seen, it's pretty common for colleges, especially the less selective ones, to expect the science majors to take a higher number and higher level of humanities classes than the math and science requirements for humanities majors. When that happens, the only well rounded graduates are the science majors. Though, on the other hand, I've also heard of some colleges having various mickey mouse humanities classes for engineering majors. In either case, they aren't doing their students any favors. A college education should be well rounded.

I don't remember taking any "mickey mouse" classes in college except maybe golf and music appreciation. I don't remember many of the 122 hours I needed to graduate being part of the mickey mouse club. At the very least they were qualified to be in the realm of Looney Tunes for suffering suckatash...

[milee]

She tried to kiss me when I was over at her house having tea.

[CarolinaKat]

I flirted my way through UNIX. I'm a ChemE... I DON"T PROGRAM... well Unicorn, but that's completely different...

So I flirted my way though... the Sr in Comp Sci didn't mind

[swamp]

Apr 25, 2012 14:51:18 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

I readily admit that I took bo-bo science classes because I wasn't about to spend half my free time studying for classes that had zero to do with my major. I really wanted to take Intro to Biology (I heart biology), but I heard from lots of my friends that it was rigorous and geared toward students who needed it for their majors.

I did take Bio 101 and 102, and it took up a lot of time. I took Logic for my Math requirement because I took AP Calc in HS and didn't see the need to repeat that experience.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I readily admit that I took bo-bo science classes because I wasn't about to spend half my free time studying for classes that had zero to do with my major.

Maybe Dark can lend you his mickey mouse ears.

Everyone had to take Biology 101 where I went. Not sure about Biology II.

There was a fluff Chemistry course called Consumer Chem but I don't see the point in getting my panties in a wad over it. I think most peope can survive just fine without being able to calculate the molarity of a solution.

Geology counted as a science requirement for non-science majors but according to the book it is indeed a majors course for biology too. (biology with a geological emphasis).

From what I heard people bitching about it wasn't a mickey mouse class. The professor is a professional geologist and expected his students to know their stuff.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Maybe Dark can lend you his mickey mouse ears.

For like the 50th time, they're Minnie Mouse ears!!! Blue ones are Mickey ears, pink ones are Minnie ears. It's not that hard. For college educated people you guys have problems with the simplest stuff.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I was an STEM major, I don't have time to learn things like which color ears belong to which fictional Disney character between my uber hard classes and making oodles and oodles of money.

That's what you non-degreed people spend your time learning.

[Deleted]

I taught with two women, one of them took the most basic college algebra class 3 times before she passed it as her math requirement... the other wrote me a letter of recommendation that was completely unusable... really, really sad to read honestly...

I had tons of Micky Mouse classes... cut and paste were apt adjectives... Classes like my Math Theory, where it was well know that he only taught from the book and didn't count attendance, and where i showed up only to take a test or hand in a project, really helped me to stay employed during the 3 1/2 years it took me to do teacher prep (even though i didn't switch to/declare as teaching major until my 2nd year...)

ETA: I got an A in Math Theory...

[973beachbum]

I took geology 101 and 102 as well as a class called "economic botony". Every geology major and most of the other science majors had to take it also. They were either their first step or an elective.

The economic botony class is an whole nother ball of wax. it was literally the only science classthat would fit in my schedule that semester and if I didn't get it in I couldn't graduate. Well dummy me and my advisor didn't notice that it was a 400 level class. The first week he started talking about gene splicing. It was a senior levl class and I was the only non botony major in there and they were also all seniors. Man was that a not fun class to take just because.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It was a senior levl class and I was the only non botony major in there and they were also all seniors. Man was that a not fun class to take just because.

But now you can brag about how much better you are than your fellow non-STEM friends and co-workers. You took a 400 level science course while they took BS courses.