Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
The majority of higher education institutions offer additional courses to take apart from the required subjects necessary for the completion of the chosen degree studies. These extra lectures make students question whether they play a crucial role in their educational path or, conversely, take up their valuable studying time which can be otherwise spent on their core subjects. Although it seems to be quite a viable concern expressed by the students about the efficiency of such courses, I would not concur to this view entirely, as the desire of university learners to seek extra, non-core lectures can be explained by several positive benefits.
From one perspective, some people’s assertions that greater significance should be placed on qualification-specific subjects can be justifiable, considering the fact that those courses are directly related to the area of work responsibilities that the students will undertake in the future. This means that the fundamentals of any job specification would be taught during these lectures, therefore they cannot be taken lightly since the knowledge studied during those lectures would be applied at the workplace. To ensure well-trained aspiring experts enter the labor market with formidable expertise, they should be prepared by building and solidifying the base of knowledge. Moreover, to successfully complete the required courses much more energy is bound to be depleted, so students ultimately have to concentrate an overwhelming proportion of their efforts on these subjects.
Nevertheless, looking from another vantage point, familiarizing oneself with the subjects inversely related to the core courses, proves to contribute quite beneficially to personal development. By learning complementary disciplines of study, one can gain new insights improving overall existing knowledge, and subsequently, broadening horizons. Additionally, a student may stumble upon a course that makes him or her far more passionate than the core subjects. This means that in case a person is doubtful in regards to the chosen learning path, a new additional course can raise an opportunity to explore his/her true capabilities. Lastly, those optional courses can also add variety to the major subjects, and accordingly, foster a stimulating studying environment.
To conclude, although it appears indeed justifiable that the extra courses are time-consuming and divert students’ attention from surely crucial subjects, they can on the opposite lead to positive effects both on the person’s learning path as well as individual growth.