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Importance of General Education in Engineering

The author reflects on the value of their general education courses taken during their time as an engineering student. They realized that these non-engineering courses exposed them to complex foundational concepts of modern society and helped develop critical thinking skills. A religions course provided valuable lessons about different cultures in the US and understanding people from different backgrounds. A history course on Mexico and Central America enhanced the author's global perspective and understanding of how history shapes current issues. Overall, general education helped them grow important skills for their future engineering career and fostered a desire to continuously learn.

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11 views3 pages

Importance of General Education in Engineering

The author reflects on the value of their general education courses taken during their time as an engineering student. They realized that these non-engineering courses exposed them to complex foundational concepts of modern society and helped develop critical thinking skills. A religions course provided valuable lessons about different cultures in the US and understanding people from different backgrounds. A history course on Mexico and Central America enhanced the author's global perspective and understanding of how history shapes current issues. Overall, general education helped them grow important skills for their future engineering career and fostered a desire to continuously learn.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
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General Education Reflection

From the beginning of my freshman year, I had a desire to take non-engineering

classes, though admittedly it was only done to keep my schedule interesting. However,

once I started taking courses outside of the engineering program, I realized the actual

value behind these courses; at the end of the day, these classes exposed me to the

complex foundational concepts that modern society is built upon. Without taking these

courses and gaining exposure in a college setting, while I believe I would learn about

many of the topics covered in these general education courses eventually, I don’t think I

would have the critical thinking necessary to understand what these courses taught.

At Iowa State University, one of the general education requirements was a U.S.

diversity credit. To meet this requirement, I took a course focusing on religions in

America, which I still hold to be one of the most informative courses I’ve taken in my

time here. As an engineer after college, it should be expected to work as part of a team,

made up of unique people from different cultural backgrounds. To be an effective

member of a team, there needs to be a base level of understanding between other team

members, and understanding core facets of one another's cultures is a great way to

develop this mutual understanding.

This religions course, RELIG 210, covered the major religions practiced in the

United States, as well as the major sects within those religions. The course also

covered some of the less popular religions that were founded in America, and

throughout the course studied not only how these religions impacted world history, but

also how they interacted with one another. While religion in the United States is often

treated as a personal matter within a professional setting, for many people across the
world, religion is an extremely important aspect to their personal identity. While this

course was important for teaching me about religions, the most important takeaway for

me was learning about how to learn about a religion. This deeper understanding is

something I believe is very valuable to me personally, but also important to me being

the best team member I can be in my future career.

In the history department, a course I found very valuable to my understanding of

the world was HIST 441, a study of modern Mexico and Central America. This course

covered an extensive history of Central America from the end of Spanish colonial rule to

present day, and for me built a deeper understanding of many of the societal issues at

play in Central America, as well as many parallels to U.S. history. While in my

coursework this class met my International Perspectives requirement, personally it

helped me to develop a deeper, more critical understanding of how countries’ history

impacts their present and future. While that sounds like an extremely basic concept, all

too often only the current state of countries are discussed and the factors that lead to

how that state was reached are largely ignored.

While I believe that this course was extremely important to me developing a

deeper understanding of world history, more importantly I think it reinforced a concept

I’ve been taught in several other courses at Iowa State that stopping at a surface level

understanding simply is not enough. While simple problems are extremely common,

both in the world and the workplace, the ability to take time to understand what causes

those simple problems is such an important skill to grow and develop.

As my time in college reaches its end, I can confidently say that my time spent

taking general education courses was time well invested. While on a base level these
courses helped me realize some of my passions, such as an interest in ancient history,

on a deeper level these courses helped me develop skills essential to being a better

engineer. Perhaps the most important takeaway from these courses, though, is a desire

to just keep learning. The best engineers are those who are willing to keep developing

new skills, to keep improving and not stay stagnant, and these courses taught me how

to learn and enjoy doing it.

Common questions

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Understanding a country’s historical context aids in addressing its current and future societal challenges by providing insights into the underlying causes of these issues. Recognizing historical patterns and decisions helps in formulating informed solutions and strategies to tackle ongoing challenges effectively .

Exposure to different cultural backgrounds is crucial for engineers because it builds a fundamental understanding necessary for collaborative work environments. This understanding fosters effective communication, respect, and cooperation among team members from diverse backgrounds, which is essential in globalized engineering practices .

The HIST 441 course provided insights into societal issues and historical parallels by covering extensive history from the end of Spanish colonial rule to the present day, highlighting how historical events shape current societal conditions. This course helped develop a deeper understanding of how the historical context of Central America is similar to U.S. historical dynamics, thereby enhancing the understanding of societal issues they currently face .

It is important not to stop at surface-level understanding when analyzing world history because a superficial view often ignores the factors that lead to a country's current state. A deeper historical analysis is necessary to uncover the root causes of ongoing issues, which enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary in engineering and other fields .

The significance of learning about less popular religions founded in America lies in the broader understanding of cultural diversity and its impact on personal and social identities. This knowledge enhances one’s ability to empathize with and understand diverse perspectives, which is critical in multicultural settings, including professional environments .

General education courses relate to continuous improvement necessary for engineers by instilling a desire to keep learning and developing new skills. The exposure to different disciplines and the encouragement to explore various interests fosters an attitude of lifelong learning and adaptability, which are crucial for engineers to stay relevant and effective in their careers .

The courses taken fulfilled both personal interests and academic requirements by allowing exploration of topics such as ancient history, which aligned with personal passions, while also meeting requirements like the U.S. diversity credit and international perspectives. This dual fulfillment highlights the courses' role in both personal growth and academic progression .

The most important personal development takeaway from general education courses was the cultivation of a desire for continuous learning. This drive to explore and learn new things is essential for personal and professional growth, enabling individuals to excel in their careers by adapting and expanding their knowledge base .

Taking a U.S. diversity credit course on religions in America, specifically RELIG 210, contributed to the understanding of teamwork in a professional setting by exposing students to the major religions and sects within the United States. This exposure helps in developing a basic level of cultural understanding, which is crucial for effective team collaboration. It allows team members from diverse cultural backgrounds to develop mutual understanding and respect, thereby enhancing teamwork and communication .

General education courses play a vital role in developing skills essential for being a better engineer by fostering critical thinking, cultural understanding, and a passion for continuous learning. These courses encourage exploring various interests, such as ancient history, and emphasize the importance of understanding complex problems beyond the surface level, which are essential skills in engineering .

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