Wisconsin Lutheran University eliminats Poli Sci department

[CaffeineHat]

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/03/03/wlc

Regardless of how you feel about the various political leanings of some university professors, does the idea that a college would eliminate a department like political science completely, scare anyone else?

[M&Mpolitcs]

Nope, not scared at all. The college just decided it was in their general interest to cut a program. If it had been say, Business or Criminology, would you be scared? This is just a school trying to cut the fat instead of raising tuition and I'm okay with that. Now if they had dropped it because they don't want to create more politicians or members of one party then I might be a little worried. However, that is not the case so please relax and enjoy the rest of your day.

[CaffeineHat]

Nope, not scared at all. The college just decided it was in their general interest to cut a program. If it had been say, Business or Criminology, would you be scared? This is just a school trying to cut the fat instead of raising tuition and I'm okay with that. Now if they had dropped it because they don't want to create more politicians or members of one party then I might be a little worried. However, that is not the case so please relax and enjoy the rest of your day.

My concern stems from the fact that most H.S. curriculums include NO Civics. Meaning that Poli sci in college is where most young people learn about the government and it's workings. If the program was costly, it could have been reduced in size, civics is a basis for all general ed (liberal arts) programs. We are rapidly becoming a nation of sheep.

[M&Mpolitcs]

My concern stems from the fact that most H.S. curriculums include NO Civics. Meaning that Poli sci in college is where most young people learn about the government and it's workings. If the program was costly, it could have been reduced in size, civics is a basis for all general ed (liberal arts) programs. We are rapidly becoming a nation of sheep.

I can't speak for every HS, but at my HS Civics and American Government were mandatory classes your senior year. So should people like me, be required yet again to take the classes? I don't feel like I should have to waste money on a subject that I already passed once. If you want to put on the entrance exams for colleges then I'm all for it. That way, the people who fail have to take Civics and those who don't pass have to be subjected to it again or for the first time.

I totally agree with the fact that everyone should be taught Civics, but to me that's something you should have learned in HS. College is for students to pick a professional skill set and learn those needed skills. Most science, engineering, and medical majors don't have time to waste with having to take Civics in college. My computer science major is almost already mapped out for me. I get to pick one or two classes a semester by myself, but its from a list for just computer science majors. So in my case, as well as many others like me, I don't have time to spare to take Civics again.

[chemguy]

My concern stems from the fact that most H.S. curriculums include NO Civics.

Can you cite a single state where this is true? I'll bet every state has social studies standards that include civics as a required part of the curriculum.

[CaffeineHat]

Can you cite a single state where this is true? I'll bet every state has social studies standards that include civics as a required part of the curriculum.
Just because something is a required part of the curriculum doesn't mean it's taught. With standardized testing, most states are using social studies time to teach reading comprehension and math skills. Rather than looking at state standards, try asking a social studies teacher. You might be surprised. I teach middle school in Texas and I can tell you that a lot of what SHOULD be taught in social studies isn't being taught.

[LoneStarHero]

Did they also get rid of philosophy?