At Tulane University, the core curriculum is a cornerstone of the educational experience, and it exposes students to a broad range of studies. Yet, one controversial part of this requirement is the science with a lab course. 

Students have debated whether this requisite is really necessary for their education, particularly if they are not interested in or partaking in anything science related post-grad. Tulane should consider removing this science requirement altogether.

Tulane mandates students complete at least six credits in science as part of Newcomb-Tulane College. Courses such as biology, chemistry and earth science are all possibilities for students. The thinking behind this requirement is to improve the overall scientific literacy of students.

However, this method does not actually produce substantial results, as the effect of science courses depends on the individual. According to a study by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, critical thinking improves through these fundamental science courses, but for non-science majors or minors, there is little critical thinking growth compared to science major students. Instead, non-science majors should follow a more multidisciplinary approach to science to combine it with their interests.

“I came here to study finance and business courses, not to study a science class I could have taken in high school. My earth science class takes away from the time I can be used to furthering my degree, or career goals,” said Nolan Bastis, a student in the A.B. Freeman School of Business. Tulane should use its resources on developing students’ professional interests rather than more science courses. 

This requirement also leads students to intentionally choose courses with the least amount of work as a way to get the requirement over with. This approach undercuts Tulane’s goals of scientific literacy because students will prioritize these classes the least. The information from these courses is seldom applied later in your college career and is often quickly forgotten.

Skills that Tulane hopes to teach can be found in other courses as well. Courses like elementary symbolic logic or statistics also provide problem-solving skills that may be closely related to students’ majors. 

The core curriculum is the base for many liberal arts schools across the U.S. and it allows students to explore a wide range of subjects. Liberal arts schools around America have come to the understanding that students should be able to choose their curriculums. 

Many schools, including Colorado College, have implemented customizable curriculums, allowing students to tailor their classes based on their interests and career-goals. Instead of just general sciences, students may incorporate more interdisciplinary classes and courses that fit their educational pathway. If the Tulane administration shifted towards a more flexible education model, students’ general satisfaction and retention rates would increase. Students will feel more engaged in subjects they chose rather than a random science they took because of their friends. 

Customized curriculum will not only spark passions in Tulane students, but also lead them to pursue more career-oriented courses, furthering the success of students at this school.