Western Survey Courses

Are survey courses what they might be? Four years have passed since a special faculty committee of the University recommended the institution of the lower division system, which includes these freshman required classes. Three years of operation show that the present plan has not completely answered the problem.

Survey courses are intended to include in their wide scope brief outlines of many fields of study. History, economics, literature, sociology these are included in typical survey courses. The advantage expected was that narrow specialization would not lead to narrow knowledge. Survey courses were to provide background for understanding the social duties of each profession.

To secure the expected benefits of survey courses, critics say, one should begin with a firm foundation. After two or three years of history and of economics, the student is equipped sufficiently for real survey courses. He can then understand the place and purpose in society of his own chosen field. Oregon Emerald.