The Importance of Western Civilization Courses

            Western civilization courses have taken many years to develop.  Throughout the years, many changes were made to how the class was taught. Lectures were incorporated, class sized changed periodically, and the introduction of teachers assistants was also important to the success of the western civ class. Through all of the beneficial changes, one common theme remained the same; a general knowledge of the world was necessary for undergraduate students to learn in order to be successful in the world outside of their college.

            According to the article, Professor William H. McNeil was able to recognize that although history teachers were correctly teaching the facts of history, they were not effectively providing information based on history that could help students to better the future (p. 696). McNeil believed that a course needed to be developed to teach undergraduate students material that would help them to be productive members of society. He thought that every well read person should share some common knowledge. The article states that McNeil's idea of common intellectual ground is the basis of General Education requirements at many colleges. I agree with the ideas expressed by William H. McNeil. I feel that it is exceptionally important for civilized, well educated people to understand concepts that are considered common knowledge. Certain things about history should be embraced by every human in order for them to fully understand how humans developed over time and to understand humanity's struggles and accomplishments. I feel as though every college student should be presented with the same information that can be used for said students to construct their own understandings of the topic. The struggles that all humans have faced throughout time should be taught and learned from by every college student to prepare them for a world outside the one they know. The subject "Humanities" seems to reflect this idea that every educated person should share common knowledge of past arts, ideas, and literary works to further inform and better humans as a whole.

            Charles William Eliot stated that "for the individual, concentration, and the highest development of his own particular faculty is the only prudence. But for the State, it is variety, not uniformity, of intellectual product, which is needful" (p. 697).  I believe that what Eliot means is that it is important for people to focus their individual studies to specialize in one area because as a whole humans need to be diverse. If every human specialized in something different, then the world would be full of variety and that is what humanity needs. Even though it is crucial for people to have some of the same basic knowledge, it is also just as important for people to specialize in different areas because diversity among humans will help to promote growth and understanding in different areas. It is essential for all people to be knowledgeable in different things to produce a healthy, well rounded, well educated, and more understanding society. A society that can understand human efforts and advances is bound to thrive.

            The article says that there is a "no man's land between high school and advanced college work at the junior-senior level" (p. 698). The article continues on to say that because of this, the western civ class was needed. Western civilization was perceived to be needed by Professor McNeil because it helped to fill the gap between higher, more advanced classes with a general education class.  I agree with this notion because lower level college students may not be prepared to take higher, more intense classes because they have a limited understanding of basic things. Also, without taking a western civilization course, a college student may not have the required critical thinking skills that a higher level course may require. During the time that undergraduate college students are preparing to pick a focal point for their studies, they should build a common foundation that every college educated person has and needs. This idea directly relates to the quote I previously mentioned by Charles William Eliot because although it is important for college students to have a specific area of expertise, it is also equally as important that they can contribute to a society of college educated people after they graduate.

            Throughout the years Western Civilization courses have again and again proven to be useful tools to undergraduate students as a gateway to being a well rounded and productive member of their society. I strongly believe that Western civ courses can help to benefit humans as a whole because of the understanding and critical thinking skills that come along with the course.