Logan Mullen
Managing Editor
@LoganMullen47
What is the ideal major at Springfield College?
Is it one that will lead to a high paying job? One that prepares you for graduate school or an entry-level job? Whatever the case is, every student that has come through, is at, or will be attending this school (or any school, really) has their reason for being here. And most everyoneβs purpose is to prepare themselves for their future.
Then why in the world is there this hierarchy of majors at Springfield College?
And though you may not like it, you canβt argue that it exists.
Far too many times, Iβve experienced myself, as have many others that Iβve talked to that condescending βOh thatβs coolβ when I tell someone Iβm a sports journalism major. Iβve heard of similar results with physical education, criminal justice and sports management majors. I imagine the list goes on and on.
Look, I get it. I am not in a major that caps how many applicants it admits, or has rigorous standards or tests in order to stay in my program, but itβs not like I sit around twiddling my thumbs to earn my degree.
However, there are plenty of people on campus who would like to think and convince you otherwise.
An actual tweet I read last year claimed people who studied in the library during finals were βfakeβ because they had not been spending time in there all semester.
The reality is, there is more to a degree program than just what you do in the classroom. Iβll be the first to admit that my course load probably is not the most βchallengingβ in some standards. They are largely discussion based, but in their own right they are challenging as all get.
Iβm by no means a science person. I took basic concepts of biology and felt like a fish out of water. Does that make me inferior to other students in science programs? I wouldnβt say so, as I could probably throw quite a few people in front of audio or video editing software and they would be equally lost.
Not to mention the amount of writing and essays students in English or journalism-based majors have to crank out on a regular basis.
Now this is not to say people in other, more science-based majors donβt deserve what they work for. Thatβs not what the purpose of the column is, because they all work incredibly hard. They will certainly make an impact one day, but so will people who go down the road less traveled at Springfield.
One thing that I find people conveniently forget in the βharderβ majors is that there are certainly a fair share of majors that require you start internships early, or do multiple internships, or participate in multiple on-campus clubs pertaining to the major. Whichever side of the fence you fall on, it all balances out in the end.
Springfield College has a lot to offer academically. There are a plethora of majors offered, some Iβm sure many students on campus didnβt even know existed. Some of those majors are more rigorous in the application process or in the classroom – but donβt forget there are plenty that are equally rigorous outside of the classroom.
There is certainly an entitlement that I have perceived throughout this campus based on certain majors of study.
It exists, but it doesnβt need to. Just keep that in mind the next time you hear those murmurs around campus that perpetuate the academic hierarchy.
Logan Mullen can be reached at jmullen@springfieldcollege.edu
Logan, well said and so true, Joe Buck should be scared, very scared