Can someone kindly evaluate my Issue Essay?

[Rose Mary Johnson]

Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student's field of study.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

The above statement throws light on the issue of incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach in education by making it mandatory for students to take up courses in areas their than their current specialization. Clarity in this regard is absolutely essential and has stoked the interests of public policy experts, educationalists and academic institutions for a long time.

While it is extremely important to encourage students to explore fields of study apart from the subject they have chosen, it should not be made mandatory. One can nudge the student to enforce a desired behavior. Care must be taken not to compel the student or steer them away from their true interests. In this manner, one can provide adequate freedom of choice to the student. The goal should be to be in the sweet spot between guidance and freedom, rather than a compulsion. 

The age old adage, " Jack of all trades, master of none", rings true in the light of this argument. To learn a new subject as an elective or a subject just for one or two semesters might not provide students the skills required for dexterous application  and to rise to the challenges of the modern world. In this sense, the compulsion to take up the course will prove to be utterly futile and a complete waste of a student's precious time.

When students are asked to explore the nooks and corners of the subject they are  interested in, it can be expected that they identify the complimentary fields of studies on their own. When they have discovered their interests by themselves, it is bound to generate a more genuine and long-lasting energy and drive that will be nurtured towards mastering the other subject.

In  a nutshell, a compelling case can be created to counter the statement presented above. A good education system is very essential to the development of creating academicians, professionals and workers who will power economies and inventions. Therefore it is extremely important to carefully weigh the pros and con before implementing stringent mandates and compulsions on  young students as it can be an obstacle to creativity and specialization.