College Courses to Prepare a Person for LIfe

The main perception concerning college classes is that they are necessary only for career advancement and are only really beneficial if you earn a degree. The college degree path is not for everyone, but there are many college classes that are not only beneficial but nearly necessary for everyone to take. I do not expect that all course listed will apply to everyone, as many of us have learned the information some of them they cover through other means such as experience. I came up with this list while thinking about my children's educational future. Even if they decide on a non-college degree track such as learning a trade or starting a business there are many college courses that I feel are essential for preparing them for the workplace, social situations, personal finance, and basically life. There are many other ways to learn the required knowledge, such as through experience but the direction and atmosphere provided by college courses helps expedite the process. In many situations having this knowledge helps people avoid disastrous mistakes in terms of personal finance and business endeavors.

English 101 - This class is very important because good writing skills are required at so many high paying jobs. It is imperative that a person be able to express themselves intelligently in writing. The class also prepares one to express themselves well when speaking which improves workplace performance, social interaction, and personal relationships.

Business Math - This class is excellent for preparing a person for real world issues such as balancing a check book, bank loans, basic investments and returns. I often hear the complaint that algebra does not have enough real world applications (trust me it really does though), business math conversly has quite a few readily apparant applications. This class is essential for young adults and useful for anyone who does not have a lot of experience with financial matters. It will also teach the basics of credit and debt management.

Public Speaking - For many people this class is dreadful due to a widespread dislike of public speaking. I did not like having to take this class; it was a requirement so I had no choice. I had to give several speeches to the class which was not a pleasant experience for me. However, I later had to speak publicly and found that my involuntary college experiences had prepared me quite well for the task. Odds are good that you will have to speak publicly at some point in time. Besides the benefits to your oratory skills, public speaking also teaches you how to summarize information as efficiently as possible while still engaging your audience. These skills are easily transferred to other disciplines such as writing.

Philosophy- At first this class seems unnecessary. However, philosophy has the ability to stretch our thinking. Like the now cliche' phrase "think outside the box" philosophy encourages the expanded thinking necessary to help one excel in life. It is important that everyone spend some time questioning the great dilemmas of life. This inquiry helps people not only learn, but grow. Philosophy looks a lot at the concepts of right and wrong and it is often our responses to these questions, the lines we draw, and the stands we take that help us determine who we are.

Business Essentials- This class helps prepare students for handling business matters in their careers, business endeavors, and personal finances. It covers all of the basics concerning business ownership such as: legal requirements, basic accounting, marketing, and financing. The class also covers issues concerning personal business investments and debt management.

Basic Automotive- This class is often called "automotive for women" or "car repair for women". I disagree with such a title though because it makes all males appear to be grease monkeys and all females appear completely clueless when it comes to cars, but I digress. The class covers all basic automotive repairs such as changing tires, changing oil, replenishing fluids, replacing spark plugs, and usually includes instruction on how to perform neat Macgyver automotive repairs on the fly in emergency situations. Every person planning on driving a car should know this information.

World Civilizations- Our society is becoming an increasingly global one as better technologies make it possible for us to have much more contact with other cultures. It is becoming increasingly likely that the average person will encounter many other cultures whether at work or in their personal endeavors. Having knowledge of other societies and cultures is integral to preparing for life in our mobile and diverse society.

Technology and Information Management - A requirement for many degrees this course is basically an overview of computers. It covers all aspects of computer hardware systems, some software, the Internet, and other uses for computers. This class is very important for anyone not extremely familiar with computers. The majority of jobs require using a computer of some sort, and this class helps prepare a person for life in a very technological society.

These classes equal roughly two semesters of college credit and are meant for someone who does not plan to pursue a degree. They are excellent for preparing a person for life by covering a range of material concerning: business, finance, automotive, computers, world society, philosophy, English and public speaking. The courses are also easy to change / customize based upon whether the person wishes to begin a business or pursue a trade.