What is a central tension Boyer discusses in his chapter?
The central tension that Boyer discusses in his chapter is the relationship between liberal arts courses and STEM courses. Boyer discusses how, “the amount of misunderstanding and hostility crackling between the ‘two cultures’ is amazing and, considering our liberal arts mission, probably destructive” (Boyer 106). Since the mid-1900’s the liberal arts education has been on a decline. Students believe that in order to have a secure future they need to follow a STEM path. However, both general and specific skills are needed to succeed in the present day world. The STEM and liberal arts sides take stances on who is better and helps students for the future. They are unable to come together and focus on helping the students, rather they focus on advancing their fields.
What is Boyer’s “Enriched Major” idea, and how does he imagine it as a response to a key tension?
Boyer’s “Enriched Major” idea is, “encouraging students not only to explore a field in depth, but also to help them put their field of study in perspective” (Boyer 110). With the enriched major it will combat the separation of a general education and STEM education. This enriched major enables students to use specific and general skills in their education. They will not only be prepared for certain jobs but also be able to perform them at a higher level with the help of a general education.
