[Dilbert San Diego]

I’ve heard talk like this, regarding the usual four years of college. People say, how the key courses of your major could be completed easily in two years, but the bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete.

Is it an outdated notion, that a four year college education gives you some “well rounded” education, by having courses on history, literature, etc, which while unrelated to your college major, still give you some educational experience?

[ConservativeInPA]

It all depends on what you need to learn. When I was in college, and I assume this is still the case at some schools, there were 3/2 programs for engineering. You would get the credits for a BS in physics in three years and spend an additional two years getting the credits in engineering, which was specialized in civil, mechanical, electrical, etc. degrees. It takes that long for most people because they they have a limit to the number of rigorous courses they can concurrently take. It also allows a healthy dose of general electives, that if taught correctly, help you become more well rounded and a better critical thinker.

On the other hand, there are entirely too many majors that do not require rigor because there is nothing rigorous about them. Perhaps, these mostly newly discovered majors shouldn’t even exist because they have zero value.

[Republican in occupied CA]

Like many people with more sense than money, I completed every single course I could at the local Junior College. When I went to university I only had to take a year and a half’s worth of classes because everything else transferred.

Strengthening the Junior College/Community College system would be a good bang for the buck in my opinion. Ours has EXCELLENT trade and tech classes in everything from diesel and electric car repair and maintenance to landscape architecture and public safety. In my case it let me learn drafting, welding, a bit of graphic arts and get not only my 2 year degree but lots of stuff for my 4 year degree out of the way at a lower cost.

The concept of 4-year college for everyone, combined with the entitlement mentality and the expectation of going to a prestige school makes no sense.

[PGR88]

OR - why does one need law school at all?

Judges must be familiar with the law overall, particularly historical and legal precedent.

But most lawyers practice is very industry specific. Often, it doesn’t even involve “law” per se, rather following government regulatory fiat, lobbying, industry “state of the art,” and even “sales.” Nearly all of that is not connected to “school” in the slightest.

[faithhopecharity]

Many of those three year BA BS degree students had a year 13 in high school. And nearly all of them had better high school preparation for college studies than some USA high schools offer.

As for the Juris Doctor law 3 or 4 year graduate degree, it is a long hard study program. But yes, many law students got very little genuine preparation for it as undergraduates. So I’m of two minds about it. Basically, though, I’d still hire a full JD over some less- schooled person. If there were no criminal elements or serious money at risk in a case, maybe we could allow well- trained paralegals to handle them — if clients want — sort of like we allow nurse practitioners in sone states. ?

[Seruzawa]

I did a BS in EE and frankly on the job I seldom used much more than Ohm’s Law and other basic stuff on semiconductors, etc which are taught in the first year.

[Maine Mariner]

I don’t know if any medical schools in the USA have six year programs BA to MD any more, but I think Baylor University had a six year program some years ago.