Because Kennesaw State has a myriad of offices and services that cater to the needs of student health, mandatory health classes are no longer a necessity.
Due to general education requirements in Georgia, students are required to take a health class at some point during college. Most students choose to take WELL 1000 during their freshman year.
Ideally, these classes would serve to provide students with relevant information toward being healthy and happy. However, these classes serve to do little more than perpetuating tired, occasionally outdated information that students have already learned in high school health classes.
According to KSU’s academic catalog, WELL 1000 “examines priority health issues impacting KSU students through a focus on health promotion and disease prevention,” as well as topics such as “physical activity, nutrition, weight management, stress, emotional health, and behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disabilities in the United States.”
While there is a legitimate need for health education for students, this education can be provided by offices that student fees already cover. Inside the Betty L. Seigel Student Recreation and Activities Center, in addition to the excellent exercise facilities, is the Wellness and Health Promotion Center. Their mission, as stated on the website, is to “improve the balance of the intellectual, emotional, physical, social, environmental, and spiritual development of students through awareness and education.”
Additionally, Counseling and Psychological Services has staff on hand that can teach students how to manage stress and cope with other things that may affect their health.
The advantage of utilizing these services, rather than merely relying on classroom instruction, is the individual attention and personalized approach they provide. Rather than learning generalized, common knowledge, students receive advice specific to their unique situation.
Health classes, as well as the overwhelming majority of general education courses, are a tremendous waste of time and money. It is not logical that a student should be required to take a course unrelated to their field of study, especially when they cost $180 per credit hour.
“I shouldn’t have to pay for a class in which I know almost most, if not all, of the taught material,” said junior education major Amanda Franks. “Everything taught in the class is the same thing I’ve learned in health classes from my public school education.”
It is overwhelmingly beneficial for students to be articulate and well-versed on a variety of topics. Students that graduate with these qualities are marketable to employers as quality hires.
However, it makes little sense to force-feed classes to students who already know the information and charge exorbitant fees. Rather, we should take it upon ourselves to exercise personal responsibility, not only for our health but also for our education.