Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Are College Prerequisites Legitimate?

For a long time I felt that the prerequisites at SFSU had more to do with controlling the flow of where students go than any legitimate academic reasons.  Honestly, for an introductory computer course, do we really need Statistics?  

I'm sure, there'll be bombastic explanations to justify the cause for this complex maze of prerequisites.  However, anyone with a brain can discern that many of these prerequisites are frivolous.  

There will be some that are plausible and needed prerequisites, such as ACCT 100 before ACCT 101.  Though, that's more of the exception that the rule in what's going on here.

Just looking this graphic, anyone can look at the complexity of all these prerequisites at SFSU.  I can count 25 connections needed between courses.  



In contrast, I looked at another program, such as American Business School in Paris, which students can participate through a study abroad with SFSU.  Their program is different, but if I match up the courses that are the same in both institutions, there would be only 9-11 connections required by ABS.  Here's two graphics, one with SFSU course numbers, and another one with ABS course numbers:


(Note: Regarding second graphic, off-topic, SFSU's FIN 350 are broken into two courses in ABS, and SFSU's MGMT 405 is also broken up.  Though students that do a study abroad only have to take FIN 210 and MGT 210 respectively for equivalents. Speak with advisor regarding this)


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