Does this count for World Civ?

Though the Ex College continues to offer a wide range of popular and unique classes each semester, history shows that too few of them can be counted toward various major programs. Courses that can be counted most often satisfy major requirements for American studies, with few other departments accepting any Ex College credits at all.

This semester, still fewer classes can be counted as liberal arts foundation or distribution requirements. And although the Ex College shouldn't let department requirements dictate its ultimate offerings, this lack of incorporation may be preventing some students from even being able to take an Ex College class.

This can be especially problematic for students with heavier course loads, such as those who choose to double major. For them, being able to take an Ex College class may be a luxury they can't afford if they hope to graduate in four years. Taking the unique Ex College classes can be key in teaching students to use academic theories to analyze current events and to show that education is a constant, evolving process.

Since funding for academic departments at Tufts is partially dependent on the number of students enrolled in each department's classes, it may be possible that there is some reluctance to allow in-house electives to be replaced with Ex College offerings. Also, Ex College classes tend to avoid significant overlap of those already established on campus, reducing the likelihood that departments will endorse their classes.

But what this means is that some incentive should be provided for departments to let Ex College classes that meet department standards count toward a distribution or major credit. The popularity of the "Genetics, Ethics, and the Law" course proves that students are excited about approaching subjects they may not find interesting through untraditional, interdisciplinary angles.

While it would be nice if students were to take classes for the sole reason that they find them interesting, the nature of requirements at Tufts causes students to be extremely conscious of what counts for what. Students who double major, study abroad, or are preparing for a rigorous post-college program and engineers have little freedom in their curriculum. More choices could be given to them if the Ex College worked with departments to make more classes count for requirements. Whether this means suggesting revisions to courses or making the credit standards more relaxed could be determined by these bodies.