Students Should Not Be Allowed To Take Up Courses Outside Their Field Of Study

In today’s education and research scenario should the students be permitted to take up courses outside their field of study? As the sciences and social sciences break the fetters of parochial outlook, this question becomes imperative. The world today is undergoing a revolutionary change, newer techniques are being developed for the betterment of the human society and the world at large.Every aspect of human civilization is being viewed from a broader perspective.

This broadening of human horizons has resulted in a prolix interplay of various disciplines. Having a biologist working with an electronics engineer, a historian working with a geologist or an archaelogist working with a linguist, though not an ordinary sight, is not a very rare sight either. The stalwart’s in their respective fields are working with their other branch counterparts, developing unheard of technologies and sciences.

Till a few decades back an unheard of science was nanoscience,which is a combination of Mechanical Engineering,Material Sciences,Electronics and sometimes even biology and chemistry. A mechanical engineering student specializing in mechanical aspects of machines can do much better in nanosciences,if he has a basic knowledge of other disciplines incorporated in the technology since the very beginning. This will be very fruitful in his future when he’ll have to mix-up his specialized branch knowledge with the nuances of other subjects.

Interplay of branches can also be seen in the working of an archaelogist. For instance, an archaelogist involved in excavation of Indus Valley Civlization site,comes across a piece of scripture which he wants to get translated.Instead of going to an expert ,thus hampering his ongoing work,would’nt it be more prudent if he could translate it himself.This situation would be possible only if he would have had taken “ Ancient Sanskrit” in his graduate studies.

Graduation is a time of life when a person has ample opportunity to dabble into newer and better avenues. This could be an excellent chance to learn new things which though might seem unnecessary and useless at the time ,might prove to be very useful in the long run. At the Harvard commencement 2007,very aptly explained by Steve Jobs,the founder of Apple Inc .At his college he had taken calligraphy as a minor.Though considered obsolete that time,it enabled him to design Macbook’s precise fonts.

As an adage goes Jack of all trades and master of none,at one point of time, it might seem compelling to consider specializing in ones own field of study. But then it is an old saying which needs to be modified in accordance with the changing times and needs.It should now be saying “Knower of all trade and master of one”. Having a working knowledge of another’s field of study also helps in deeper insight into our own work.Conclusively,we need to encourage students to take up various interdisciplinary courses and specialize in one of them,This will make them work more efficiently in the work they specialize at.

This article is a guest contribution by Niharika Bhatt.