NYU Students Frustrated with Core Curriculum

NYU Students Frustrated with Core Curriculum
Mary Jane Weedman

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"Our adherence to the difficult testifies to why we are here."

That's what NYU expository writing professor Bruce Bromley says to students who complain about the difficulty of Morse Academic Plan (MAP) courses.

Still, some students say that difficulty isn't the problem with most MAP classes. They often complain that the writing styles professors teach aren't always applicable to later writing courses, or that the classes just shouldn’t be required. And it's not just an isolated complaint here and there: MAP curriculum revision was a hot topic at a recent CAS town hall, when some students sharply criticized the class.

CAS freshman Kari Lindegren is one student who is struggling to find a way to use what she’s learned in Writing the Essay outside of the class.

“I think it is pointless,” said Lindegren. “It would be better to write essays that we will have to write for other classes.”

Some students are frustrated that MAP courses are a requirement at all. Stern junior Henry Yonge said he thinks having a structured curriculum only hurts a person’s individuality.

“I hate map courses and map requirements and I think they're stupid,” said Yonge.

Still, said Bromley, MAP courses are worthwhile because they expose students to writing in various essayistic forms that can help them build and develop original thinking.

He said he believes most students can learn to appreciate MAP courses.

“Even for those of my students who have complained, early on, about being obliged to take MAP courses, at the end of the term they tell me that our difficult work has enriched them,” said Bromley.

And many students say they already do. Steinhardt freshman Briana Santiago said she thinks work overload may be a problem with Writing the Essay, but overall, the class experience has been a good one.

“I know a lot of people complain about it. But for the most part, I think we learn helpful writing techniques. The course just seems too intense…for a basic level class,” said Santiago.

Bromley said he believes students should challenge themselves, even if they don’t find MAP courses interesting or meaningful.

“How, precisely, can you judge here if, at 17 or 18, you simply haven’t read enough or experienced the thing you deem unworthy of your time?” said Bromley.

While Bromley has some student supporters, enough students are upset for the coursework to be evaluated for change. Should the curriculum change, perhaps undergraduates in the class of 2012 and beyond will be satisfied with their introductory classes.