We are lucky enough to have advisors and coordinators who work hard to set up the lists of classes we need, who even make the effort of creating schedule outlines for the entirety of our time here. These outlines are not just a suggestion either, as they are created with the intention of allowing students to graduate on time. This is a given, but it seems as though these outlines are routinely made impossible to follow. Why this happens can be explained in one word.

Classes.

This is not the first time I’ve written about class problems, but this is different than class variety. Instead, the issue here is what required classes are or are not being offered. I know that fixing this situation is not as easy as going to a higher-up and saying “well, just offer the classes, problem solved,” but it is flat-out annoying having to shuffle around your entire schedule because so many required classes are not being offered. How is it possible to follow these outlines when so few of the courses that we’re expected to take are available as options? Thankfully, going “off track” will not get you in trouble. If that is something you need to do, go and make that schedule nothing like what your advisor suggested, whether it was suggested to you specifically or to everyone who shares your major.

I realize that I don’t know how everything works here in terms of classes and scheduling, especially because I am only a sophomore. That does not imply “expert” at all, and I do not intend to pretend that I’ve got a ton of knowledge on this subject. My intention is also not to dismiss the work of our professors for not offering certain classes. It just makes little sense to me that outlines are set up for students to follow, but it remains impossible to do so due to a lack of class availability.

I hear the same expression every time – “just take the class next semester or next year.” Sounds nice and easy enough, but again, now the outline which was so tirelessly worked on by an advisor is jumbled up beyond repair.

Perhaps taking a class that was intended to be taken sophomore year during junior or senior year isn’t something that should happen, if these outlines are as important as they are implied to be. A student’s options for what they can do are limited in this situation: either they can fill the gaps left by unavailable classes with general electives just because it’s easy, take required core theme courses earlier than planned or try and find classes directly related to your major, assuming you’re lucky enough to find any that will work. That seems unlikely.

So, what can be done about this?

Well, that depends on why classes aren’t being offered in the first place. I have never been given a proper explanation as to the reasoning behind when a class is offered. However, there was an instance where a class I registered for suddenly vanished; this was because of a “lack of interest.” My only assumption, then, would be that classes are not offered due to the same concern of students not registering for it in the first place. This is the clearest explanation that comes to mind, and it’s unfortunate. Being flexible isn’t the problem here – after all, it is unavoidable. However, it would be nice if we did not have to anxiously await registration time to see which graduation-requirement classes are not being offered when they are supposed to be. Nobody should have to stay in a bachelor’s program longer than they want.