[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Razor

As a mechanical engineering major, I was required to take:

• English composition
• Advanced English composition
• English literature
• 2 semesters of US history
• 2 semesters of military history
• 2 semesters of a foreign language
• Philosophy
• General psychology
• American politics
• General economics
• International relations
• Constitutional and military law
• 6 semesters of phys ed
• 15 semesters of military development

This is in addition to the math, science and engineering-specific classes for my major. I certainly would have liked a few more semesters of foreign language, but there are only so many hours in a day, and I recall most of them being rather full.

The Thayer method, IIRC, refers not so much to the curriculum, but rather to the method of instruction, in which the student is expected to read and practice the course material prior to arriving at class, while classroom instruction focuses on review of the material and demonstrations of proficiency. I continue to support this method of instruction for post-secondary education, as it puts the primary responsibility for learning on the student, rather than rely on the 'lecture model' whereby a student attends class to be 'fed' the material by the instructor. A downside of the Thayer model is that it relies on small class sizes to ensure every student is actively engaged in discussing the class material. At USMA, with most classes running between 12-20 students, this isn't an issue. At large public universities, the system may not be viable.

Edited to add: Did some after-posting searches and found this off the USMA Bicentennial website:

To stimulate a sense of duty and habits of preparation, Thayer demanded that every cadet be responsible for his own learning. Classes proceeded by participation rather than lecture. The "Thayer method" required that every cadet be prepared to answer questions or solve problems in every class every day. He encouraged cadets to channel their competitive energies through a merit system in which cadets were ranked weekly in each course. These rankings determined the specific section--then, as today, a small group of 10 to 15 cadets--that cadets would attend in each course, and the rankings were posted publicly to stimulate competition and learning.

Razor,

I have a MEBS from Chicago Technical College and we had nothing like what you had in addition to your math,physics,etc...... Incredible.......

GB TFS