The record number of philosophy students applying for transfers to other departments is indicative of serious flaws in the nation’s college admission system, Fu Jen Catholic University philosophy department chairman Yu Huang-chieh (尤煌傑) said.
In a Facebook post last month, Yu said that 57 philosophy majors had applied for transfers this year, which he said is about the size of a whole class or even half of the whole batch of philosophy students in a class year.
The university’s philosophy department has about 120 students per class year and receives, on average, 15 to 20 requests for transfers to other departments each year, with about 17 being approved, he said.
The 57 applying for transfers this year are 44 first-year students, 12 sophomores and one senior student, he said.
Yu questioned the motivation of these students when they applied for admission to the philosophy department.
Many professed their “love for philosophy,” he wrote, raising the question of whether they were lying just to be admitted to Fu Jen and get a chance to transfer to other departments.
Yu said those requesting transfers have displayed bad faith, as they have caused major disruptions to the department’s teaching plans.
He added that this also highlights the failure of the nation’s “diversified entrance examination system,” which is supposed to help students enter their ideal field of study.
Although a philosophy degree might not have a direct path to employment, the training in logic it imparts is a marketable skill, Yu said, adding that the university has helped promote philosophy students among job banks and private enterprises.
Fu Jen has also encouraged philosophy students to take double-majors in cultural and creative industries or business management, he said.
Fu Jen vice president of academic affairs Yuan Jenq-tay (袁正泰) said the university administration cannot forbid students from transfering to other departments, but it has taken steps to help its different departments retain students, including a recommendation to the philosophy department to adopt a “cross-disciplinary curriculum.”
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said that schools should not discourage students from transferring to other departments because of a change in interest.
Hsu said he also switched majors in college — from sociology to law.
Hsu said the sociology chairperson at his university tried to prevent his transfer, but he circumvented the department by dropping out and reapplying to the law department, which put him on the path to becoming a lawyer and then a lawmaker.
“We should not second-guess decisions made by [students]. Changing courses could turn out to be the right decision for them,” Hsu said.
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