Breadth vs Electives

[pyro-53]

How is breadth from Melb different from electives of other unis?

Is it because it's compulsory?

[seretide]

I'm not too sure on this... but, from what I know Melbourne uni i think is the only(?) uni to have a compulsory breadth subject. Other uni's i dont believe have the same thing - they have like an elective subject that come from within your course

[Jenny_2108]

I think breadth means you choose the units which are not in your major
Eg: if you study bachelor of science, you can select breadth like law

[slothpomba]

Breadth is just a  fancy name for electives, just as Ferrari is a fancy name for a car. It's essentially a marketing creation.

Most generalist degrees "force" you to diversify a bit. In first year science for example, you can't just take chemistry, that would only be 2 subjects, you need 8. So, you might choose some physics or biology or something like that.

Breadth at UoM takes it one step further i guess. They believe they're training you for more than a job like a tafe would, they're training you to think, to be an intellectual and broaden you mind. That's probably some of the idea behind it. Granted, its not a choice but they recently changed it to allow some room (i just totally made these numbers up but say you used to have to take 6 breadths, you now have a choice between taking 3-6, the numbers aren't real but they put a bit more flexibility into it in the past few years, rather than a set number everyone has to take).

[simpak]

It went from 6 to the option to do 6 or take a minimum of 4.
But one of them has to be above 1st year level.

[pyro-53]

Have to do something out of my comfort zone is such a pain! 

[simpak]

Have to do something out of my comfort zone is such a pain! 

It's really not, it will make you a better person.