The foundations courses in the VCU program have helped me to develop my understanding of the broader social and cultural construct of education.  To be transparent, foundations courses were not the first courses I took in my program. I took two electives prior to taking my foundations courses, and felt lost. It wasn't until my first foundations course that I felt I had been given the building blocks for my graduate education. As soon as a student starts in the program and is in an elective class of mine, I tell them not to worry because once they take foundations, it will all make sense. They sigh with relief every time. These courses should be required and the name should stay the same. These courses are my foundation.