College Major You Don't Respect

[spiffa0]

So as I prepare for my last college exam ever, I was curious what everyone considers as the "fake" majors or the majors you don't respect for whatever reason. The exam I am studying for is Philosophy, and that happens to be the major I respect the least.

[cscwell107]

Hospitality

[spiffa0]

I'm a computer science major, and I have trouble respecting most non-science/math majors. The workload is just WAAAAAY easier.. it's kind of ridiculous. I make a conscious effort to not be so elitist about it, and when people tell me their majors I'll usually respond with something positive and nice. Deep down I just feel like they're pussies.

However, philosophy is one of the few non science/math majors I actually do respect. Not sure what you've got against phil.


I am a person of fact and information, numbers and certainty (I'm an accounting major...sexy I know). Philosophy is based on conjecture, argumentative thinking, and basically a waste of time. Why argue about whether or not we exist, are dreaming at all times, etc? I know some people take phil to go to law school, but I feel like the only thing most philosophy majors can do is teach philosophy.

[spiffa0]

Hospitality

I wasn't aware that was even a major

[cscwell107]

I wasn't aware that was even a major

It is. You just learn about how to take care of people. Its the most ridiculous and easiest major ever.

[concernedparent]

I am a person of fact and information, numbers and certainty (I'm an accounting major...sexy I know). Philosophy is based on conjecture, argumentative thinking, and basically a waste of time. Why argue about whether or not we exist, are dreaming at all times, etc? I know some people take phil to go to law school, but I feel like the only thing most philosophy majors can do is teach philosophy.
It's a good mental exercise. Upper division philosophy is similar to upper division math, in the proofs and arguments that students need to derive. I think majors which make you develop better logical thinking skills are worthwhile, while majors that are sheer memorization (history comes to mind) are a waste of time.

[deFobbed14yrs]

i'm a pharmacy major, and i think mass comm majors can suck it with their fake four classes. I have 8 and two different GPA's to look after.

and when they complain about their workload i wish to punch them in their faces. really? really? Oh you have A final for your BS history class? Yeah try taking three different chem classes and a calc class.

[richter915]

English
Art

sorry dudes but you guys are fucked.

[richter915]

i'm a pharmacy major, and i think mass comm majors can suck it with their fake four classes. I have 8 and two different GPA's to look after.

and when they complain about their workload i wish to punch them in their faces. really? really? Oh you have A final for your BS history class? Yeah try taking three different chem classes and a calc class.
pharmacy or pharmacology? and where? Hunter?

[xfantabulousx]

I'm a computer science major, and while I respect most majors, I'll admit there have been times when I've made jokes about humanities/social science majors and how easy their lives must be. I know this obviously isn't true, but at 2 in the morning when you've been sitting in the same chair for 6 hours trying to finish a discrete math problem set, it certainly seems like it.

On the other hand, I have a friend, who happens to be a history major, who once told me, "Your linear algebra class doesn't even matter. You're a computer science major, not a math major." (It is in fact a required course for me). She also rolls her eyes whenever I say I have a programming assignment to do, since according to her, they're much easier than writing papers.

[deFobbed14yrs]

pharmacy or pharmacology? and where? Hunter?


pharmacy. and at St. Johns. What's Hunter?

[deFobbed14yrs]

I'm a computer science major, and while I respect most majors, I'll admit there have been times when I've made jokes about humanities/social science majors and how easy their lives must be. I know this obviously isn't true, but at 2 in the morning when you've been sitting in the same chair for 6 hours trying to finish a discrete math problem set, it certainly seems like it.

On the other hand, I have a friend, who happens to be a history major, who once told me, "Your linear algebra class doesn't even matter. You're a computer science major, not a math major." (It is in fact a required course for me). She also rolls her eyes whenever I say I have a programming assignment to do, since according to her, they're much easier than writing papers.

i do not like your friend

[richter915]

pharmacy. and at St. Johns. What's Hunter?
Are you doing the combined BA PharmD program? One of my friend's just graduated a year or two ago. I have another friend who should be done this year.

Hunter is a CUNY school in Manhattan.

edit: I was a pharmacology major which is why I ask

[deFobbed14yrs]

Are you doing the combined BA PharmD program? One of my friend's just graduated a year or two ago. I have another friend who should be done this year.

Hunter is a CUNY school in Manhattan.

edit: I was a pharmacology major which is why I ask

there is no more BA, it's straight PharmD. st john's has a straight 6 yr program, only reason why i'm here lol

[richter915]

there is no more BA, it's straight PharmD. st john's has a straight 6 yr program, only reason why i'm here lol
oh nice. Good luck with that. Wish Med schools did something more like that. The combined programs make you waste four years in undergrad.

So are you living in Jamaica or somewhere else?

[deFobbed14yrs]

oh nice. Good luck with that. Wish Med schools did something more like that. The combined programs make you waste four years in undergrad.

So are you living in Jamaica or somewhere else?

yeah i live on campus. it's awesome /sarcastic. i hate my roommates, so happy for my single next year!!

[richter915]

yeah i live on campus. it's awesome /sarcastic. i hate my roommates, so happy for my single next year!!
haha ya roommates are a pain. Do you know a Celia Lu in the program?

[deFobbed14yrs]

haha ya roommates are a pain. Do you know a Celia Lu in the program?

No I do not lol. There are way too many Asians to remember lol. too many Lu's

[lightcollapse]

I don't respect anyone who doesn't respect another major. Even comm.

[I am Mick]

haha I'm majoring in Creative Writing right now and even I know that's a bullshit degree. I think I'm gona switch to film though. I can always write books on the side

[Cuddleworthy]

psychology

oh look at me i'm a half retarded girl with a 3.8. oh wait look you're a psych major!

[spiffa0]

psychology

oh look at me i'm a half retarded girl with a 3.8. oh wait look you're a psych major!


Yeah i feel like it's dumb to go for a degree you can't do anything with unless you go to grad school (other than hopeful med students)

[Cuddleworthy]

oh and how could i forget

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

[schenksta]

Communication. The fact that my roommate gets drunk and high every night, sleeps through his classes, never does any homework, and still has a 3.0 is a travesty.

[saofan_315]

Sticking up for the people in the Humanities (I'm a Modern Literature and US History Major), I have a lot of problems with the science related majors at my school. It's not that they're bad people or that their work is easy (I'd suck as a Chemistry major), but it's that they receive WAY too much funding for their department. At my school, other departments are getting cut back or just dropped all together while others keep growing. It's fucked.

[katyara]

Sticking up for the people in the Humanities (I'm a Modern Literature and US History Major), I have a lot of problems with the science related majors at my school. It's not that they're bad people or that their work is easy (I'd suck as a Chemistry major), but it's that they receive WAY too much funding for their department. At my school, other departments are getting cut back or just dropped all together while others keep growing. It's fucked.

My dad teaches physics at the university in town so I'm a bit biased towards science programs, but I pretty much agree with what you said. The physical science building just got completely remodeled top-to-bottom, and they added in 3 labs in another science building. Meanwhile the music building has been the same for a generation and the art building is shared by the English department.

[aolsux]

I am an English major, and I don't respect my own major. But at the same time, I hate it, absolutely hate it when people try to say that the English major is an easy major. No major is easy. It is a major that takes much abstract thought. I honestly don't respect Engineering majors - it's so commonplace - everything gets handed to them job wise. Not like I could care. I knew going in (I have an emphasis in screenwriting) that jobs were slim picking, but I chose something I liked as compared to falling in line.

[geebee889]

Communications. That's the easy way out.

[uninspired_]

Communications. That's the easy way out.
The easy way out of what exactly?

[geebee889]

The easy way out of what exactly?


Everyone who doesn't know what they want picks Communications over here. They don't want to make up their mind yet, so they do that.

[Enolase]

Any art, art history, or music majors. I'm sorry but they just seem so useless.

[uninspired_]

Everyone who doesn't know what they want picks Communications over here. They don't want to make up their mind yet, so they do that.

That's where I started too. I don't really see the problem with this.
I think higher education over here is pretty different though. Actually, it might just be the university I'm at.

[geebee889]

That's where I started too. I don't really see the problem with this.
I think higher education over here is pretty different though. Actually, it might just be the university I'm at.


It's probably better. My school sucks.

[perceptrons]

Psychology is not just clinical psychology, which is where the hate stems from, I believe. Psychology is science, and should get more respect.

[Thriftstoresuit]

sure, there are probably a few majors that I think are a bit impractical, but I don't think the courses you choose should call into question your integrity in any way.

but what would I know, I'm a Journalism and Political Science student, I probably have no leg to stand on

[Smash Adams]

I'm a history major and respect anyone who goes to college, however if you're an engineering major I'm way jealous of your ability to do that

[Whimsikill]

My college has a big business school, and even the humanities majors call it coloring book academy (from CBA, college of business administration.) My roommate's a business guy and I can't count the nights I've been up late doing work and he's been watching multiple episodes of the Office or something like that.

For the record I'm an international political economy major, which means I take a lot of econ and spanish classes. Haters gonna hate.

[LastDeclaration]

My college has a big business school, and even the humanities majors call it coloring book academy (from CBA, college of business administration.) My roommate's a business guy and I can't count the nights I've been up late doing work and he's been watching multiple episodes of the Office or something like that.

For the record I'm an international political economy major, which means I take a lot of econ and spanish classes. Haters gonna hate.

Haha, came in here to post this.

[Whimsikill]

Haha, came in here to post this.

Brofist. Also, MGMT.

[LastDeclaration]

Brofist. Also, MGMT.

I'm pretty pumped. Managed to acquire some MDMA for it, so it should be a really good time even though they supposedly blow live.

[imahoodlum]

Any art, art history, or music majors. I'm sorry but they just seem so useless.
I think it depends on what kind of school you go to for these majors. I can agree they could very easily fall into the category of being stupid, but I know at my school, they are very serious majors and some of the hardest we offer. A lot of sleep is lost, trust me.

[thearmistice]

i came into college as a chemistry major, so i understand the intense workload(tons of calc, physics, bio, chem, labs), but i was miserable and switched to a double major of econ and poly sci, and that workload is so much easier even with two majors now, so i know where people are coming from when they think some majors are bs in comparison to their's

[fishguts182]

sociology mostly because i had a sociology professor who though sociology was superior to other subjects like engineering which is my major

[Spenny]

I don't respect philosophy majors because the majority of the time they're massive douchebags.

Also, I don't respect Women's Studies as a degree. Where is that going to get you in life? Maybe it's just because I greatly dislike raging feminists. :shrug:

[Spenny]

i came into college as a chemistry major, so i understand the intense workload(tons of calc, physics, bio, chem, labs), but i was miserable and switched to a double major of econ and poly sci, and that workload is so much easier even with two majors now, so i know where people are coming from when they think some majors are bs in comparison to their's
As much as people in arts say that they have to work just as hard, it just isn't true. I've found my science and business classes WAY harder than the arts classes I've taken. I'm not really biased either, because I spent my first year experimenting with courses to find what I like, and I'll be going into business. Business classes aren't necessarily harder than science/engineering classes, you just have to work just as hard though because every single class is bell-curved. It's pretty much eat or be eaten.

[Neo Cassady]

I'm surprised/glad that no one has mentioned education yet. Seems to be the first response to things like this.

That said, it's not specific majors I don't respect; rather, it's people who are only in college because mommy and daddy are paying their way through or otherwise expect it, and not because they really want to enrich their lives and careers.

[perceptrons]

That said, it's not specific majors I don't respect; rather, it's people who are only in college because mommy and daddy are paying their way through or otherwise expect it, and not because they really want to enrich their lives and careers.
Nailed it.

[adelphi_rocks]

My college has a big business school, and even the humanities majors call it coloring book academy (from CBA, college of business administration.) My roommate's a business guy and I can't count the nights I've been up late doing work and he's been watching multiple episodes of the Office or something like that.

For the record I'm an international political economy major, which means I take a lot of econ and spanish classes. Haters gonna hate.
The same goes for my school, except we have a the A.B. Freeman School of Business. They call it that because they give A's and B's for free, man. Kind of lame, but the science majors love that joke. It's just funny to see how delusional a lot of the business majors are here, thinking they're going to get hired right away into executive positions. They take classes that assign books solely about "How to Become a Great Leader" instead of actual learning something useful. Maybe I'm just jaded because I'm a Neuroscience/Cell & Molecular Biology double major...

[ninthandash]

Physics/Computer Science double major here, so everything else seems kinda easy in comparison.

Here's my top 5 worthless degrees.

1) Glassblowing
2) Sculpture
3) Photography
4) Theater Makeup
5) Medieval Studies

I know people who have graduated/are in each of these so don't tell me they're not real.

[TheDemosRock]

Glassblowing can't be a real major. Oh my god. Did the makeup major at least go to a respected school or conservatory or something?
:rotfl:

I have to say Photography as well. Communications and other bullshit media-related degrees are the ones that a lot of douchebag athletes seem to be in (my sister went to Syracuse, so there were plenty haha), and I really dislike people who think it's a good idea to go to college and pursue a degree in Philosophy. It just seems idiotic to me. It's like going for English - do you need to be taught how to read and interpret other people's ideas for four years? It's like getting a degree in listening to music.

[raptorz44]

I think most music majors are a waste unless you go to a music school, in which case it's stilla waste, but not as much of a waste. However, I don't think majoring to be a music teacher is a waste

[TheDemosRock]

I think most music majors are a waste unless you go to a music school, in which case it's stilla waste, but not as much of a waste. However, I don't think majoring to be a music teacher is a waste
I definitely agree with the first part - it's not that you need to be in a conservatory or a school that's strictly music, but at least go to a university that has a music school or a very good department.

I dunno if it's a waste to go to school for music, though. Someone with a serious commitment to pursuing music professionally has to get a really good education in order to succeed - it's practically a rule in the professional arena these days. If performance doesn't work out for you though, there's always the education option.

[charliewinn]

It's probably better. My school sucks.

And what school is that? I'm a communications major at Georgia Southern. Love it.

[Scrandon]

My college has a big business school, and even the humanities majors call it coloring book academy (from CBA, college of business administration.) My roommate's a business guy and I can't count the nights I've been up late doing work and he's been watching multiple episodes of the Office or something like that.

For the record I'm an international political economy major, which means I take a lot of econ and spanish classes. Haters gonna hate.

What? The business majors don't take econ classes? That's weird, wtf do they do?

[SlappedActor]

The guy who works the graveyard shift at the gas station near my apartment is a grad student in Philosophy, lol.

He's a cool guy, though. And hey, as long as he's happy, who am I to say anything?

[geebee889]

And what school is that? I'm a communications major at Georgia Southern. Love it.


I'm at Kennesaw State. I'm actually transferring to a different school next semester, so this week is my last week at the school. I'm not a fan.

[Whimsikill]

What? The business majors don't take econ classes? That's weird, wtf do they do?

No, they do, but a lot of their curriculum is like "business communications" and "management" that aren't really demanding classes.

[bung]

Psychology is a very easy major. That's probably part of the reason why it's such a popular major. If you aren't an idiot, you can mostly go into the tests without studying and at least get a C, simply because you can infer the answers. Except bio psych, no one can really infer which part of the brain contains the most serotonergic bundles.

I took it mainly because it was just about the only thing I found interesting. Also, it's not a major where what you learn is only applicable in specific career settings. It's pretty applicable any time you interact with people. And I hate math. And 70% of undergrads are women. ;-)

Also, philosophy majors are hardcore. They aren't there for the degree. They're there for the education. Which, to most of them, is a fair-trade off for having to drive a cab for the rest of their lives. Not to mention, higher level philosophy classes will rape anyone who isn't a top-notch writer.

[charliewinn]

I'm at Kennesaw State. I'm actually transferring to a different school next semester, so this week is my last week at the school. I'm not a fan.

Oh, I have a friend that goes there. She says she loves it there. Maybe its not for everyone.

[geebee889]

Oh, I have a friend that goes there. She says she loves it there. Maybe its not for everyone.


Yeah, it's just not my thing. I've lived in the area since I was 9, and I've never really liked it.

[charliewinn]

Yeah, it's just not my thing. I've lived in the area since I was 9, and I've never really liked it.

True that. Where are you thinking about transferring too? I recommend, Georgia State University since you're almost 21. The city life would be fun.

[geebee889]

True that. Where are you thinking about transferring too? I recommend, Georgia State University since you're almost 21. The city life would be fun.


I almost transferred there about a year ago, but I live far enough away where commuting would suck but then again I wouldn't want to live in downtown Atlanta. Don't get me wrong, I love big cities, and I will live in one after school, but there's just something about Atlanta that I don't like. I don't know, I can't really pinpoint one reason. I'm actually transferring out of state though, to Northern Kentucky University. It's maybe 5 or 10 minutes outside of Cincinnati, so I can still get my city fix.

[charliewinn]

I almost transferred there about a year ago, but I live far enough away where commuting would suck but then again I wouldn't want to live in downtown Atlanta. Don't get me wrong, I love big cities, and I will live in one after school, but there's just something about Atlanta that I don't like. I don't know, I can't really pinpoint one reason. I'm actually transferring out of state though, to Northern Kentucky University. It's maybe 5 or 10 minutes outside of Cincinnati, so I can still get my city fix.

Yeah, Atlanta can be a daunting place alone. I for one want to live there after I graduate. Well, hope everything works out.

[raptorz44]

Oh yeah, I forget if it's been said, but Psychology is pretty much a huge waste unless you plan to go into graduate school

[geebee889]

Yeah, Atlanta can be a daunting place alone. I for one want to live there after I graduate. Well, hope everything works out.


Thanks. :) I hope everything goes well for you as well!

[lindZ629]

I don't exactly disrespect it, I just think it's hilarious...

Turfgrass Science:

This major provides an integrated program of study that includes basic and applied sciences, business management courses and an internship to prepare students for careers in turfgrass management and related areas. By carefully selecting supporting courses and electives, students can adapt the program to meet a variety of professional interests and educational needs.

Employment opportunities include golf course maintenance, professional lawn care, grounds maintenance, sod production, sales and service, athletic field maintenance, and research technician.



Just looking through the list of majors, holy shit at Wood Products. Did not know that was a major. I don't really respect Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management or Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management although if I did college over again, I'd so double major in those.

[bung]

Oh yeah, I forget if it's been said, but Psychology is pretty much a huge waste unless you plan to go into graduate school

What's wrong with being a clinical research coordinator? Or a mental health practitioner? Or a social case worker?

[KidRobot]

I'm a computer science major, and I have trouble respecting most non-science/math majors. The workload is just WAAAAAY easier.. it's kind of ridiculous. I make a conscious effort to not be so elitist about it, and when people tell me their majors I'll usually respond with something positive and nice. Deep down I just feel like they're pussies.

Basically how I feel.


I'm a Mechanical engineer major but even I feel like a pussy compared to Structural or Electrical engineers.

[The Indigo]

I recently had to write a four page analysis on William Carlos William's The Red Wheelbarrow. Fuck anyone who says English is an easy major.

"And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
-Dead Poets Society

Edit: And it's kind of lame that so many people are down on philosophy, considering philosophy has shaped everything we think about, um, everything.

[perceptrons]

Psychology is a very easy major. That's probably part of the reason why it's such a popular major. If you aren't an idiot, you can mostly go into the tests without studying and at least get a C, simply because you can infer the answers. Except bio psych, no one can really infer which part of the brain contains the most serotonergic bundles.

I took it mainly because it was just about the only thing I found interesting. Also, it's not a major where what you learn is only applicable in specific career settings. It's pretty applicable any time you interact with people. And I hate math. And 70% of undergrads are women. ;-)

Also, philosophy majors are hardcore. They aren't there for the degree. They're there for the education. Which, to most of them, is a fair-trade off for having to drive a cab for the rest of their lives. Not to mention, higher level philosophy classes will rape anyone who isn't a top-notch writer.
Don't just say Psychology is easy. Clinical, social and I/O are easy, from my experience, but cogitive and neuro (or bio as you call it) aren't. I know you mentioned that neuro wasn't, but I just don't like the idea perpetuated. I get enough hate from people who always equate psych to clinical psych. Also, my psych program required Calc 1, 2 and array of advanced stats classes, so there was no escape from math for us.

I agree about philosophy. Beyond the writing, you get into some hardcore logic classes as well.

[ArTkY_]

I'm creative writing, but I write a shitload of papers so its not all bullshit. Not gonna lie, most of my friends are engineering majors and their workload is hard as shit, but I'm making it up to them by going to law school.

but english isn't a very easy major... especially since grading is so subjective.

[The Indigo]

I'm creative writing, but I write a shitload of papers so its not all bullshit. Not gonna lie, most of my friends are engineering majors and their workload is hard as shit, but I'm making it up to them by going to law school.

but english isn't a very easy major... especially since grading is so subjective.
Yeah.

[ThisIsNotDan]

Psychology is not a pointless major. knowing how we as humans work and interact with each other I feel is some of the most important stuff to know. also it seems like the only major out of sociology/philosophy/etc that it doesn't seem impossible to get a career out of

[KidRobot]

I recently had to write a four page analysis on William Carlos William's The Red Wheelbarrow. Fuck anyone who says English is an easy major.


Boo hoo. I'll send you my 25 page lab report on heat treatment for you to wipe your tears.

[Chancetobe]

Communications, theater, dance, English (although I'm an English major). It's not that an English major is that easy, I have tons of work. Just most of it is bullshit. Authors really don't sit there trying to put secret themes into their works for you to divulge. Creative writing, while also useless, is extremely hard and time consuming.

[Chancetobe]

Boo hoo. I'll send you my 25 page lab report on heat treatment for you to wipe your tears.
Boo hoo. I'll send you my 50 page paper on The Supreme Court's role in the gay marriage debate for you to wipe your tears. And just for funsies I'll tack on the English paper I'm writing now: 10-15 pages on copyright laws in fashion. Ohh, and my 30 page fiction portfolio.

[Smash Adams]

Boo hoo. I'll send you my 50 page paper on The Supreme Court's role in the gay marriage debate for you to wipe your tears. And just for funsies I'll tack on the English paper I'm writing now: 10-15 pages on copyright laws in fashion.
But those sound interesting! I always write better when I care about something

[The Indigo]

Boo hoo. I'll send you my 25 page lab report on heat treatment for you to wipe your tears.
At least your paper on heat treatment can be somewhat objective.

[Chancetobe]

But those sound interesting! I always write better when I care about something
They actually are really interesting. I'm absolutely loving doing fashion intellectual property stuff. Who would think my freakish knowledge of fashion would actually come in handy for something? I'm actually stongly considering doing a concentration in IP in law school, but most of the IP stuff seems to be more about patents than copyrights of the arts. But if they do have that, I think I'll take it. Probably one of the more fun papers I've written, even though I kind of haven't worked on it at all, and it's only at 7 pages now and due tomorrow. Hardcore senioritis.

[Smash Adams]

They actually are really interesting. I'm absolutely loving doing fashion intellectual property stuff. Who would think my freakish knowledge of fashion would actually come in handy for something? I'm actually stongly considering doing a concentration in IP in law school, but most of the IP stuff seems to be more about patents than copyrights of the arts. But if they do have that, I think I'll take it. Probably one of the more fun papers I've written, even though I kind of haven't worked on it at all, and it's only at 7 pages now and due tomorrow. Hardcore senioritis.
Yeah I'm leaning towards entertainment/intellectual property too, we can run in the same circles maybe

[Chancetobe]

Yeah I'm leaning towards entertainment/intellectual property too, we can run in the same circles maybe
We'll finally meet one day in court. Like, ohh, I'm going up against some dude named Ian. Wait a minute...
The only thing is I think most IP/Entertainment stuff is based in Cali, and I'm not sure I want to be there. I like NY/DC.

[KidRobot]

Boo hoo. I'll send you my 50 page paper on The Supreme Court's role in the gay marriage debate for you to wipe your tears. And just for funsies I'll tack on the English paper I'm writing now: 10-15 pages on copyright laws in fashion. Ohh, and my 30 page fiction portfolio.

.....

Communications, theater, dance, English (although I'm an English major). It's not that an English major is that easy, I have tons of work. Just most of it is bullshit. Authors really don't sit there trying to put secret themes into their works for you to divulge. Creative writing, while also useless, is extremely hard and time consuming.

?

At least your paper on heat treatment can be somewhat objective.

Exactly. You can make up whatever the fuck you want, hand it in and probably get a B.

[The Indigo]

.....
Exactly. You can make up whatever the fuck you want, hand it in and probably get a B.
Ha, not at all. Being an English scholar is like being given the rules to tennis, being told to never break them, but then being told that you can break them if you have a "good reason," but the only one who can judge if your reason is good enough is the professor, and each of your professors have a different definition of what constitutes a "good reason." I have respect for all majors, but I feel as if people just assume English is an easy major when it's actually incredibly time consuming and requires a lot of thought.

[Chancetobe]

Moral of the story: An English major at times is bullshit. At times its a ton of fucking work. Creative writing is hard as hell. Just because it isn't factual doesn't mean it isn't hard to do. And at times, it is more fact based, ex, the paper I'm writing now. So I have no respect for some aspects of it, but other parts aren't as easy as everyone thinks they are.

Also, some people just suck at writing. It is a skill. I know this from the engineers whose work I've read. Dreadful.

[Smash Adams]

We'll finally meet one day in court. Like, ohh, I'm going up against some dude named Ian. Wait a minute...
The only thing is I think most IP/Entertainment stuff is based in Cali, and I'm not sure I want to be there. I like NY/DC.
Probably not since I don't plan on being a courtroom lawyer

[The Indigo]

Nothing more awkward than having to workshop a piece that everyone knows is just awful.

[KidRobot]

Also, some people just suck at writing. It is a skill. I know this from the engineers whose work I've read. Dreadful.

Engineers need to be able to write as well as draw very well.

[Chancetobe]

Probably not since I don't plan on being a courtroom lawyer
Me either actually. So maybe it'll be at some cool music industry party. We'll be the life of it.

Nothing more awkward than having to workshop a piece that everyone knows is just awful.
Ohh god. So embarrassing. That's why I always wind up putting so much more effort into my creative writing than almost anything else. Plus, it's all you, so I find myself very invested in what I write.

Engineers need to be able to write as well as draw very well.
:shrug: I go to a school with some pretty brilliant engineers, but most of them can't write for shit.

[M.C COB]

I am going to strongly disagree with those not respecting psychology. As it has already been said, there are a lot of different fields within psychology. Perhaps you could "infer" the answers on exams and get a C, but that would probably only work in an intro class. It was a bit shocking how much help and tutoring I gave in statistics and how to use software to those majoring in computer science, biology, chemistry, etc.

[deFobbed14yrs]

college is hard, duh. I mean any major will have a workload. but comparability, the science/math majors win.

[bung]

Don't just say Psychology is easy. Clinical, social and I/O are easy, from my experience, but cogitive and neuro (or bio as you call it) aren't. I know you mentioned that neuro wasn't, but I just don't like the idea perpetuated. I get enough hate from people who always equate psych to clinical psych. Also, my psych program required Calc 1, 2 and array of advanced stats classes, so there was no escape from math for us.

I agree about philosophy. Beyond the writing, you get into some hardcore logic classes as well.

Haha, sorry. Just talking from personal experience. The only class I found I had to actually devote significant amounts of time into studying was bio/neuro. But, I admit, my opinion might be somewhat biased. I spend a lot of time outside class reading psychology, which I imagine most people don't do, so I might be going into these classes a little more prepared than most. Or maybe it's something in the genes--both my parents were psychology majors. :-)

As for math, the only psych specific class I had to take was statistics. I'm really glad I didn't have to do calc--yuck!

Also, have you taken any personality psychology? If so, what's your opinion? If not, I highly recommend it. One of the most insightful and generally interesting classes I've ever taken.

[knoxgoalie]

i think rec majors probably have it the easiest...that and phys ed majors

this is the case at my school at least. rec majors have nothing to do. phys ed is tough for the bio and and anatomy stuff but it evens out when you have bowling, softball, football, and hockey as your main classes at the end

[ArTkY_]

Nothing more awkward than having to workshop a piece that everyone knows is just awful.
God yes.

[Taking_Frags]

Physics/Computer Science double major here, so everything else seems kinda easy in comparison.

Here's my top 5 worthless degrees.

1) Glassblowing
2) Sculpture
3) Photography
4) Theater Makeup
5) Medieval Studies

I know people who have graduated/are in each of these so don't tell me they're not real.

1) Glassblowing - Believe it or not, there is great money in this because....barely anyone does it!
2) Sculpture - Get a masters, possibility at college professor at 2 year/4 year institutions
3) Photography - Business, corporation, teacher, free lance, etc, etc.
4) Theater Makeup - You get me there ;)
5) Medieval Studies - Grad school, historian, museum worker, college professor

Not so worthless.

[ohheroine]

English
Art

sorry dudes but you guys are fucked.


is that a joke? the english majors at my school have more work load than almost any other major. so much writing, creativity and research goes into that major that you cannot honestly believe that it is easy. im not even an english major, i just feel sorry for them. i go to a liberal arts school and people come here to be art and english majors. they have it terrible.

[evvandflow]

i dont respect english majors either. sorry 80% of ap.net.

[richter915]

is that a joke? the english majors at my school have more work load than almost any other major. so much writing, creativity and research goes into that major that you cannot honestly believe that it is easy. im not even an english major, i just feel sorry for them. i go to a liberal arts school and people come here to be art and english majors. they have it terrible.
I could never do it (just like how they can't do what I do)...but...it's just not gonna land em anything outside of the arena of teaching. It sucks. I can respect them for doing what they love regardless of the economy but other than that, I don't think it's too special.

[Alou]

People saying Psychology is easy make me laugh.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Psychology only seems easy to me because I enjoy it.

[The Indigo]

I could never do it (just like how they can't do what I do)...but...it's just not gonna land em anything outside of the arena of teaching. It sucks. I can respect them for doing what they love regardless of the economy but other than that, I don't think it's too special.
I can't think of a more noble profession than teaching. :shrug: Liberal arts professors make pretty good bank. Still, if they didn't want to teach they could always become an editor or go to law school.

[deFobbed14yrs]

is that a joke? the english majors at my school have more work load than almost any other major. so much writing, creativity and research goes into that major that you cannot honestly believe that it is easy. im not even an english major, i just feel sorry for them. i go to a liberal arts school and people come here to be art and english majors. they have it terrible.

i think he means comparative to other majors, they're the easier one.

[quitmyscene]

My major is biomedical engineering. I went to take my first final of the semester today and on my way to the building, I walked past the COM (college of communications) building. It was nice out so lots of people were outside studying - over half of the people outside of COM were laying on the grass TANNING. They had bikinis, beach towels, tanning oil - the whole shebang. Needless to say, it infuriates me that I have to bust my ass to get a C+ and these people can do nothing all semester and get a B minimum.

My opinion is partially biased because I don't get why you would waste $50,000/year on "film studies" or "photojournalism" or whatever at a college that is not particularly known for their communications/etc department. So I guess I second the person who said that my issue is not respecting people who are just wasting mommy and daddy's money.

[KellyGleason]

i'm a pharmacy major, and i think mass comm majors can suck it with their fake four classes. I have 8 and two different GPA's to look after.

and when they complain about their workload i wish to punch them in their faces. really? really? Oh you have A final for your BS history class? Yeah try taking three different chem classes and a calc class.I take four classes and I'm a Nursing major. What's the beef?

I respect all college majors but I think about how tough my program is and realize it must be nice to just take normal classes and graduate as a "business" major or something.

[tommyishere]

My major is biomedical engineering.

wow, impressive.

[geebee889]

I take four classes and I'm a Nursing major. What's the beef?

I respect all college majors but I think about how tough my program is and realize it must be nice to just take normal classes and graduate as a "business" major or something.


I'm a business major and having such a hard time in my economics and accounting classes. I think it would be easier (at my school, at least) if we didn't have to take all the classes from other sections of business. I just want to do management, but I have to take literally everything.

[new_arbiter]

After having a final for one of my journalism classes that was all MATCHING, I can't even respect my own major anymore.

[ArTkY_]

Man, most of you guys are assholes, haha. Everyone who goes to college has to bust their butt to make it anywhere, so let's respect everyone.

[Broclee]

Anyone who answers music has no idea what goes into a music degree.

[KellyGleason]

I'm a business major and having such a hard time in my economics and accounting classes. I think it would be easier (at my school, at least) if we didn't have to take all the classes from other sections of business. I just want to do management, but I have to take literally everything.Yeah I understand - not to mock your major or anything, because I said I respect all majors. But that girl was ragging on people who take 4 classes when I only take 4. Meanwhile, one of those 4 classes is a 6 credit course from 7-1pm at a hospital. :shrug:

[geebee889]

Yeah I understand - not to mock your major or anything, because I said I respect all majors. But that girl was ragging on people who take 4 classes when I only take 4. Meanwhile, one of those 4 classes is a 6 credit course from 7-1pm at a hospital. :shrug:


Nah, I get that. Is that 7-1 class a clinical? One of my friends is a nursing major, and that's pretty much all she's been doing this semester.

[new_arbiter]

Man, most of you guys are assholes, haha. Everyone who goes to college has to bust their butt to make it anywhere, so let's respect everyone.

Most majors that have easier couseloads require you to do stuff outside class(internships, getting stuff published, etc) if you want to get a job. It usually evens out.

[deFobbed14yrs]

I take four classes and I'm a Nursing major. What's the beef?

I respect all college majors but I think about how tough my program is and realize it must be nice to just take normal classes and graduate as a "business" major or something.

my less ranty thoughts. i mean college is work, duh. but comparability, like my major/nursing/science/math is harder and would rather have two finals than the six i have now. well five, i just took one an hour ago.

p.s. wasn't making fun of how many classes, just the type of classes. no hard feelings?

[KellyGleason]

Nah, I get that. Is that 7-1 class a clinical? One of my friends is a nursing major, and that's pretty much all she's been doing this semester.Yeah, it's a clinical. It's rough because I work about 38 hours a week and I'm a full time student. Boooo.

[/b]

my less ranty thoughts. i mean college is work, duh. but comparability, like my major/nursing/science/math is harder and would rather have two finals than the six i have now. well five, i just took one an hour ago.

p.s. wasn't making fun of how many classes, just the type of classes. no hard feelings?Wait, what? It's all relative to what you're good at. I'm not a History buff, so I have respect for people who major in History. You may consider that "easy" but to someone it could be really hard, or really enjoyable. I only have 3 finals (well 4 if you consider my medical microbiology class has a lab and lecture exam). One of my classes is Theology, and that seems easy enough, but I'm struggling with it because I don't relate to a certain religion. :shrug:

[deFobbed14yrs]

Yeah, it's a clinical. It's rough because I work about 38 hours a week and I'm a full time student. Boooo.

Wait, what? It's all relative to what you're good at. I'm not a History buff, so I have respect for people who major in History. You may consider that "easy" but to someone it could be really hard, or really enjoyable. I only have 3 finals (well 4 if you consider my medical microbiology class has a lab and lecture exam). One of my classes is Theology, and that seems easy enough, but I'm struggling with it because I don't relate to a certain religion. :shrug:

I have theology too, 3 semesters of it. do you go to st. johns? lol. And it's annoying but not hard. i'm hindu and know nothing about Catholicism, but it's easier than Chemistry.
i'm just saying that some majors are harder, hence why not as many people take them. I have respect for anyone going to college, but comparability memorizing a history fact is easier than understanding Hammond's Postulate. IMO.
And again, I'm not comparing numbers of classes or finals, just the intensity of them.

[KellyGleason]

I have theology too, 3 semesters of it. do you go to st. johns? lol. And it's annoying but not hard. i'm hindu and know nothing about Catholicism, but it's easier than Chemistry.
i'm just saying that some majors are harder, hence why not as many people take them. I have respect for anyone going to college, but comparability memorizing a history fact is easier than understanding Hammond's Postulate. IMO.
And again, I'm not comparing numbers of classes or finals, just the intensity of them.I love that you just said that, because I found Chem to be a lot easier than this Theology course. I have a thing for science, but I'm not so great at what you deem "not hard." I don't go to St. John's, but I do go to a Catholic school and am required to take Theology.

[deFobbed14yrs]

I love that you just said that, because I found Chem to be a lot easier than this Theology course. I have a thing for science, but I'm not so great at what you deem "not hard." I don't go to St. John's, but I do go to a Catholic school and am required to take Theology.

Was it like advanced theology??? lol. Orgo chem or like bio chem is def way harder than theology. You're not normal. I'm not saying these classes aren't hard, just not up to par. IMO. <-i have my opinions, you have yours.

[Two Headed Girl]

I'm a business major and having such a hard time in my economics and accounting classes. I think it would be easier (at my school, at least) if we didn't have to take all the classes from other sections of business. I just want to do management, but I have to take literally everything.

If you want to do management, shouldn't you be able to do everything else?

Anyways

I think every major is hard in their own right. I'm a secondary ed/social science major and there a definitely some people out there who think that's a breeze and it surely is not.

[Alou]

I'm a business major and having such a hard time in my economics and accounting classes. I think it would be easier (at my school, at least) if we didn't have to take all the classes from other sections of business. I just want to do management, but I have to take literally everything.

How do you plan on managing people if you have no idea what the fuck they're supposed to do?

[xshady121]

communications.

/thread.

[xshady121]

They actually are really interesting. I'm absolutely loving doing fashion intellectual property stuff. Who would think my freakish knowledge of fashion would actually come in handy for something? I'm actually stongly considering doing a concentration in IP in law school, but most of the IP stuff seems to be more about patents than copyrights of the arts. But if they do have that, I think I'll take it. Probably one of the more fun papers I've written, even though I kind of haven't worked on it at all, and it's only at 7 pages now and due tomorrow. Hardcore senioritis.

IP is really interesting work. I interned at a lawfirm in their IP department. We mostly dealt with science patents (specifically drugs and engineering) but there was a little bit of non-science stuff in our firm. And the trademark department was all cool stuff from all different fields-- fashion, technology, books, etc... IP has the potential to be really fun and interesting if you find a firm that does things that interest you. I would read the IP Law magazines and they had a bunch of editorials on lawyers who's job it was to go after vendors that sold unlicensed sports memorabilia. If my firm did something like that when I interned there, I most likely wouldn't have been so put off to the field of law as I am right now.

[geebee889]

Yeah, it's a clinical. It's rough because I work about 38 hours a week and I'm a full time student. Boooo.

Boo indeed!

If you want to do management, shouldn't you be able to do everything else?

Anyways

I think every major is hard in their own right. I'm a secondary ed/social science major and there a definitely some people out there who think that's a breeze and it surely is not.

How do you plan on managing people if you have no idea what the fuck they're supposed to do?


Woah, calm down guys. I want to get into music management, not corporate management, so what in the world do I need a detailed financial accounting class for? I know that you obviously need to know the other areas for management, I'm not stupid. There was no need for these comments.

[Two Headed Girl]

Boo indeed! Woah, calm down guys. I want to get into music management, not corporate management, so what in the world do I need a detailed financial accounting class for? I know that you obviously need to know the other areas for management, I'm not stupid. There was no need for these comments. Haha yeahhh the other guy was a bit intense, I was really just sayin'. No offense meant.

[geebee889]

Haha yeahhh the other guy was a bit intense, I was really just sayin'. No offense meant.


Nah, I knew you weren't trying to offend. Sorry for getting a bit defensive, I hate when people assume shit about me when they don't even know the situation, you know? :shrug:

[Alou]

Boo indeed!






Woah, calm down guys. I want to get into music management, not corporate management, so what in the world do I need a detailed financial accounting class for?

I know that you obviously need to know the other areas for management, I'm not stupid. There was no need for these comments.

You answered your question.

[KellyGleason]

Was it like advanced theology??? lol. Orgo chem or like bio chem is def way harder than theology. You're not normal. I'm not saying these classes aren't hard, just not up to par. IMO. <-i have my opinions, you have yours.No. It's major religiotus writings. I have to read different texts from different religions, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhacarita, Exodus..ect. Then I have to write papers on them, which is hard for me because I don't follow religion and really can't fathom the principles of worship. How am I not normal for struggling in a class I'm not interested in vs. doing well in a class that pertains to my desired major? I'm doing the best in my Theology class, and my papers are a B at best. I like the bolding of the IMO because I did say that it's all relative to what you're interested in, which means you should probably agree. :-d

[deFobbed14yrs]

No. It's major religiotus writings. I have to read different texts from different religions, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhacarita, Exodus..ect. Then I have to write papers on them, which is hard for me because I don't follow religion and really can't fathom the principles of worship. How am I not normal for struggling in a class I'm not interested in vs. doing well in a class that pertains to my desired major? I'm doing the best in my Theology class, and my papers are a B at best. I like the bolding of the IMO because I did say that it's all relative to what you're interested in, which means you should probably agree. :-d

oh yeah well i guess reading other religious texts isn't hard for me. i don't believe in God and i've read something from every major religion, and it wasn't even for my theology class lol. it was for english. lol. i do sympathize if you had to read siddartha though. that was torture. good luck though! and if you ever need to fake enthusiasm go to a fundy religious site and take shit from them lol

[KingsCrossing]

I am going to strongly disagree with those not respecting psychology. As it has already been said, there are a lot of different fields within psychology. Perhaps you could "infer" the answers on exams and get a C, but that would probably only work in an intro class. It was a bit shocking how much help and tutoring I gave in statistics and how to use software to those majoring in computer science, biology, chemistry, etc.

This.

[raychull]

Hospitality
This.

Also, I don't respect Women's Studies as a degree.
And this.

[popdisaster00]

It is. You just learn about how to take care of people. Its the most ridiculous and easiest major ever.
Haha, so fucking what dude? Hospitality is a HUGE fucking industry. Yeah the major is easy but there is money to be made. What is there to sneeze at?

[popdisaster00]

Any smart college student will pursue a degree that they are not only going to succeed in, but they also enjoy. So any computer science, art, or mathematics student who tries to claim that hospitality, business management, or even philosophy is a cake major is, in my opinion, a piece of shit. Most art students wouldn't last one week as a manager of a hotel, but why would they? Their passion is art. And any hospitality student wouldn't last one week as graphic designer, because it's not what they like/study. The point is, if you are actually going to college to pursue an education and a career, good for you. Fuck anyone who says your major is easy.

[concernedparent]

Any smart college student will pursue a degree that they are not only going to succeed in, but they also enjoy. So any computer science, art, or mathematics student who tries to claim that hospitality, business management, or even philosophy is a cake major is, in my opinion, a piece of shit. Most art students wouldn't last one week as a manager of a hotel, but why would they? Their passion is art. And any hospitality student wouldn't last one week as graphic designer, because it's not what they like/study. The point is, if you are actually going to college to pursue an education and a career, good for you. Fuck anyone who says your major is easy.
I don't get your argument. No majors are easy? Sorry, but some majors are easier than others. Business management is cake compared to computer science. I don't realize how that makes me a "piece of shit" for realizing it. The classes are easier, less rigorous, less time consuming, and the grading is more lenient. That makes the major easier. That does NOT make the people in the major unintelligent or make me think any less of them. I agree that you should go for what your passion is and succeed in your field.

[imahoodlum]

Any smart college student will pursue a degree that they are not only going to succeed in, but they also enjoy. So any computer science, art, or mathematics student who tries to claim that hospitality, business management, or even philosophy is a cake major is, in my opinion, a piece of shit. Most art students wouldn't last one week as a manager of a hotel, but why would they? Their passion is art. And any hospitality student wouldn't last one week as graphic designer, because it's not what they like/study. The point is, if you are actually going to college to pursue an education and a career, good for you. Fuck anyone who says your major is easy.

Well said. Agreed.

[popdisaster00]

I don't get your argument. No majors are easy? Sorry, but some majors are easier than others. Business management is cake compared to computer science. I don't realize how that makes me a "piece of shit" for realizing it. The classes are easier, less rigorous, less time consuming, and the grading is more lenient. That makes the major easier. That does NOT make the people in the major unintelligent or make me think any less of them. I agree that you should go for what your passion is and succeed in your field.
I wasn't trying to say that no majors are easy. I will be the first to stand up and say that my major is a lot easier than some of the other majors at my school. But you picked up on exactly what I was trying to say:

That does NOT make the people in the major unintelligent or make me think any less of them. I agree that you should go for what your passion is and succeed in your field.

What makes someone a "piece of shit" in my mind is for them to not respect a major.

[geebee889]

You answered your question.


Thank you, captain obvious. I wasn't answering what I personally needed, but I understand how someone who wants to go into corporate management needs it.

[BozzBlonde]

I don't really disrespect any majors. They all have their pros and cons.

[KellyGleason]

Too much hate in this thread.

[suburbn_thrills]

Wow, some of the posts in this thread piss me off to no end.
Let's get real...most people don't even end up in careers dealing with their major anyways...nowadays it's just a degree and the way you carry yourself that matters (with some obvious exceptions). That's always been my viewpoint on college majors. I think it's better to do something you enjoy and are actually interested in while you're in college rather than doing something just because "it's respectable" and "It will make you money". To me doing that shows less integrity than anything else. I live with pretty much all engineers and literally every single one of them hate it with a burning passion and are only doing it because of those reasons. I'd rather be content doing something not "respectable" the rest of my life than being miserable just because I want the status.

[hailthewarrior]

I have no respect for Exercise and Health Science majors at my school. The only hard class they have to take is A&P 1&2. The rest of their courses are things like "Teaching Elementary PE" and "History of Professional Sports in America." I also have no respect for Philosophy, Liberal Arts, or Communications majors.

I'm an English major with a concentration in writing, creative writing, (yeah, they're separate concentrations with almost the exact same classes, so I figured why not take the extra two classes and get both) and business writing.

[Ilovetheunknown]

1) Glassblowing - Believe it or not, there is great money in this because....barely anyone does it!
2) Sculpture - Get a masters, possibility at college professor at 2 year/4 year institutions
3) Photography - Business, corporation, teacher, free lance, etc, etc.
4) Theater Makeup - You get me there ;)
5) Medieval Studies - Grad school, historian, museum worker, college professor

Not so worthless.

THIS.

I go to an art school and believe me, although to some people it make look like a walk in the park it isn't. I pull all nighters getting work done just as much as a kid that is going to school for something that isn't "worthless". I also thought long and hard about going to school for photography and doing something I love to do rather then going for something that I know I could easily get a job in.

At my school, communications and musical theater/acting majors are the ones that seem to get the most disrespect since it seems like they never have work to do and always have time to part. But I also know people in the programs and they do have their work cut out for them when they are doing shows

Communication kids switch out of the foundation program at my school because they think it is too difficult, yeah art kids do get a shit load of work.

[Taking_Frags]

I have no respect for Exercise and Health Science majors at my school. The only hard class they have to take is A&P 1&2. The rest of their courses are things like "Teaching Elementary PE" and "History of Professional Sports in America." I also have no respect for Philosophy, Liberal Arts, or Communications majors.

I'm an English major with a concentration in writing, creative writing, (yeah, they're separate concentrations with almost the exact same classes, so I figured why not take the extra two classes and get both) and business writing.

Either I've had a misunderstanding about what a Liberal Arts major includes, or you just admitted that you don't respect yourself.

[popdisaster00]

Wow, some of the posts in this thread piss me off to no end.
Let's get real...most people don't even end up in careers dealing with their major anyways...nowadays it's just a degree and the way you carry yourself that matters (with some obvious exceptions). That's always been my viewpoint on college majors. I think it's better to do something you enjoy and are actually interested in while you're in college rather than doing something just because "it's respectable" and "It will make you money". To me doing that shows less integrity than anything else. I live with pretty much all engineers and literally every single one of them hate it with a burning passion and are only doing it because of those reasons. I'd rather be content doing something not "respectable" the rest of my life than being miserable just because I want the status.

:clap:

Too much hate in this thread.

Mostly from kids are basically jealous of the other kids who don't need to stay up all night, every night doing homework for their major.

[hailthewarrior]

Either I've had a misunderstanding about what a Liberal Arts major includes, or you just admitted that you don't respect yourself.

Liberal Arts majors at my school take like three history classes, take three English classes, three Comm classes, etc. It's not one set discipline within the Bachelor of Arts side of things.

[cavanaughpark09]

I think it's pretty impossible to judge someone else's major mostly because you don't know what kind of work goes into it if you're not doing it yourself. In every major there are people who will work their ass off and never seem to get any sleep and there are people who will spend 95% of their time partying and still manage tp pull of decent, if not really good, grades. In both there are people who struggle to put themselves through school and those who have mommy and daddy's backing and everything in between.

I was a history/secondary education major in college. One of my roommates was a science major (biology, I think, and something also to do with environmental sciences). Anyway, I looked at her work and would be terrified of doing it, all those extra hours spent in the lab and on her computer, and her lab reports, charts etc, but then she'd look at my 200 pages of reading every other day and the 30 page paper I had to write on post-soviet Russia and ask me if I was actually insane. I think most people tend to play to their strengths in picking their majors. I also had and English:writing minor. I can write so I chose something I could liked that let me do that a lot. I <i>loved</i> the research aspect of it. I couldn't stand the two science courses I had to take. Meanwhile she was bored out of her mind in the general history courses and really loved talking about her experiments. She works down in DC now doing some kind of research and I hear about it on facebook all the time.

Also, education is like taking on a second major in your last two years. It sucks. Student teaching kicked my ass so I'm kind of glad to see that no one has knocked that one yet.

[KellyGleason]

:clap:



Mostly from kids are basically jealous of the other kids who don't need to stay up all night, every night doing homework for their major.It's really just that one girl setting off a domino effect. X-)

PS - Honestly, I'm totally jealous of the other kids who don't need to stay up all night for their major!

[Kassie09]

communications and hospitality(wine and cheese tasting classes, really?)

also though, engineers. I realize that shit is hard but they walk around with this huge chip on their shoulder like "i stay up for days doing all my homework!!" congratufuckinglations, don't pick that major then.

[RedWineSheets]

lol at 19 and 20 year old kids in this thread thinking they are going to get a job with a liberal arts degree from your standard "everyone gets in" university. You need to get a degree that makes you marketable, kids coming out of school today have no real world experience or skills to offer any potential employers because they were too busy "having fun" and "enjoying themselves" during college. A college degree is pretty much useless these days, exceptions are science and math based degrees. Id killself if i had the debt from private school tuition that some kids have with nothing to show for it except a worthless degree.

[Neo Cassady]

Also, education is like taking on a second major in your last two years. It sucks. Student teaching kicked my ass so I'm kind of glad to see that no one has knocked that one yet.

Don't worry, I'll defend it to the death.

[zion the lion]

Music

[jessicalynn-xx]

Any art, art history, or music majors. I'm sorry but they just seem so useless.

Even if you plan on teaching, and want to teach subjects that are of interest to you? I'm a Music major. Even if I wasn't planning on teaching I still don't think it's useless. I'm paying for it, why shouldn't I study things that interest me? Some people go to university to learn just because they love learning or they love a particular subject. If they want to spend that money to hone their skills and increase their knowledge then who are you to judge and say their degree is "useless?" I'm sure they'll use the things they learned whether it's in their personal or professional life.

[jessicalynn-xx]

That said, it's not specific majors I don't respect; rather, it's people who are only in college because mommy and daddy are paying their way through or otherwise expect it, and not because they really want to enrich their lives and careers.

Wow, some of the posts in this thread piss me off to no end.
Let's get real...most people don't even end up in careers dealing with their major anyways...nowadays it's just a degree and the way you carry yourself that matters (with some obvious exceptions). That's always been my viewpoint on college majors. I think it's better to do something you enjoy and are actually interested in while you're in college rather than doing something just because "it's respectable" and "It will make you money". To me doing that shows less integrity than anything else. I live with pretty much all engineers and literally every single one of them hate it with a burning passion and are only doing it because of those reasons. I'd rather be content doing something not "respectable" the rest of my life than being miserable just because I want the status.

Well said, both of you.

[Wings That Work]

General studies.

[RushAndAPush]

I want to go into music journalism but i'm a bit worried about the pay :(

[Renee]

Serious students are going to hate me. I go to a community college, where I'm a Fashion Buying & Merchandising major. I don't even take it seriously. Longest paper I've written was a 2-3 page essay for Eng Comp 101, which I'm pretty sure is my only English class needed. I need 4 lab science credits, so I took a class where I walk around in mud and take pictures of water/ducks. I've never even been in a lab at school. Although Textiles is pretty similar to chem with the memorization needs. The biggest assignment I've had was to find 20 specific types of advertisements.

/slacker

[RedWineSheets]

Serious students are going to hate me. I go to a community college, where I'm a Fashion Buying & Merchandising major. I don't even take it seriously. Longest paper I've written was a 2-3 page essay for Eng Comp 101, which I'm pretty sure is my only English class needed. I need 4 lab science credits, so I took a class where I walk around in mud and take pictures of water/ducks. I've never even been in a lab at school. Although Textiles is pretty similar to chem with the memorization needs. The biggest assignment I've had was to find 20 specific types of advertisements.

/slacker

What do you want to do with your career and do feel like the education you are receiving is making you competitive in that field?

[Renee]

What do you want to do with your career and do feel like the education you are receiving is making you competitive in that field?
I haven't been in the major long enough to know that yet. This is my first semester in this major, before I just dabbled in a few marketing classes since I liked the professor. So far I've done really well in the marketing classes and my retailing class. No, not yet. I have one professor who is very knowledgeable in the field, but isn't a very good teacher. She gets side-tracked easily and has too much to say about things not pertaining to the course. She's a good woman to keep on my side, can open lots of doors, but trying to get through a chapter in 75 minutes is impossible.

[ThisIsNotDan]

I want to go into music journalism but i'm a bit worried about the pay :(

this is one of the main reasons why I'm not pursuing this anymore. I got the opportunity to talk to a guy that worked for the Boston Globe and got to interview Bob Marley and The Who and such, and basically told me if you don't care that your pay will be VERY little, then go for it. stability is a big thing for me

[RedWineSheets]

this is one of the main reasons why I'm not pursuing this anymore. I got the opportunity to talk to a guy that worked for the Boston Globe and got to interview Bob Marley and The Who and such, and basically told me if you don't care that your pay will be VERY little, then go for it. stability is a big thing for me

Nice avatar.

[RushAndAPush]

this is one of the main reasons why I'm not pursuing this anymore. I got the opportunity to talk to a guy that worked for the Boston Globe and got to interview Bob Marley and The Who and such, and basically told me if you don't care that your pay will be VERY little, then go for it. stability is a big thing for meI'm actually doing a research paper on a career in music journalism. I'm highly considering not perusing it because of its meager pay. On one hand i'm happy i'm learning this now and not after i have a Bachelors degree in writing. On the other hand i'm highly disappointed because i thought i found my perfect career. ohh well. i guess i'll just have to keep searching.

[KidRobot]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs306.snc3/28898_10150176558830512_806220511_1 2603768_6362314_n.jpg

[KingsCrossing]

I'm actually doing a research paper on a career in music journalism. I'm highly considering not perusing it because of its meager pay. On one hand i'm happy i'm learning this now and not after i have a Bachelors degree in writing. On the other hand i'm highly disappointed because i thought i found my perfect career. ohh well. i guess i'll just have to keep searching.

I graduated with a B.A. in Journalism (and psych), with a specific focus on music journalism. While in college, I was the editor of the Arts and Entertainment section of our student newspaper and the editor of a pretty legitimate music industry blog that's now extinct. After graduating, finding a "real job" in journalism was an absolute nightmare. I'm currently in grad school pursuing my M.A. in Psychology, while still doing interviews and album reviews (while going to plenty of shows for free on the side). I don't want to deter you from your goal, but you should definitely entertain the possibility of another major as your "main focus," while doing music journalism as a side hobby. Those are my two Lincoln's...

[Broclee]

Music

Do you even know what being a music major entails?

EDIT: What the fuck, you're only 17? What kind of knowledge do you even have to comment on college majors?

[2's&3's]

I have no respect for Exercise and Health Science majors at my school. The only hard class they have to take is A&P 1&2. The rest of their courses are things like "Teaching Elementary PE" and "History of Professional Sports in America." I also have no respect for Philosophy, Liberal Arts, or Communications majors.

I'm an English major with a concentration in writing, creative writing, (yeah, they're separate concentrations with almost the exact same classes, so I figured why not take the extra two classes and get both) and business writing.

First of all, I do realize you are referring to the majors at your school. But, I can assure you that my Exercise Science degree was not easy and should not be disrespected. I am currently in a PhD program (sick brag) and I owe it to my science background. In addition, due to the inability to rid the world of diseases, both infectious and chronic, there is always a need for individuals pursuing a career in public health. In conjunction with medical doctors, we make sure that you and your family receive the best prevention and care.

[zion the lion]

Do you even know what being a music major entails?

EDIT: What the fuck, you're only 17? What kind of knowledge do you even have to comment on college majors?

Haha I had to go with my mom to all of her college classes when I was younger, I spent a lot more time in college with her than I did in high school so dont try to pull that age card bullshit with me.

And dont get all offended because I knocked on (what I assume is) your major I'm sorry (not really), but I dont respect it, I think its a bullshit major.

[concernedparent]

Haha I had to go with my mom to all of her college classes when I was younger, I spent a lot more time in college with her than I did in high school so dont try to pull that age card bullshit with me.

And dont get all offended because I knocked on (what I assume is) your major I'm sorry (not really), but I dont respect it, I think its a bullshit major.
Wtf? A music major is a great way to...learn about music. In what way does that make it a "bullshit major"? Is Juliard a bullshit school, by your reasoning?

I'm gonna be honest and say that you are too young to be making such strong comments about college majors. Going with your mom to her classes means very little.

[zion the lion]

Wtf? A music major is a great way to...learn about music. In what way does that make it a "bullshit major"? Is Juliard a bullshit school, by your reasoning?

I'm gonna be honest and say that you are too young to be making such strong comments about college majors. Going with your mom to her classes means very little.

There's more at "Juliard" (which is spelled Juilliard by the way, if you like music that much to want to major in it, then you should know how to spell one school's name) than just the music division. You should know about music before majoring in it, in fact I doubt Juilliard (or juliard as you like to call it) would even consider taking you if you didnt know anything and all you wanted to do was "...learn about music".

Again, I spent way more time there than I ever did in high school, I think I learned a thing or two about college in my time.

[RushAndAPush]

I graduated with a B.A. in Journalism (and psych), with a specific focus on music journalism. While in college, I was the editor of the Arts and Entertainment section of our student newspaper and the editor of a pretty legitimate music industry blog that's now extinct. After graduating, finding a "real job" in journalism was an absolute nightmare. I'm currently in grad school pursuing my M.A. in Psychology, while still doing interviews and album reviews (while going to plenty of shows for free on the side). I don't want to deter you from your goal, but you should definitely entertain the possibility of another major as your "main focus," while doing music journalism as a side hobby. Those are my two Lincoln's...Thanks for the advice. I'm glad i'm finding this all of this out now.

[Broclee]

Haha I had to go with my mom to all of her college classes when I was younger, I spent a lot more time in college with her than I did in high school so dont try to pull that age card bullshit with me.

And dont get all offended because I knocked on (what I assume is) your major I'm sorry (not really), but I dont respect it, I think its a bullshit major.

Just because you went to your mom's college classes as a child does not mean you understand what goes into a specific major, or have any understand of college, period. Don't act like spouting off that one line is going to suddenly give you some sort of credibility in this discussion. If you can give some legitimate shit, then sure, go ahead, I'll listen, but I'm not going to assume that you know what you're talking about just because you say that.

What makes music a bullshit major? The fact that the job market for musicians is small and hurting? Or the fact that people are working very hard toward something they actually enjoy? Again, do you even have any inkling of an idea what goes into a music major?

And just for the record, I'm actually a music education major, though I'm sure you'd still assert that it's "bullshit."

I'll go ahead and say that no one in a music major (be it education, performance, musicology, industry, repair, theory, or composition) thinks that they're jumping into a lucrative job market. And, besides, as I already implied, rather passive-aggressively, I think that's a bullshit way to determine, well, bullshit. If that were a major factor (lololol), then all education degrees would be bullshit.

[KellyGleason]

MusicWhat kind of music major? Performance arts, music education...? I was in choir in my HS so a lot of my friends are going the music route. One of my friends is a fantastic Cellist and is studying music in hopes of playing for the NY Philharmonic. Seems like a long-shot, but she's amazing (I've known her since grade school) and I think she's working hard and taking the right steps as a music major. Another one of my friends is a Theatre/Performance major at Boston Conservatory and they get recruited like crazy for Broadway tours and whatnot.

Just music in general? I didn't even know that was a major, haha.

[concernedparent]

There's more at "Juliard" (which is spelled Juilliard by the way, if you like music that much to want to major in it, then you should know how to spell one school's name) than just the music division. You should know about music before majoring in it, in fact I doubt Juilliard (or juliard as you like to call it) would even consider taking you if you didnt know anything and all you wanted to do was "...learn about music".

Again, I spent way more time there than I ever did in high school, I think I learned a thing or two about college in my time.
Lame diss. I'm not interested in majoring in music, so I'm pretty dgaf about missing the spelling "Juilliard". Anyways, you don't have the college experience of anyone else in here just because you went to classes with your mom. Enough with that.

Job prospects for music majors suck though. Many blockbuster clerks I've spoken to were music majors in college.

[Broclee]

What kind of music major? Performance arts, music education...? I was in choir in my HS so a lot of my friends are going the music route. One of my friends is a fantastic Cellist and is studying music in hopes of playing for the NY Philharmonic. Seems like a long-shot, but she's amazing (I've known her since grade school) and I think she's working hard and taking the right steps as a music major. Another one of my friends is a Theatre/Performance major at Boston Conservatory and they get recruited like crazy for Broadway tours and whatnot.

Just music in general? I didn't even know that was a major, haha.

I guess if you want to get technical, there are Bachelor of Arts degrees in music, haha.

Job prospects for music majors suck though. Many blockbuster clerks I've spoken to were music majors in college.

True life. These days, the best route for players to go is a double major in performance and ed. That way, you've got the performance experience and knowledge, and have an upper hand when auditioning for ensembles, but you can also get your licensure for teaching, get better/more students for private lessons, etc.

[Indoor Living]

There's more at "Juliard" (which is spelled Juilliard by the way, if you like music that much to want to major in it, then you should know how to spell one school's name) than just the music division. You should know about music before majoring in it, in fact I doubt Juilliard (or juliard as you like to call it) would even consider taking you if you didnt know anything and all you wanted to do was "...learn about music".

Again, I spent way more time there than I ever did in high school, I think I learned a thing or two about college in my time.

First of all, stop thinking you're hot shit because you can spell Juilliard. Second of all, you really know nothing about college by being in your mom's classes (something I wasn't even sure was possible before, and am still not sure of). Thirdly, it's called a Bachelor Of Arts degree, which, for the most part, voids your last sentence. You don't need to be a high-caliber performer to major in music.

Apply to college. Go to (some) college. Come back here. Argue.

[zion the lion]

Just because you went to your mom's college classes as a child does not mean you understand what goes into a specific major, or have any understand of college, period. Don't act like spouting off that one line is going to suddenly give you some sort of credibility in this discussion. If you can give some legitimate shit, then sure, go ahead, I'll listen, but I'm not going to assume that you know what you're talking about just because you say that.

What makes music a bullshit major? The fact that the job market for musicians is small and hurting? Or the fact that people are working very hard toward something they actually enjoy? Again, do you even have any inkling of an idea what goes into a music major?

And just for the record, I'm actually a music education major, though I'm sure you'd still assert that it's "bullshit."

I'll go ahead and say that no one in a music major (be it education, performance, musicology, industry, repair, theory, or composition) thinks that they're jumping into a lucrative job market. And, besides, as I already implied, rather passive-aggressively, I think that's a bullshit way to determine, well, bullshit. If that were a major factor (lololol), then all education degrees would be bullshit.

And you dont think people enjoy philosophy? Now this is a music site so people jump on me, but dont you think that people work very hard towards their philosophy or astronomy majors at all? Or is it just the people who major in music who work hard...and all of the people who have shit on all of the other majors are right, theres no work that goes in to those other majors at all.

You're totally right every other major except for music is worthless!

Lame diss. I'm not interested in majoring in music, so I'm pretty dgaf about missing the spelling "Juilliard". Anyways, you don't have the college experience of anyone else in here just because you went to classes with your mom. Enough with that.

Job prospects for music majors suck though. Many blockbuster clerks I've spoken to were music majors in college.

I was 6 or 7 when I first started going with her and here's the deal, even then I was planning for my life. By the time I was 8 I was talking to those professors and those students about the best colleges...I knew exactly which college I was going to go to, I had my back ups planned. I learned about credits and majors and even obsessed over what I was going to major in. Do you know why? Because I spent all of that time with my mom in her classes. Again I think I know a thing or two. Dont dismiss me because of my age.

And its wonderful that you talked to people at blockbuster, but dont you think that I may have talked to college students and college grads who have talked about their majors too? Goddamn you guys act like there's nothing that I could possibly know.

First of all, stop thinking you're hot shit because you can spell Juilliard. Second of all, you really know nothing about college by being in your mom's classes (something I wasn't even sure was possible before, and am still not sure of). Thirdly, it's called a Bachelor Of Arts degree, which, for the most part, voids your last sentence. You don't need to be a high-caliber performer to major in music.

Apply to college. Go to (some) college. Come back here. Argue.

I'm not totally sure what you're trying to say but if you're questioning why I was there, it was because she cleared it with the professors first, they said it was okay if I was quiet (and if the subject matter ever got to "adult" they'd send me out of the room).

But thank you for just regurgitating what the person above you said. It doesnt take much to just read something and retype "bachelor of arts degree".

[Indoor Living]

And you dont think people enjoy philosophy? Now this is a music site so people jump on me, but dont you think that people work very hard towards their philosophy or astronomy majors at all? Or is it just the people who major in music who work hard...and all of the people who have shit on all of the other majors are right, theres no work that goes in to those other majors at all.

You're totally right every other major except for music is worthless!



I was 6 or 7 when I first started going with her and here's the deal, even then I was planning for my life. By the time I was 8 I was talking to those professors and those students about the best colleges...I knew exactly which college I was going to go to, I had my back ups planned. I learned about credits and majors and even obsessed over what I was going to major in. Do you know why? Because I spent all of that time with my mom in her classes. Again I think I know a thing or two. Dont dismiss me because of my age.

And its wonderful that you talked to people at blockbuster, but dont you think that I may have talked to college students and college grads who have talked about their majors too? Goddamn you guys act like there's nothing that I could possibly know.



I'm not totally sure what you're trying to say but if you're questioning why I was there, it was because she cleared it with the professors first, they said it was okay if I was quiet (and if the subject matter ever got to "adult" they'd send me out of the room).

But thank you for just regurgitating what the person above you said. It doesnt take much to just read something and retype "bachelor of arts degree".
It also doesn't make it any less right.

[Jonasmurdock]

Art Studio

[GrapesIndigo]

After reading so many negative remarks towards the field of philosophy I feel like I have to respond. Philosophy is an art of the arts...

Philosophy teaches you not what to think but how to think. Education shouldn't be a mere exchange of information, but a conversation..

[JGood4]

Philosophy.

I'm not knocking the subject but to major in it seems kind of weak. I took a couple philosophy classes but you really didn't have to learn or know anything. What do you do with a philosophy degree?

[RedWineSheets]

Philosophy.

I'm not knocking the subject but to major in it seems kind of weak. I took a couple philosophy classes but you really didn't have to learn or know anything. What do you do with a philosophy degree?

work at starbucks

[georgedcc]

Philosophy.

I'm not knocking the subject but to major in it seems kind of weak. I took a couple philosophy classes but you really didn't have to learn or know anything. What do you do with a philosophy degree?

I'm gonna be doing a philosophy "major" or degree as they're called in the UK. I'm doing it because I'm interested in it and I think I'll enjoy it, and to me that's the most important thing. I don't want to spend years of my life doing something I'm not particularly interested in or enjoy just because it's got good job prospects. I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish the course, but I'm assuming a lot of people are the same here. I'd disagree with you when you say 'you didn't have to learn or know anything'. Of course, you have to learn and know stuff, it may not be the same sort of stuff you'd have to learn if you were doing an advanced chemistry degree, but it still has to be learned.

[Broclee]

And you dont think people enjoy philosophy? Now this is a music site so people jump on me, but dont you think that people work very hard towards their philosophy or astronomy majors at all? Or is it just the people who major in music who work hard...and all of the people who have shit on all of the other majors are right, theres no work that goes in to those other majors at all.

You're totally right every other major except for music is worthless!

What the fuck are you talking about? You just straw-maned the fuck out of that, congrats. I'm glad you know how to take one line out of context and completely contrive a made-up argument to counter. I never said, or implied, any of what you just said. You didn't make a single legitimate counter-point, and failed to really make any points at all. You're only proving that you have no idea what you're talking about. I mean, goddamn, at least reply with something that makes sense. Or just ignore everything again and act like you have some kind of valid argument. I don't give a shit either way. But if you're going to defend your claim, then do it. Don't try and put words into my mouth while covering up the fact that you're clueless on the shit you're talking about.

Shit on a goddamn dick.

[zion the lion]

What the fuck are you talking about? You just straw-maned the fuck out of that, congrats. I'm glad you know how to take one line out of context and completely contrive a made-up argument to counter. I never said, or implied, any of what you just said. You didn't make a single legitimate counter-point, and failed to really make any points at all. You're only proving that you have no idea what you're talking about. I mean, goddamn, at least reply with something that makes sense. Or just ignore everything again and act like you have some kind of valid argument. I don't give a shit either way. But if you're going to defend your claim, then do it. Don't try and put words into my mouth while covering up the fact that you're clueless on the shit you're talking about.

Shit on a goddamn dick.

You tried to twist my words, so I did the same with yours...

[MarsEatWorld]

Art Studio
what about double major in business and art studio (concentration in graphic design)

[Broclee]

You tried to twist my words, so I did the same with yours...

I did no such thing. You said it was a bullshit major. See exhibit A:

I think its a bullshit major.

I wanted to know why. I asked implicitly why you thought that. The line that you bolded did not "twist" your words at all, they were my own, based off of common misconceptions and things that people think about music majors. If you don't want to back your claim, then just don't respond. It's much better than the tapdancing.

[kdefrisc]

The Business majors at my school get made fun of quite a bit. Also, liberal studies

[zion the lion]

I did no such thing. You said it was a bullshit major. See exhibit A:



I wanted to know why. I asked implicitly why you thought that. The line that you bolded did not "twist" your words at all, they were my own, based off of common misconceptions and things that people think about music majors. If you don't want to back your claim, then just don't respond. It's much better than the tapdancing.

Yeah you did when you were saying that they were working hard to do something that they enjoyed. Its like people dont think that philosophy majors enjoy what they do and work really hard doing it? I dont think that people who major in music enjoy music, and I never said that, and by saying that you were using common misconceptions and saying those were the reasons I dont respect it is still putting words in my mouth.

[Broclee]

Yeah you did when you were saying that they were working hard to do something that they enjoyed. Its like people dont think that philosophy majors enjoy what they do and work really hard doing it? I dont think that people who major in music enjoy music, and I never said that, and by saying that you were using common misconceptions and saying those were the reasons I dont respect it is still putting words in my mouth.

Just to the bolded: Again with the things you know nothing about it. Trust me, if you hated music, you couldn't be a music major. It's like hating writing and reading and being an English major. It makes no sense, and you wouldn't be able to do it because of how thoroughly you're immersed in the subject matter, and how much you have to work with it and become personal with it.

To everything else: You're still not making any sense. I never said "You don't respect music majors because ____________________." I was faceteously giving a very sarcastic reason based off an actual dialogue I've had with someone about music majors. I'm sorry you don't understand that, but I wasn't putting words in your mouth, or twisting yours. Can you stop hanging up on that false point? Because I'd really like to hear some legitimate reasons behind why you think this major is bullshit, as opposed to you whining because you didn't understand some sarcasm.

Also, I still don't understand why you keep trying to insist that I implied anything about any other majors whatsoever. I respect all majors, just not the people in them. Majors are designed so that people can persue their passions at a high level, oftentimes in hopes of making it into a career. Anyone that can follow their passion despite the stigma/forseeable workload gets my respect. All majors are hard work in some way, and so all majors get my respect. Does that settle that point for you?

[julietelizabeth]

I don't get why people are saying philosophy is not that respectable; Oxford and Cambridge both offer it and I think they're pretty respectable as far as world-class universities go, no? Also, philosophy is a properly old-school subject - hello, Ancient Greeks? I'm pretty sure they didn't have "media studies" and "events management" back then.

[fightoffyrdmns]

Anybody who doesn't respect an art major doesn't go to an art school. I'm not an art major, but I go to the #1 public arts school in the country and the effort/time/creativity those kids have to put into their work is mindblowing, not to mention their critiques rip any shred of confidence they might have in their work.

[The Indigo]

Just to the bolded: Again with the things you know nothing about it. Trust me, if you hated music, you couldn't be a music major. It's like hating writing and reading and being an English major. It makes no sense, and you wouldn't be able to do it because of how thoroughly you're immersed in the subject matter, and how much you have to work with it and become personal with it.

To everything else: You're still not making any sense. I never said "You don't respect music majors because ____________________." I was faceteously giving a very sarcastic reason based off an actual dialogue I've had with someone about music majors. I'm sorry you don't understand that, but I wasn't putting words in your mouth, or twisting yours. Can you stop hanging up on that false point? Because I'd really like to hear some legitimate reasons behind why you think this major is bullshit, as opposed to you whining because you didn't understand some sarcasm.

Also, I still don't understand why you keep trying to insist that I implied anything about any other majors whatsoever. I respect all majors, just not the people in them. Majors are designed so that people can persue their passions at a high level, oftentimes in hopes of making it into a career. Anyone that can follow their passion despite the stigma/forseeable workload gets my respect. All majors are hard work in some way, and so all majors get my respect. Does that settle that point for you?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're a NC Teaching Fellow, right? I am as well. Those summer activities are really cutting into my "break."

[Broclee]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're a NC Teaching Fellow, right? I am as well. Those summer activities are really cutting into my "break."

I am! It's nice to meet another TF on here. Yeah, the conference is kind of a pain, and some of those workshops seem kind of lame, but I'm okay with my Enrichment trip. I get to go up to Maryland for a week and work at a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

[The Indigo]

I am! It's nice to meet another TF on here. Yeah, the conference is kind of a pain, and some of those workshops seem kind of lame, but I'm okay with my Enrichment trip. I get to go up to Maryland for a week and work at a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
All the cool enrichment activities were either too far away, too expensive, or filled up too quickly for me. I'm going to be doing the Special Olympics in Raleigh, which should be fun, but with my summer job is seems like it's going to be a really stressful beginning of the month for me. If you don't mind me asking, what conference sessions did you get into? I'm in:

Session 1: GLBT Issues in the Classroom
Session 2: Depression in Children and Teens: What Every Teacher Should Know
Session 3: Teach and Discipline Every Child Equitably
Session 4: Individual Style and Style Impact in the Classroom

[zion the lion]

Just to the bolded: Again with the things you know nothing about it. Trust me, if you hated music, you couldn't be a music major. It's like hating writing and reading and being an English major. It makes no sense, and you wouldn't be able to do it because of how thoroughly you're immersed in the subject matter, and how much you have to work with it and become personal with it.

To everything else: You're still not making any sense. I never said "You don't respect music majors because ____________________." I was faceteously giving a very sarcastic reason based off an actual dialogue I've had with someone about music majors. I'm sorry you don't understand that, but I wasn't putting words in your mouth, or twisting yours. Can you stop hanging up on that false point? Because I'd really like to hear some legitimate reasons behind why you think this major is bullshit, as opposed to you whining because you didn't understand some sarcasm.

Also, I still don't understand why you keep trying to insist that I implied anything about any other majors whatsoever. I respect all majors, just not the people in them. Majors are designed so that people can persue their passions at a high level, oftentimes in hopes of making it into a career. Anyone that can follow their passion despite the stigma/forseeable workload gets my respect. All majors are hard work in some way, and so all majors get my respect. Does that settle that point for you?

Yeah, okay...with the part that you bolded, I meant to say "I dont think that people who major in music dont enjoy what they do"...as in I think they do enjoy it. It would be stupid to major in something that you hate, I think everyone knows that.

[vodyanoj]

I am a person of fact and information, numbers and certainty (I'm an accounting major...sexy I know). Philosophy is based on conjecture, argumentative thinking, and basically a waste of time. Why argue about whether or not we exist, are dreaming at all times, etc? I know some people take phil to go to law school, but I feel like the only thing most philosophy majors can do is teach philosophy.

Except for it actually takes an effort. I second the above: as a scientist, I tend to chuckle at majors like hospitality or even lit. And certainly, business and acocunting are on the top of my list of "fake" majors. Another one we used to make lot so ffun of was sociology: trying so hard to be a science and failing miserably, and architecture, but that was only because it seemed to attract a strange combination of brain-dead and nouveau-riche trash.

[saysmydoctor]

Someone in this thread doesn't know what they're talking about.

[quitmyscene]

Wow, someone really tried to talk shit on architecture? And accounting? Really?

[Susanna]

The Business majors at my school get made fun of quite a bit. Also, liberal studies
Is your avatar Nate and David?

[Stavie Steelo]

My Sociology minor won't do me much but I enjoy the classes and had to take a minor. I was already half way done with it without realizing it so why not. Also I know someone who was doing Physical Education Teaching as his major and had did 10 times more homework than I did.

[kdefrisc]

Is your avatar Nate and David?

yep :nod:

[Alou]

Haha I had to go with my mom to all of her college classes when I was younger, I spent a lot more time in college with her than I did in high school so dont try to pull that age card bullshit with me.

And dont get all offended because I knocked on (what I assume is) your major I'm sorry (not really), but I dont respect it, I think its a bullshit major.

A music major takes a lot of work. And apparently you are your mom do everything together as you've brought her up 2 or 3 times now. Get some friends your own age and stop disrespecting music majors.

[zion the lion]

A music major takes a lot of work. And apparently you are your mom do everything together as you've brought her up 2 or 3 times now. Get some friends your own age and stop disrespecting music majors.

Yeah we joke around that we're the black alaskan gilmore girls. But oh yeah music is your major right?

[Alou]

Yeah we joke around that we're the black alaskan gilmore girls. But oh yeah music is your major right?

Psychology actually. I just have music major friends and I know how much work they put into it.

[zion the lion]

Psychology actually. I just have music major friends and I know how much work they put into it.

Thats wonderful for them.

[saofan_315]

Philosophy.

I'm not knocking the subject but to major in it seems kind of weak. I took a couple philosophy classes but you really didn't have to learn or know anything. What do you do with a philosophy degree?

Ever take a Logic class? Shit was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in college. I realize most philosophy classes aren't like that, but I'm forever scared because no one warned me not to take a Logic class.

[spiffa0]

Except for it actually takes an effort. I second the above: as a scientist, I tend to chuckle at majors like hospitality or even lit. And certainly, business and acocunting are on the top of my list of "fake" majors. Another one we used to make lot so ffun of was sociology: trying so hard to be a science and failing miserably, and architecture, but that was only because it seemed to attract a strange combination of brain-dead and nouveau-riche trash.


Explain why accounting is a fake major. Anyone who says that has never taken a high level accounting class.http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/236.html

See the list for bachelor's degree. Number 2. Obviously accountants are in high demand, making it a necessary and important major.

[Susanna]

yep :nod:
Awesome! I love it. :highfive:

[ArTkY_]

Ever take a Logic class? Shit was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in college. I realize most philosophy classes aren't like that, but I'm forever scared because no one warned me not to take a Logic class.
Ah, I love Logic.

[Broclee]

All the cool enrichment activities were either too far away, too expensive, or filled up too quickly for me. I'm going to be doing the Special Olympics in Raleigh, which should be fun, but with my summer job is seems like it's going to be a really stressful beginning of the month for me. If you don't mind me asking, what conference sessions did you get into? I'm in:

Session 1: GLBT Issues in the Classroom
Session 2: Depression in Children and Teens: What Every Teacher Should Know
Session 3: Teach and Discipline Every Child Equitably
Session 4: Individual Style and Style Impact in the Classroom

The only reasons I'm doing Maryland (as opposed to in-state) is that it was covered, didn't interfere with anything for me, and has a small stipend. My conference sessions are:

Session 1: Depression in Children and Teens: What Every Teacher Should Know
Session 2: The Tyranny of Print Literacy
Session 3: Individual Style and Style Impact in the Classroom
Session 4: Why Culture Matters

I thought we were in the same Individual Style..., but alas. I really wanted the GLBT Issues one, but it was full when I got to it.

Yeah, okay...with the part that you bolded, I meant to say "I dont think that people who major in music dont enjoy what they do"...as in I think they do enjoy it. It would be stupid to major in something that you hate, I think everyone knows that.

Okay. So...why do you think music is a bullshit major?

Someone in this thread doesn't know what they're talking about.

I know, I know. I apologize.

[saofan_315]

Ah, I love Logic.

Part of my terrible logic experience had to do with the fact that it was at 8am and the instructor was an asswhole Grad Student. If I had known I'd be signing up for Geometry on steroids, I would have stayed the hell away.

[vodyanoj]

Ever take a Logic class? Shit was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in college. I realize most philosophy classes aren't like that, but I'm forever scared because no one warned me not to take a Logic class.

Actually, most philosophy classes are much more difficult, which is why I cannot, honestly, consider philosophy to be a fake major.

[vodyanoj]

Explain why accounting is a fake major. Anyone who says that has never taken a high level accounting class.http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/236.html

See the list for bachelor's degree. Number 2. Obviously accountants are in high demand, making it a necessary and important major.

Mostly because it is easy. I consider those subjects to be "fake" in this context that can be learned by self-study. All it requires is some dedication. Accounting, as well as pretty much any liberal art are such. Even music: it takes an effort and you have to make some time for it, but learning musical theory is something you can do in the comfort of your own home (I did...:)). THe same applies to accounting. On the other hand, quantum field theory or algebraic topology are virtually impossible to study alone, unless you are a certified genius.

[spiffa0]

Mostly because it is easy. I consider those subjects to be "fake" in this context that can be learned by self-study. All it requires is some dedication. Accounting, as well as pretty much any liberal art are such. Even music: it takes an effort and you have to make some time for it, but learning musical theory is something you can do in the comfort of your own home (I did...:)). THe same applies to accounting. On the other hand, quantum field theory or algebraic topology are virtually impossible to study alone, unless you are a certified genius.

I don't consider "easy" majors (which is all relative and opinionated by the way) to be fake. For example, I don't think it would be hard to get an education degree but I think that is a very respectable major and profession. I do not think philosophy is a worthwhile major because of the limitations of it. As an accountant, I can work for the big 4, I can work in a corporate setting, I can do tax, manage/own a business, do finance, get into management, etc. A philosophy major can publish philosophy and go to law school (which anyone with any major ever can do). I feel as if they have less return to society than most others.

[Taking_Frags]

Mostly because it is easy. I consider those subjects to be "fake" in this context that can be learned by self-study. All it requires is some dedication. Accounting, as well as pretty much any liberal art are such. Even music: it takes an effort and you have to make some time for it, but learning musical theory is something you can do in the comfort of your own home (I did...:)). THe same applies to accounting. On the other hand, quantum field theory or algebraic topology are virtually impossible to study alone, unless you are a certified genius.

So you're saying every subject that can be learned by self study is 'fake'? But not quantum field theory or algebraic topology (which are fields within specific subjects(majors))? Well, EVERY undergraduate major is able to be learned by self study. The fields you mentioned, are only touched when you continue through graduate school and are pursing a PhD for a field as specific as algebraic topology (You obviously don't major in algebraic topology at the undergraduate level so I don't know why you would use that to defend your case). Yes, point-set topology and general topology courses are available in undergraduate level, which even then can be learned by yourself with a text book. I'm not going to continue on because you should be able to see my point.

[vodyanoj]

I don't consider "easy" majors (which is all relative and opinionated by the way) to be fake. For example, I don't think it would be hard to get an education degree but I think that is a very respectable major and profession. I do not think philosophy is a worthwhile major because of the limitations of it. As an accountant, I can work for the big 4, I can work in a corporate setting, I can do tax, manage/own a business, do finance, get into management, etc. A philosophy major can publish philosophy and go to law school (which anyone with any major ever can do). I feel as if they have less return to society than most others.

Do you have the same problem with theoretical physics? Knowledge for knowlege sake is the best return to society one can imagine, especially since one cannot tell in advance what form those contributions will take. And uselessness is in the eye of the beholder: I tend to think most business-realted degrees are entirely useless, within my sphere of interests at least. And sociology is pure balderdash, period...:)

That said, I am not disagreeing on the essential uselessness of a degree in philosophy, especially since many so-called philosophers do not have a decent enough grounding in science and as a result, spout inane bullshit all over the place (check out Christian apologists, for example: many, if not all of them, have degrees in philosophy). I don't think that the major should even be available as an undergraduate degree (is it anywhere? most places I am familiar with only have a graduate program in philosophy anyway) and a degree in hard science should be a prerequisite.

The usefulness of philosophy, for what it's worth, is that it may teach you how to think rationally (apparently it does not work all the time; again, check out religious apologist "philosophers"). That is not an inborn trait in humans, and oine must learn it and practice it.

EDIT: Sorry, there is nothing in the slightest relative about the difficulty of some subjects. Arithmetic is easier than transfinite set theory. Some specific skills are independent of the continuum we are talking aobut: one can be dumb as a rock, and still be an awesome dancer, for example, or conversely, one can be a brilliant mathematician and a Clouseau in "normal" life. But I am talking about specifc difficulties relevant to academic achievement and those are far from relative.

[vodyanoj]

So you're saying every subject that can be learned by self study is 'fake'? But not quantum field theory or algebraic topology (which are fields within specific subjects(majors))? Well, EVERY undergraduate major is able to be learned by self study. The fields you mentioned, are only touched when you continue through graduate school and are pursing a PhD for a field as specific as algebraic topology (You obviously don't major in algebraic topology at the undergraduate level so I don't know why you would use that to defend your case). Yes, point-set topology and general topology courses are available in undergraduate level, which even then can be learned by yourself with a text book. I'm not going to continue on because you should be able to see my point.

Has nothing to do with a major: algebraic topology is a necessary ingredient of modern cosmology. QFT is a prerequisite in most physics majors (yes, on the undergraduate level!). And I am talking about specific classes as components of majors. We can make it simpler:on the undergraduate level, one can study business math at home, but a three semester physics sequence is best taken as a real class: access to lab and consultation and help with problem sets are irreplaceable by anything one can do at home. Sure, all of those can be learned by yourself (I did that with many math classes since things like group and graph theory wereimportant for me, but I did not have time to take them within the normal curriculum), but the amount of effort required for some is quite enormous--and it is difficult to tell whether that strange result you derive in that problem is due to some elementary mistake or is a groundbreaking discovery (most likely the former). On the other hand, I can learn many many subjects on my free time without spending 40+ hours a week solving problems without being able to discuss them in class or lab. Therein lies the difference.

But I am a physical and life science snob, so whatever.

EDIT FOR CLARITY: Regarding your first sentence: no, I am talking about subjects as ingredients of majors. A major that consists in its entirety of either subjects that a, I can learn in one Sunday of drinking or b, of subjects that do not require outside help or in-class communication due to their inherent subjectivity, or c, subjects that consist of nothing but brown matter pulled out of some famous person's ass...are fake, IMHO, to different degrees of fakeness.

[Broclee]

Mostly because it is easy. I consider those subjects to be "fake" in this context that can be learned by self-study. All it requires is some dedication. Accounting, as well as pretty much any liberal art are such. Even music: it takes an effort and you have to make some time for it, but learning musical theory is something you can do in the comfort of your own home (I did...:)). THe same applies to accounting. On the other hand, quantum field theory or algebraic topology are virtually impossible to study alone, unless you are a certified genius.

That's only a fraction of what music majors do, though; there's so much more to it than that. Yes, learning theory is not that difficult (up to a certain level...if you self-taught yourself post- and atonal theory, then awesome, but sheesh), but there's also your instrument, which includes lessons, recitals, etc, learning rep, understanding the functions and purposes of musical pieces, music history, context of music in history (including learning appropriate ornamentation and tone qualities for different periods), writing, aural skills, repair, pedagogy, and conducting, not to mention further studies specific to different types of music degrees. I understand your point, but I feel like it's undermining the spectrum of work, classes, and concepts music majors study.

[Taking_Frags]

Has nothing to do with a major: algebraic topology is a necessary ingredient of modern cosmology. QFT is a prerequisite in most physics majors (yes, on the undergraduate level!). And I am talking about specific classes as components of majors. We can make it simpler:on the undergraduate level, one can study business math at home, but a three semester physics sequence is best taken as a real class: access to lab and consultation and help with problem sets are irreplaceable by anything one can do at home. Sure, all of those can be learned by yourself (I did that with many math classes since things like group and graph theory wereimportant for me, but I did not have time to take them within the normal curriculum), but the amount of effort required for some is quite enormous--and it is difficult to tell whether that strange result you derive in that problem is dues to some elementary mistake or is a groundbreaking discovery (most likely the former). On the other hand, I can learn many many subjects on my free time without spending 40+ hours a week solving problems without being able to discuss them in class or lab. Therein lies the difference.

But I am a physical and life science snob, so whatever.

You're right about AT and QFT being necessary ingredients for certain fields, but as you say, they have nothing to do with a major so they do not defend your case. You say a physics sequence is best as a real class, but can be learned on your own; another contradiction. Every subject can be learned on your own, regardless of what it is, so every major must be fake according to you.

Referring to graph theory, what have you looked at? I've done some very elementary research in graph theory focusing on hamiltonian cycles and claw free graphs.

[vodyanoj]

You're right about AT and QFT being necessary ingredients for certain fields, but as you say, they have nothing to do with a major so they do not defend your case. You say a physics sequence is best as a real class, but can be learned on your own; another contradiction. Every subject can be learned on your own, regardless of what it is, so every major must be fake according to you.

Referring to graph theory, what have you looked at? I've done some very elementary research in graph theory focusing on hamiltonian cycles and claw free graphs.

Graph theory is relevant to loop quantum gravity, and that is one of my strong interests. (Hamiltonians are all over the place in QM, naturally, and therein lies the connection).

Now: of course they have to do with the major, being necessary ingredients of such (major (I meant that my point concerned specific compontents rather than the whole thing--which is admittedly rather nebulous). No contradiciton there. And of course, nothing is absolute: everything is possible, and one can learn any subject, hypothetically, without any contact with anyone else. But:

I suppose everything can be learned by yourself, but there is no guarantee that you'll get it right. There is a continuum of subjects; as I have said earlier, perhaps they can be divided into three rough groups(and my opinion of their "fakery" is based on such a division to a large degree).

1.Those that can be learned with a minimum of effort by any reasonably rational individual. This includes lots of things: from art appreciation, to most postmodernist philosophies, to things like introductory history and/or beginning level social studies and "soft" sciences.

2.Those that can be learned by yourslef but require some investment of time: that covers a lot of things again, from many of the social studies (at least, on the undergraduate level) to things like art and music (a major effort is required, but being inherently subjective, there is no "right" way of playing an instrument, for example, and hence, no overriding need to study it in the academic environment, even though it may help).

3.Those taht are virtuall yimpossible to learn through self-srtudy: any theory-heavy "hard" scientific subject falls into this category. especially on the undergraduate level. Oncve you've mastered the basics, I suppose you can learn any advanced subject readily enough, since the foundations are already there and you are not likely to go too far astray. But the basics themselves are quite difficult: look at all the self-taught "researchers", the discoverers of FTL and perpetual mobila: cranks, all of them, precisely for that reason. They did not learn the foundations of their subjects in a scholastic environment and there was no-one there to correct them when they went astray, as happens to all of us.

But that takes us rather far afield: I have just thought of the ultimate in fake majors, so fake it didn't even come to mind when I first saw this thred. It is both utterly useless, does not generate any new knowledge, and consists, in its virtual entirey, of smelly fecal matter. I am talking of THEOLOGY, of course...

EDIT: Oh, and as a snob, I must say that things that pass for majors in many American universities at least, belonged in technical schools in the past. That is not meant as a putdown, merely that they are different things.

[vodyanoj]

That's only a fraction of what music majors do, though; there's so much more to it than that. Yes, learning theory is not that difficult (up to a certain level...if you self-taught yourself post- and atonal theory, then awesome, but sheesh), but there's also your instrument, which includes lessons, recitals, etc, learning rep, understanding the functions and purposes of musical pieces, music history, context of music in history (including learning appropriate ornamentation and tone qualities for different periods), writing, aural skills, repair, pedagogy, and conducting, not to mention further studies specific to different types of music degrees. I understand your point, but I feel like it's undermining the spectrum of work, classes, and concepts music majors study.

I am not disagreeing with that: but it is much easier to be a self-taught musician (many are!) than a self-taught physicist (many try and that is why the world is full of crackpots! :)).

I suppose more people try to play music than study mathematical physics, so that may account for some of the discrepancy in results. And there are A LOT of bad musicians, even those trained properly. Here the problem is, of course, that there are specific subjective aspects to music, unlike science and it is impossible to meanigfully compare, say, Giya Kancheli, Sigur Ros and PiL.

EDIT: Essentially, in art it takes time and effort, but can reasonably be done alone. In science...not so much...:)

[Taking_Frags]

Graph theory is relevant to loop quantum gravity, and that is one of my strong interests. (Hamiltonians are all over the place in QM, naturally, and therein lies the connection).

Now: of course they have to do with the major, being necessary ingredients of such (major (I meant that my point concerned specific compontents rather than the whole thing--which is admittedly rather nebulous). No contradiciton there. And of course, nothing is absolute: everything is possible, and one can learn any subject, hypothetically, without any contact with anyone else. But:

I suppose everything can be learned by yourself, but there is no guarantee that you'll get it right. There is a continuum of subjects; as I have said earlier, perhaps they can be divided into three rough groups(and my opinion of their "fakery" is based on such a division to a large degree).

1.Those that can be learned with a minimum of effort by any reasonably rational individual. This includes lots of things: from art appreciation, to most postmodernist philosophies, to things like introductory history and/or beginning level social studies and "soft" sciences.

2.Those that can be learned by yourslef but require some investment of time: that covers a lot of things again, from many of the social studies (at least, on the undergraduate level) to things like art and music (a major effort is required, but being inherently subjective, there is no "right" way of playing an instrument, for example, and hence, no overriding need to study it in the academic environment, even though it may help).

3.Those taht are virtuall yimpossible to learn through self-srtudy: any theory-heavy "hard" scientific subject falls into this category. especially on the undergraduate level. Oncve you've mastered the basics, I suppose you can learn any advanced subject readily enough, since the foundations are already there and you are not likely to go too far astray. But the basics themselves are quite difficult: look at all the self-taught "researchers", the discoverers of FTL and perpetual mobila: cranks, all of them, precisely for that reason. They did not learn the foundations of their subjects in a scholastic environment and there was no-one there to correct them when they went astray, as happens to all of us.

But that takes us rather far afield: I have just thought of the ultimate in fake majors, so fake it didn't even come to mind when I first saw this thred. It is both utterly useless, does not generate any new knowledge, and consists, in its virtual entirey, of smelly fecal matter. I am talking of THEOLOGY, of course...

EDIT: Oh, and as a snob, I must say that things that pass for majors in many American universities at least, belonged in technical schools in the past. That is not meant as a putdown, merely that they are different things.

Do you follow politics? You're like the John Kerry of this thread.

As you suppose, once again, that every subject can be learned through self study. However, it does not mean that you will get it right. Does guidance from a professor guarantee you'll get it correct? No. However, you still suppose that every subject can be self taught. No wait, this does not include subjects that are very theory based, aka scientific subjects because these are deemed virtually impossible by yourself, especially at the undergraduate level. And so on...and on...and on...

And yes, you are a snob.

[spiffa0]

Do you have the same problem with theoretical physics? Knowledge for knowlege sake is the best return to society one can imagine, especially since one cannot tell in advance what form those contributions will take. And uselessness is in the eye of the beholder: I tend to think most business-realted degrees are entirely useless, within my sphere of interests at least. And sociology is pure balderdash, period...:)

That said, I am not disagreeing on the essential uselessness of a degree in philosophy, especially since many so-called philosophers do not have a decent enough grounding in science and as a result, spout inane bullshit all over the place (check out Christian apologists, for example: many, if not all of them, have degrees in philosophy). I don't think that the major should even be available as an undergraduate degree (is it anywhere? most places I am familiar with only have a graduate program in philosophy anyway) and a degree in hard science should be a prerequisite.

The usefulness of philosophy, for what it's worth, is that it may teach you how to think rationally (apparently it does not work all the time; again, check out religious apologist "philosophers"). That is not an inborn trait in humans, and oine must learn it and practice it.

EDIT: Sorry, there is nothing in the slightest relative about the difficulty of some subjects. Arithmetic is easier than transfinite set theory. Some specific skills are independent of the continuum we are talking aobut: one can be dumb as a rock, and still be an awesome dancer, for example, or conversely, one can be a brilliant mathematician and a Clouseau in "normal" life. But I am talking about specifc difficulties relevant to academic achievement and those are far from relative.

The fact that you believe something like accounting is just basic arithmetic means you have no idea what the major actually entails. I believe business gets a bad reputation because you figure that the majority of athletes at a college are pretty dumb and either go into communications or general business. Let's not overlook the fact that business is what makes the world go round and you cannot be unintelligent and run a Fortune 500 company. Business is NOT useless at all. You can't be a quantum physics major and own and operate a business without some sense of how business works. Remember, wherever you work, you are going to be working for a BUSINESS. Regardless of if it's not for profit and just does research or you are making bank doing whatever it is that you like to do. So calling business useless is absolutely ridiculous.

[lbopm]

I was a business major, and then I switched to math.

Safe to say the majors I don't respect are:

Business (and almost all majors under it's umbrella), American Studies, Sociology, Psychology

and it's unfair to say I don't respect these next few because for some people they take advantage of programs and really know their shit, but the statement "all the _________ majors I know I don't respect" applies to: english, gov't and politics, philosophy, and education at UMD

[GrapesIndigo]

Most users commenting place their emphasis on the amount of effort involved in practicing various studies and each major's practical use in the real world. Especially the poster above who thinks only useful majors are respectable. How do we define useful? You define it as a subject matter that can be effortlessly studied in one's own time. (You include post modernism, have you ever read Foucault, or read any of these profound writers?) You go on to say these sorts of studies are self studies? So according to the discussion above, only theoretical, abstract subjects are considered useful. I would argue the opposite.

You are completely forgetting about self-understanding within one's own, everyday life.
Many have overlooked philosophy's importance in education and how it ties into almost every subject matter.

[Broclee]

I am not disagreeing with that: but it is much easier to be a self-taught musician (many are!) than a self-taught physicist (many try and that is why the world is full of crackpots! :)).

I suppose more people try to play music than study mathematical physics, so that may account for some of the discrepancy in results. And there are A LOT of bad musicians, even those trained properly. Here the problem is, of course, that there are specific subjective aspects to music, unlike science and it is impossible to meanigfully compare, say, Giya Kancheli, Sigur Ros and PiL.

EDIT: Essentially, in art it takes time and effort, but can reasonably be done alone. In science...not so much...:)

As much as I don't disagree with (m)any of your individual assertions, I still take issue with the main concept. Yes, one can study music theory and play music alone, but I feel as though to reach the full length of knowledge and skill music majors have upon graduating, you'd have to study under those who have had years and years of training, education, and practice. You can be a self-taught musician, but you don't have a mentor there to coach you when you do something wrong, to fix your tone or inotnation on certain passages in a piece you're preparing for a recital, or to give you advice about what kinds of warm-ups are going to be most appropriate for you at any given time. Same goes for theory, history, or musicology. I'd say that alone is enough to keep it from being a "fake" major.

[vodyanoj]

Do you follow politics? You're like the John Kerry of this thread.

As you suppose, once again, that every subject can be learned through self study. However, it does not mean that you will get it right. Does guidance from a professor guarantee you'll get it correct? No. However, you still suppose that every subject can be self taught. No wait, this does not include subjects that are very theory based, aka scientific subjects because these are deemed virtually impossible by yourself, especially at the undergraduate level. And so on...and on...and on...

And yes, you are a snob.

Does the idea of a continuum of difficulty ring a bell? Enough strawmen already: there are degrees of difficulty ranging from ridiculously easy to almost impossible to learn on one's own. I would say that nothing is completely impossible, merely extremely difficult and highly unlikely to succeed. And that is an empirically verifiable statement: as I mentioned earlier there are far more succesful self-taught musicians, artists AND businessmen than cosmologists or molecular biologists.

[vodyanoj]

As much as I don't disagree with (m)any of your individual assertions, I still take issue with the main concept. Yes, one can study music theory and play music alone, but I feel as though to reach the full length of knowledge and skill music majors have upon graduating, you'd have to study under those who have had years and years of training, education, and practice. You can be a self-taught musician, but you don't have a mentor there to coach you when you do something wrong, to fix your tone or inotnation on certain passages in a piece you're preparing for a recital, or to give you advice about what kinds of warm-ups are going to be most appropriate for you at any given time. Same goes for theory, history, or musicology. I'd say that alone is enough to keep it from being a "fake" major.

Sure. In that sense, who are we to say that anything is "fake" anyway, as long as it is meaningful to the person studying it? (Although the above statement should not be applied to theology: once more, I assert that that is the fakest major of them all).

EDIT: regarding the bolded: because of the inherent subjectivity of art, one person's fix is another person's glaring ugliness. Of course having a mentor helps--but that applies to many, if not all, other subjects. But for some subjects, having a mentor--also being a part of a class where you can compare notes with others--is pretty much irreplaceable. Especially in math-related subjects, where you can have some subtle errors in your solutions or proofs without realizing that they are there.

[vodyanoj]

Most users commenting place their emphasis on the amount of effort involved in practicing various studies and each major's practical use in the real world. Especially the poster above who thinks only useful majors are respectable. How do we define useful? You define it as a subject matter that can be effortlessly studied in one's own time. (You include post modernism, have you ever read Foucault, or read any of these profound writers?) You go on to say these sorts of studies are self studies? So according to the discussion above, only theoretical, abstract subjects are considered useful. I would argue the opposite.

You are completely forgetting about self-understanding within one's own, everyday life.
Many have overlooked philosophy's importance in education and how it ties into almost every subject matter.

Indeed I have. Although I must note that besides Foucault and some Deleuze I would not use the term "profound" when desxcribing them. I find the vast majority of them--from Lacan to Baudrillard to Kristeva--to be ridiculous, useless, insipid and utterly ignorant of the nature of the subjects they attempt to tackle. And it is most apparent when they talk aboiut science and its methods: their ignorance of both is quite staggering.
(Irigaray states without a trace of irony that the speed of light is sexist and inegalitarian, because it privileges one velocity above others; Lacan says that a penis is precisely equivalent to i, etcetera ad nauseam).

[Broclee]

Sure. In that sense, who are we to say that anything is "fake" anyway, as long as it is meaningful to the person studying it? (Although the above statement should not be applied to theology: once more, I assert that that is the fakest major of them all).

EDIT: regarding the bolded: because of the inherent subjectivity of art, one person's fix is another person's glaring ugliness. Of course having a mentor helps--but that applies to many, if not all, other subjects. But for some subjects, having a mentor--also being a part of a class where you can compare notes with others--is pretty much irreplaceable. Especially in math-related subjects, where you can have some subtle errors in your solutions or proofs without realizing that they are there.

Yes, art is subjective, but there are still tones, intonations, and ways of playing that are more appropriate for different pieces depending on their historical context. Those aren't things you have to follow, but to play the piece well, you do. I understand what you're saying, but there are actually quite a lot of objective aspects of performance that come into play when performing pieces from throughout history.

There is no replacement for a professional teacher on an instrument, unless you're a prodigy. I was self-taught on my instrument before school, and I've learned and grown leaps and bounds as a player just by having someone to teach me. Again, I understand the analogy, but I feel like it's undermining the complexity of the subject matter.

[vodyanoj]

Yes, art is subjective, but there are still tones, intonations, and ways of playing that are more appropriate for different pieces depending on their historical context. Those aren't things you have to follow, but to play the piece well, you do. I understand what you're saying, but there are actually quite a lot of objective aspects of performance that come into play when performing pieces from throughout history.

There is no replacement for a professional teacher on an instrument, unless you're a prodigy. I was self-taught on my instrument before school, and I've learned and grown leaps and bounds as a player just by having someone to teach me. Again, I understand the analogy, but I feel like it's undermining the complexity of the subject matter.

We are most likely talking about different things, different "muisics" if you will. Indeed, there are "proper" ways to perform, say Josquin and Hildegard von Bingen--but check out Garmarna's versions of the latter's pieces, performed on traditional Swedish instruments with a heavy does of electronics: certainly not the way in which any musical professor would recommend. But it works...Or look at conducting: every great conductor will perform a given symphony differently, sometimes drastically so. Whereas in a mathematical problem there is a single correct answer, and it is objectively so.

And, I suppose i am referring more to the creative aspect of music: one can be a briliant self0taught musician performing only one's own compositions, and creating proper dynamics "intuitively" so to speak (much jazz and punk-rock actually does fall into that category. Much jazz also doesn't...Also, I am not the kind of a person who says, as in the old joke, "Violin playing? It's easy! I saw someone play: doesn't look that difficult at all!" :)

I don't think I am disagreeing with you. My claim is that it is much easier to run into a stone wall--or, worse, to make some elementary mistake and not notice it and proceed with your studies, with that one wrong solution compounding itself and completely messing up your knowledge framework--in physical sciences and math than in music. It is possible in both fields, of course, but is much more common in the former. And when that happens--in either field of study--a mentor is, I agree, irreplaceable.

[Broclee]

We are most likely talking about different things, different "muisics" if you will. Indeed, there are "proper" ways to perform, say Josquin and Hildegard von Bingen--but check out Garmarna's versions of the latter's pieces, performed on traditional Swedish instruments with a heavy does of electronics: certainly not the way in which any musical professor would recommend. But it works...Or look at conducting: every great conductor will perform a given symphony differently, sometimes drastically so. Whereas in a mathematical problem there is a single correct answer, and it is objectively so.

And, I suppose i am referring more to the creative aspect of music: one can be a briliant self0taught musician performing only one's own compositions, and creating proper dynamics "intuitively" so to speak (much jazz and punk-rock actually does fall into that category. Much jazz also doesn't...Also, I am not the kind of a person who says, as in the old joke, "Violin playing? It's easy! I saw someone play: doesn't look that difficult at all!" :)

I don't think I am disagreeing with you. My claim is that it is much easier to run into a stone wall--or, worse, to make some elementary mistake and not notice it and proceed with your studies, with that one wrong solution compounding itself and completely messing up your knowledge framework--in physical sciences and math than in music. It is possible in both fields, of course, but is much more common in the former. And when that happens--in either field of study--a mentor is, I agree, irreplaceable.

I definitely see what you're saying, and yes, we're talking about completely different things, haha.

[lbopm]

Most users commenting place their emphasis on the amount of effort involved in practicing various studies and each major's practical use in the real world. Especially the poster above who thinks only useful majors are respectable. How do we define useful? You define it as a subject matter that can be effortlessly studied in one's own time. (You include post modernism, have you ever read Foucault, or read any of these profound writers?) You go on to say these sorts of studies are self studies? So according to the discussion above, only theoretical, abstract subjects are considered useful. I would argue the opposite.

You are completely forgetting about self-understanding within one's own, everyday life.
Many have overlooked philosophy's importance in education and how it ties into almost every subject matter.

Although I part of how you characterized my post is true, I wouldn't say I placed "useful" majors as much as I posted what in my opinion are majors that are not difficult. Why would I say that? Because they're some of the most popular majors in the countries and people get them in droves. That is why I don't respect them. There are definitely important things you can learn from literature and from philosophy, BUT seeing the volume of people that can easily complete some of these majors and the fact they are used as back ups (especially in my school, where those majors do not require an admissions process), I feel they are inferior majors because of their availability. Also I would be the first to say that a straight Math major (which I have) is not really "useful" and the only way to really do anything in Math is to become a PHD, otherwise you end up doing math you learned your freshman/sophomore year and that's all. Basically, it may seem unfair to some people that the sciences view the arts that way but think of it this way.

In many circles, if someone does not understand math or science, or have a formal background, the person is not seen as less intelligent if they are proficient in an art type of field (like english). However, someone who is proficient in math and science are considered inferior if they do not ALSO have a decent background in English ..etc enough to be "cultured" and to at least contribute to conversations. English is seen as a necessity where Math and Science are only optional. However, I would argue that a person like Albert Einstein or Sir Isaac Newton runs in circles around pure philosophers, writers, and most anyone else intellectually.

[GrapesIndigo]

I agree with you that students majoring in the humanities ought to at least have a little scientific background to follow discussions genuinely. Especially when the current state of philosophy is more so becoming interdisciplinary like neurophilosophy. When you say Einstein or Newton could run in circles around philosophers is where I disagree. Maybe they would sound superior because of their scientific vocabulary, but as far as thinking and argumentation, I think the philosopher would be useful to break into the foundations of their theories.

Rather than trying to take sides, I think science and philosophy should work together without hesitation.

[vodyanoj]

Although I part of how you characterized my post is true, I wouldn't say I placed "useful" majors as much as I posted what in my opinion are majors that are not difficult. Why would I say that? Because they're some of the most popular majors in the countries and people get them in droves. That is why I don't respect them. There are definitely important things you can learn from literature and from philosophy, BUT seeing the volume of people that can easily complete some of these majors and the fact they are used as back ups (especially in my school, where those majors do not require an admissions process), I feel they are inferior majors because of their availability. Also I would be the first to say that a straight Math major (which I have) is not really "useful" and the only way to really do anything in Math is to become a PHD, otherwise you end up doing math you learned your freshman/sophomore year and that's all. Basically, it may seem unfair to some people that the sciences view the arts that way but think of it this way.

In many circles, if someone does not understand math or science, or have a formal background, the person is not seen as less intelligent if they are proficient in an art type of field (like english). However, someone who is proficient in math and science are considered inferior if they do not ALSO have a decent background in English ..etc enough to be "cultured" and to at least contribute to conversations. English is seen as a necessity where Math and Science are only optional. However, I would argue that a person like Albert Einstein or Sir Isaac Newton runs in circles around pure philosophers, writers, and most anyone else intellectually.


I agree with mnost of this, except for the implied claim that philosophy is somehow an easy subject. Far from it...:) (And don't forget that Einstein himself was a no mean philosopher, whereas Newton, apart from the work he is famous for, was a weird mystical crank who spent his time calculating Kabbalistic balderdash and making horoscopes...)

In your second paragraph, you are essentially making the same claim that CP Snow made all those years ago: and I agree completely. The conception of culture in the West (traditionally) somehow excludes knowledge of scieince and mathematics, no matter how theoretical or esoteric. (I have heard a claim along the lines of "I am an artist, not a mathematician/programmer" many many times. Always makes me laugh, since such a statement only indicates the fools' abysmal ignorance of both art and science.)

But things are not that bad any more (much better than in Snow's days!), and they are certainly changing: what is called "the third culture" is emerging from a confluence of science, philosophy, and art. A lot of the most brilliant modern scientists and thinkers fall into that category. You can see lots of fascinating discussions and thought at www.edge.org (http://www.edge.org).

[tectactoe]

Basically how I feel.


I'm a Mechanical engineer major but even I feel like a pussy compared to Structural or Electrical engineers.


Me also... except I've never felt bad compared to EE's... I mean, I'd say their shit is about as hard as an ME's shit... they're just different, you know? Structural engineers... now there's something that blows my mind.

The only degrees I see as being much better or more prestegious than engineers would be lawyers and doctors. I know that's pretty elitist and I'm sure there are some hard degrees I'm not thinking about, but the typical workload for an engineer is usually leagues more than most other professions, besides the two i named.

I dunno, that sounded pretty mean.

[matthewoden]

Music Industry?

[Broclee]

Music Industry?
Why? It's much more applicable and relevant than any other music degree, even education, and music is something that isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[ilikesound93]

What about audio production or audio technology? I want opinions

[A7XXX]

My school is a science school so people really look down on all Business majors. Other than that, everything else (Philosophy, Astronomy, Music, Arts) sound cool to me. They are subjects that I have an interest in but can't really pursue due to their impracticability.

[jco3]

There are a lot of jaded people in this thread. Honestly, who cares what people do with their life?

It's their life, not yours.

[calendartransit]

Criminology or whatever all of the college football players major in.

[M.C COB]

Criminology or whatever all of the college football players major in.

Hahaha that reminds me of a nickname for one of the classes that most football players take -"Jocks & Rocks". I think it is like a geology course.

[lbopm]

There are a lot of jaded people in this thread. Honestly, who cares what people do with their life?

It's their life, not yours.

Most likely because they made a thread asking us to come up with majors we don't respect. If we didn't give any reasoning then it would just be a large list.

[Prestonxsmith]

I am a person of fact and information, numbers and certainty (I'm an accounting major...sexy I know). Philosophy is based on conjecture, argumentative thinking, and basically a waste of time. Why argue about whether or not we exist, are dreaming at all times, etc? I know some people take phil to go to law school, but I feel like the only thing most philosophy majors can do is teach philosophy.

Philosophy is very respectable. I think you would be surprised of the number of inventions Philosopher's made throughout the history of time.

[GELbourne]

I don't think I really have a lot of respect for those who are doing just BA's in music (unless they are double majoring with something else). I think its great that they are studying music, but the BA itself is just so shallow, and doesn't really afford a way for anyone to go deep into a certain field of music (History, Musicology, Theory, Composition), and that of all the music degrees, (which already don't really lend themselves to getting jobs), the lack of specificity in the field makes it even harder to get a job.

I feel like the degree was designed to give those with an amateur passion for music an avenue to explore collegiate studies in music strictly for their own intellectual gain, but as far as being a stand-alone degree, I feel it is rather pointless. That having been said, I think that those who designed the course layout for that degree, at least at my university, had the idea of crafting this lite degree for those intending to double major in something else. In fact, at my university, the course outline leaves a lot of blank space in the last year to fill in classes for another degree.

[miken3714]

you can make something out of any major

[miken3714]

but i'll go with music performance at schools that arent conservatories

[Broclee]

but i'll go with music performance at schools that arent conservatories
Music performance is a hard degree to do much of anything with. It takes a huge level of dedication to stay with a major like that where there's so much work with so little potential pay-off.

[miken3714]

Agreed!

[Codi23]

Sports Medicine/Health Science. Everyone I went to high school with that was also a jock (and dumb) is now going to school for this.

Goddamn, at least do Physical Therapy—that is actually respectable and has jobs... you can get that sports med degree in like 6 months, and it doesn't mean shit lol. I've met people that have graduated with both, and it's quite the difference between both degrees regarding intelligence and actually caring about other people.

[hcar]

Pharmacists (sp?). All you do is put pills in bottles.
English. Maybe it's becuase i'm good at reading, but isn't that all it is?
Art. 5 years of art class just gets you credibility, it doesen't mean you're a artist.

[Broclee]

Pharmacists (sp?). All you do is put pills in bottles.
English. Maybe it's becuase i'm good at reading, but isn't that all it is?
Art. 5 years of art class just gets you credibility, it doesen't mean you're a artist.
Goddamnit. Fucking stupid.

[TotalCollapse]

Pharmacists (sp?). All you do is put pills in bottles.
English. Maybe it's becuase i'm good at reading, but isn't that all it is?
Art. 5 years of art class just gets you credibility, it doesen't mean you're a artist.
lol
You obviously have no idea how difficult pharmacy school is.