NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, for most of us, the semester's in full swing. I was wondering what everyone around here is studying. Any level of formal education is good, or if there's something interesting you're learning about in your spare time, please share.

I'm majoring in chemical engineering; this semester I'm taking reactor design, plant design I, process dynamics and controls, basic experimental strategies, chemical engineering lab IV, and university band.

I studied physics and specialized in physical comedy. *nod*

Psychology - emphasis on social, personality and forensic (but with a distinct lean towards social).

But I do enjoy reading history books/watching history documentaries as a hobby, especially military history and I have a strong interest in science as well, although I tend not to go beyond basic level of keeping up to date with New Scientist/BBC Focus/Scientific American (which ever has more interesting articles going)

I am doing a management qualification at the moment.

Majors in Foreign Affairs and Social Communication, better known for you as Journalism. I have a Master in Audiovisual Arts. Currently going to study a Magister in Script.

I forgot to apply in time :tongue:

I've studied psychology, English lit (all the good its done me:rolleyes:), childcare and I hold a masters in making tea

hoping to make this post coherent, study more psychology with OU in February, get a half decent maths qualification and maybe get some classical art studies done (yes I've become enthralled)

I am doing a management qualification at the moment.

I didn't know you could teach incompetence >.>

Studying Political Science, emphasis on international relations, with minors in spanish and religious studies.

Economics and Accounting (with the emphasis on accounting). Subjects this year include financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, econometrics and economic analysis.

3/4 International Relations, 1/4 Economics, starting in a couple of weeks.

Man my 'learning' was over soooo long ago. I did go to collage on two seperate occiasions though, one for IT stuff, the other for metal working.

I'm studying some online math resources to refresh myself in basic algebra, etc, in order to prepare for this. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Nuclear_Power_School)

Working on my dissertation, "Freedom's Paradox: Conceptions of Free Will and Determinism in Social Science, Philosophy, and the Law"... involves, at the moment, a lot of research on how social scientists incorporate conceptions of human agency into their research designs. This culminates in a chapter that does content analysis on articles in the American Political Science Review over the last several decades.

Meanwhile, I'm teaching two sections of expository writing and a course in American politics... which entails learning of an entirely different type. I need to take a class titled "How to Cope with Teenagers." :p

Economics with a minor in philosophy hopefully.

Majoring in biochemistry.

I'm studying history and politics with a view to a future career in the welfare-claiming sector.

I'm studying history and politics with a view to a future career in the welfare-claiming sector.

Ohhh a goverment artist huh?

Master in naval architecture and marine engineering.

Doctorate is mostly unneeded in this field, although I might get it in some time.

Ohhh a goverment artist huh?

Yep. Its odd. I've been absolutely certain since I was fifteen that my life path would be the stereotypical "underachiever" who does well in all school and university but can't cope in the real world and eventually ends up dying a pitiful death in a downard spiral of drink, drugs, depression and debt. Starting my final year of university, I still believe this to be the most likely outcome. The path just calls to me.

Economics with a minor in philosophy hopefully.

You couldn't resist philosophy could you? :)

Yep. Its odd. I've been absolutely certain since I was fifteen that my life path would be the stereotypical "underachiever" who does well in all school and university but can't cope in the real world and eventually ends up dying a pitiful death in a downard spiral of drink, drugs, depression and debt. The path just calls to me.

Idem. That's my state of mind when I'm not busy taking over the world :tongue:

I'm an English major and a Philosophy minor, but my real passion of late has been learning to cook and mix drinks. I've put on about 10 pounds over the past couple months, but I've gotten pretty good at both.
Of course, now that classes are starting I have less time to play in the kitchen, and that just sucks. I'm starting to wish I'd gone to culinary school and just left reading and writing as a hobby.

Yep. Its odd. I've been absolutely certain since I was fifteen that my life path would be the stereotypical "underachiever" who does well in all school and university but can't cope in the real world and eventually ends up dying a pitiful death in a downard spiral of drink, drugs, depression and debt. Starting my final year of university, I still believe this to be the most likely outcome. The path just calls to me.
I'm pretty much in the same place (even in my final year too), so I've been contemplating running away after I graduate (well, to the extent that a 22 year old can run away) and bumming across Europe. We can wander together, sharing needles and tales of heartbreak.

Accounting/finance with an economics minor.

Currently at A level, doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Politics.

Then hoping to move on to university and do Math.

Accounting/finance with an economics minor.

you like money don't you? :tongue:

Then hoping to move on to university and do Math.

why not just buy a calculator >.>

Formal study (ICT) completed about 15 years ago now.
Currently mainly studying human behaviour. Neverending study in stupidity. :D

B.A. Speech & Drama w/ English Education minor
J.D. Law
15 years practice (mostly personal injury and criminal defense - anything that let me go to court and not push paper around)
Now Teaching Law at the undergraduate level

you like money don't you? :tongue:



why not just buy a calculator >.>

You find me a calculator that can prove theorems, and I'll just buy a calculator.

English and Biology to become a German high-school teacher.

Handed in my final paper end of July and wrote the final tests last week and the week before. Soon there'll be final orals and that's that then. Woo!

Lock away yer children, I'm gonna be a teacher soon! Hehehe.

Lock away yer children, I'm gonna be a teacher soon! Hehehe.

how many teachers does that make on NS now? *starts white board pen business*

how many teachers does that make on NS now? *starts white board pen business*
Quite a lot, I'd say!

But, uhm, we still use chalkboards in most classrooms over here... Not much business to be had.

I'm studying French. Mostly because my school doesn't offer Latin. WHAT KIND OF A SCHOOL DOES NOT OFFER LATIN? :(

I'm studying French. Mostly because my school doesn't offer Latin. WHAT KIND OF A SCHOOL DOES NOT OFFER LATIN? :(

A school located in the 21st century?:p

You couldn't resist philosophy could you? :)

very few can resist philosophy's siren song once heard. luckily, it provides some damn useful skills even if you don't manage to navigate past it towards an actual job as a philosopher.

A school located in the 21st century?:p
Why does no one appreciate Latin?:p

I think that the Gauls and Carthagenians could answer that one!

I think that the Gauls and Carthagenians could answer that one!

'Cause they were so amazed by the awesomeness of the Latin language that they gave up upon hearing the Romans speak?:p

Veni, vidi, vici is an example of parataxis (a repetition of word patterns that is a very effective mnemonic device)
I teach English and Politics

I'm starting my second year of a Russian Studies B.A. (again) on the 22nd; in the first year it comprised some historical and cultural modules, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, all fresh languages to me, which was... challenging. :p
This year it's Russian, Czech, and Italian. And I did the first semester last year, so the workload ought to be pretty damn managable until February.
More Dub nights and travelling abroad in the holidays this year, methinks.
All thoroughly good fun.:tongue:

With all those languages under your belt, you might get an EU job Saxnot and become one of the "gnomes of Zurich" - heh! heh!

Photography, with a minor in drug consumption.

Why does no one appreciate Latin?:p

The only class that teaches Latin at my old hs is nursing. Do you want to be a nurse?

Have a degree in Modern History, am currently studying for a degree in Law.

I am currently taking a double major in English Literature and Italian Studies. In a year, I'm moving to Florence to be certified through TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language), and then I'm teaching English as a foreign language in Italia for awhile.

Eventually, I'd like a degree in French, as well... maybe Russian... or Romanian... so I can teach English as a foreign language in various areas of Europe.

When I went to school *blows dust from diplomas* I got a certificate from the Outdoor Leadership Program, with an Environmental focus. Then an AS in Early Childhood Ed. Then more of the same (BS in ECE) with a Science focus. I am currently reading an awsome book on the Soil Food Web to help with my current career in the Gardening Industry.

I am currently taking a double major in English Literature and Italian Studies. In a year, I'm moving to Florence to be certified through TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language), and then I'm teaching English as a foreign language in Italia for awhile.

Eventually, I'd like a degree in French, as well... maybe Russian... or Romanian... so I can teach English as a foreign language in various areas of Europe.

What is it with people and Romanian? It's a shit language and pointless to learn. Take it on authority from a native :wink:

Studying for a degree in astrophysics.

very few can resist philosophy's siren song once heard. luckily, it provides some damn useful skills even if you don't manage to navigate past it towards an actual job as a philosopher.

Alas, even I indent to switch subject to philosophy:tongue:

What is it with people and Romanian? It's a shit language and pointless to learn. Take it on authority from a native :wink:

My ex was Russian and Romanian, and sparked this huge interest in Eastern European languages in me. :p I know it's a fairly pointless language to learn, but I'd still like to learn it!

My ex was Russian and Romanian, and sparked this huge interest in Eastern European languages in me. :p I know it's a fairly pointless language to learn, but I'd still like to learn it!

Russian I can sort of understand. But Romanian? It has a grammar as complex as Latin (it lacks only case Ablative), but has three genders, 4 past tenses, 2 present and 4 future, and a shit-load of exceptions on top (like alternative verbal constructions, archaic or regional). Plus it functions very prominently in contractions even in literary language, so even if you get your head around the syntax and agreements (did I mention verbs agree with nouns in gender and number, with varying declensions), you would still be a fair way away from actually understanding what people are on about. Don't even try it. It is harder than either Latin or German, and less logical than English. I have not, in my life, ever met anyone not a native speaker who will not stand out very obviously, speaking it - even ethic minorities within the country, exposed to the thing all their lives. If it's not your first language, then it's hopeless.

I am studying Commerce and Property, and this semester I am doing a Cost Management Accounting paper, a couple of Planning papers and a Politics paper (General Education requirement)

Come Monday, I'll be starting Economics, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociological and Political studies. Should be good.

Russian I can sort of understand. But Romanian? It has a grammar as complex as Latin (it lacks only case Ablative), but has three genders, 4 past tenses, 2 present and 4 future, and a shit-load of exceptions on top (like alternative verbal constructions, archaic or regional). Plus it functions very prominently in contractions even in literary language, so even if you get your head around the syntax and agreements (did I mention verbs agree with nouns in gender and number, with varying declensions), you would still be a fair way away from actually understanding what people are on about. Don't even try it. It is harder than either Latin or German, and less logical than English. I have not, in my life, ever met anyone not a native speaker who will not stand out very obviously, speaking it - even ethic minorities within the country, exposed to the thing all their lives. If it's not your first language, then it's hopeless.

You realise that just makes it a challenge that I desire ever the more to rise up and meet? :p

Anyway, it's only an idea. I may never actually attempt to learn it.

Majoring in Political Science (IR focus, of course) and Philosophy. Depending on how I do on my LSATs next semester, I will either be majoring in Economics, as well (if I do poorly), or just minoring. I almost hope I do poorly because I don't want to be a lawyer and I enjoy examining how economic policies affect political ideologies, and the reverse, but this is my fifth year of undergrad so I need to make some moves to do something with this education I've received.

The term hasn't started yet for me, still busy enjoying my so called life :p I study Egyptian history and language, with extra modules in field archaeology.

I studied physics and specialized in physical comedy. *nod*

I've been looking for a chance to ask you this question (well, questions): one, is there really such a place as clown college, and two, how does one get admitted?

The only class that teaches Latin at my old hs is nursing. Do you want to be a nurse?

Or Pope, Latin is a useful skill if you're planning on becoming Pope. Or a cardinal. Anyone working in the Vatican, really.

I studied computer science at Franklin, went into web development during the dot-com boom, when that bubble popped, I enrolled in a local police academy and have been once since then.

Studying Pre-med...a fancy way to say a combination of Biology, Organic Chemistry, and a little Physics. The problem here is the fact that I have to pay for medical school after college. Not a fun proposal, for anyone who didn't know.

My major is chemical engineering but it's my first semester and I'm not taking chemistry this semester... this semester I am taking engineering calculus 1, intro to women's studies, arts/humanities honors (about what makes a genius through looking at works from the Italian renaissance), acquisition of knowledge (epistemology but for the honors college), and freshman honors seminar (a class to give information about different opportunities in the honors college; we're having an ice cream social on Tuesday).

Biological science.

My two realms of study (Degree wise) are Networking and Information security

BS and Masters in both realms completed two years ago

Within the degrees they are both heavy in Statistics (So much so that I am like 1 class from qualifying for a BA in it) They also of course were heavy in network theory.

The path for the BS's that I followed were this (roughly some group courses) in the major
Networking:
1) Operating systems course
2) Physical network theory and Data Link theory (first 2 layers of the OSI)
3) TCP and the Transport layer protocalls
4) LAN and high speed networking
5) WAN and telecom
6) Programming (C++ Java VB and general theory) several courses here
7) Stats (Lots of them ... 5) Primarly focusing in Time Series regression but also ANOVA and one on SAS programming
8) Security course (minimal need for networking)

Security:
My security degree crossed a lot over with the other one but the difference
1) General security
2) Encryption algorythims
3) Web/Internet based cecurity
4) Firewall/IDS/IPS
5) Routing and more firewall theory and practice
6) More math and stats
7) System theory large network security design


Thats about it ... the masters consisted of a lot of the same taken up a level or two

I'm studying French. During the 2010 academic year I'll (most likely) be teaching English in a French high school. After that I'll decide whether I want to do my graduate studies in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or in French.

You realise that just makes it a challenge that I desire ever the more to rise up and meet? :p

Anyway, it's only an idea. I may never actually attempt to learn it.

Your funeral. Anyway if you really are insane enough to attempt it, PM me if you need someone to practice with :tongue:

Well, for most of us, the semester's in full swing. I was wondering what everyone around here is studying. Any level of formal education is good, or if there's something interesting you're learning about in your spare time, please share.

I'm majoring in chemical engineering; this semester I'm taking reactor design, plant design I, process dynamics and controls, basic experimental strategies, chemical engineering lab IV, and university band.

hmmmm, one of these things is not like the other.

Medicine, currently on Orthopedics. Obstetrics & Gynecology will be next of my subjects.

Philosophy, with a sprinkling of psychology and a soupçon of sophistry.

I did miss a lot of my lectures, but luckily it was a bit of a mickey mouse degree.

Philosophy, with a sprinkling of psychology and a soupçon of sophistry.

I did miss a lot of my lectures, but luckily it was a bit of a mickey mouse degree.

U.S. I presume. Over here Philosophy is a widely respected degree:D

U.S. I presume. Over here Philosophy is a widely respected degree:D

Where is "here"?

(not a philosophical question honest!)

I thought I was here. If you're here too, why can't I see you? Am I sitting on you?

Comp Sci up in this motherfucker!

hmmmm, one of these things is not like the other.

:) Believe me, if one of these things was not like the others, I'd already be in the lovely hospital with the men in white jackets. Band is the only thing tying me to sanity some days. Don't get me wrong, I love my major, but it is nice to go to one class a week where there aren't equations written all over the board and you never get homework.

Where is "here"?

(not a philosophical question honest!)

I thought I was here. If you're here too, why can't I see you? Am I sitting on you?

My apologies, I was under the impression that I had stated my location in my profile :p

Here would be England. Philosophy is understood as giving a wide array of the most useful skills of critical thinking and waffle, which will qualify you for everything from working in advertising, the media, any tier of management (CEOs included), the civil service, banking and finance... Everything that does not require specific education (like medicine, engineering et al).

Here would be England. Philosophy is understood as giving a wide array of the most useful skills of critical thinking and waffle, which will qualify you for everything from working in advertising, the media, any tier of management (CEOs included), the civil service, banking and finance...

it works like that in usia too, just without being respected or known for such. every couple of years some magazine or paper gets bored and runs a "holy shit, philosophy students are fucking everywhere and doing better than average for themselves" story. gives the philosophy departments something to stick on the bulletin board, at least.

Everything that does not require specific education (like medicine, engineering et al).

though there seem to be a lot of us attempting to do both, with their interest in philosophy spurred by encountering philosophical questions within their fields that the field itself just didn't know what to do with.

Political science (emphasizes on theory) with a minor in Environmental Policy. Im then either going to grad school or law school (to study constitutional/civil law or criminal law).

it works like that in usia too, just without being respected or known for such. every couple of years some magazine or paper gets bored and runs a "holy shit, philosophy students are fucking everywhere and doing better than average for themselves" story. gives the philosophy departments something to stick on the bulletin board, at least.



though there seem to be a lot of us attempting to do both, with their interest in philosophy spurred by encountering philosophical questions within their fields that the field itself just didn't know what to do with.

I actually wonder how many people who are solely philosophy majors also come from wealthy families, though. In personal experience, a lot of the people majoring solely in philosophy (I'm not counting the huge number that double or triple major) seem to have wealth in their family so the degree isn't that big an issue as long as it's a degree. Though, it might also just be my area/school, dunno.

I actually wonder how many people who are solely philosophy majors also come from wealthy families, though. In personal experience, a lot of the people majoring solely in philosophy (I'm not counting the huge number that double or triple major) seem to have wealth in their family so the degree isn't that big an issue as long as it's a degree. Though, it might also just be my area/school, dunno.

how wealthy are we talking? in my experience there are relatively few people from blue collar working class families in philosophy, but most seem to be from the middle to high end of the middle class. we don't get many truly wealthy types. but then again, i've only gone to state schools, which would tend to limit the number of the really wealthy available to know.

WHAT KIND OF A SCHOOL DOES NOT OFFER LATIN? :(

One that isn't a Roman Catholic school. :D

My BA was "General Studies with a major in Business." That means I took 30 hours of business and a lot of liberal arts such as history, government, philosophy, religion, etc.

My masters degree is in Education with a major in Occupational and Adult Education.

I'm now working on a PhD in RETIREMENT. :D

[QUOTE=Ad Nihilo;14006556SNIP....waffle, which will qualify you for everything from working in advertising, the media, any tier of management (CEOs included), the civil service, banking and finance... Everything that does not require specific education (like medicine, engineering et al).[/QUOTE]

Politics, :eek2: you forgot POLITICS

i am in my first year of studying a bachelors in law and science ... yay !!!

it works like that in usia too, just without being respected or known for such. every couple of years some magazine or paper gets bored and runs a "holy shit, philosophy students are fucking everywhere and doing better than average for themselves" story. gives the philosophy departments something to stick on the bulletin board, at least.
My department did that last semester.

Also, a couple of surveys 'proving' that philosophy graduates are happier, more intelligent and able to earn more cashdollar than there fellow graduates.

Though, as a philosophy undergrad, I call bull.



I actually wonder how many people who are solely philosophy majors also come from wealthy families, though. In personal experience, a lot of the people majoring solely in philosophy (I'm not counting the huge number that double or triple major) seem to have wealth in their family so the degree isn't that big an issue as long as it's a degree. Though, it might also just be my area/school, dunno.
how wealthy are we talking? in my experience there are relatively few people from blue collar working class families in philosophy, but most seem to be from the middle to high end of the middle class. we don't get many truly wealthy types. but then again, i've only gone to state schools, which would tend to limit the number of the really wealthy available to know.
Most of the folks in my year (of around 70) are middle-class; not rich, but not poor either. Obviously, that's not representative or anything.

But, perhaps, it's easier to get onto the track of doing a philosophy degree at a 'well-off' level of family income. In the UK at least, the subject isn't widely taught in schools, and to my experience, isn't currently pushed by guidance teachers, career advisers and the like as a viable route to take for a kid's life ahead. So, perhaps, poorer families want their children doing what's seen as a more 'practical' subject, and the kids feel the same. Certainly, a many of my peers, along with a large amount of the general public, still feel that philosophy is wishy-washy and impractical; a sure route to the destitute ivory tower.

Moreover, and here I'm still only speculating upon experience, a great deal of my classmates 'found' philosophy after, or during, rather confused periods in their lives. I got interested in studying philosophy after loosing my direction after high school, and a lot of philosophy graduates seem to be the same. Many, if not most of those at my uni who took philosophy onto an Honours level are older students who didn't go straight to uni from high school.

Perhaps those from poorer backgrounds simply cannot afford those 'wandering' years.

Political science (no focus currently) and considering minoring in journalism

Film Production major at the undergraduate level(thinking of switching to screenwriting).

I did my undergrad in History, with some Sociology, Philosophy, and History of Science courses.

I will be starting a Master's in "US Politics and Contemporary History", but will take Political Economy, History and Sociology courses.

I finished my final undergrad semester in July (I think it was). My courses were Monetary Economics, Introductory Mathematical Economics, Economic Institutions and Global Banking, Doing Business in Europe and International Marketing.

At the moment I'm doing jack-all. December to February I'll be in Sydney working with an investment bank, then I come back to do my honours, my first semester courses being Honours Microeconomics, Honours Macroeconomics, Advanced Applied Econometrics and Thesis 1.

Also, a couple of surveys 'proving' that philosophy graduates are happier, more intelligent and able to earn more cashdollar than there fellow graduates.

Though, as a philosophy undergrad, I call bull.

Perhaps they are overjoyed by the course being over?

Well, for most of us

No, universities in the U.K. don't go back until the week after next.

I actually wonder how many people who are solely philosophy majors also come from wealthy families, though. In personal experience, a lot of the people majoring solely in philosophy (I'm not counting the huge number that double or triple major) seem to have wealth in their family so the degree isn't that big an issue as long as it's a degree. Though, it might also just be my area/school, dunno.

I am dirty poor. (i.e. first generation immigrant, living with one parent)

Moreover, and here I'm still only speculating upon experience, a great deal of my classmates 'found' philosophy after, or during, rather confused periods in their lives. I got interested in studying philosophy after loosing my direction after high school, and a lot of philosophy graduates seem to be the same. Many, if not most of those at my uni who took philosophy onto an Honours level are older students who didn't go straight to uni from high school.

Sounds more or less accurate :tongue:

My apologies, I was under the impression that I had stated my location in my profile :p


mine does - didn't you look? :p


Here would be England. Philosophy is understood as giving a wide array of the most useful skills of critical thinking and waffle, which will qualify you for everything from working in advertising, the media, any tier of management (CEOs included), the civil service, banking and finance... Everything that does not require specific education (like medicine, engineering et al).

As indeed it has done. I am the worst of the BS waffler critical thinking types - a consultant!

I got my AA in music, my BA in Film & Digital Media with a concentration in Production and a specialization in Screenwriting and a graduate degree in Playwrighting.

I'm unemployable!