NationStates Jolt Archive

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science. I'm interested in pursuing this study for my degree, I hope some people can help answer a few questions:

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)

poli sci minor.
the 200 level courses are government courses. normally multiple choice test though writing enhanced exist. and a few other intro to courses like comparative politics.
300 level courses are varied and almost all require papers. and will depends entirely on your school and professors.
You can study Religion in politics though there are only a few courses at my school with that focus, one is Islam in the modern world.
400 level is in my school a big research paper in what ever subject you choose.

Sounds like you might be more interested in a sociology degree.

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science. I'm interested in pursuing this study for my degree, I hope some people can help answer a few questions:

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)

You're in the US? I don't know how it is in other countries, but here, a poli sci department usually offers a fairly broad menu of upper division courses, allowing you to tweak your experience somewhat. Also, you might check if you any of the profs at your school are doing any research into poli-sci areas that you find compelling.

I worked as a physics researcher for a while...you may find that the quantative analysis and dynamic modeling skills you picked up will help you in any other field, including poli sci.

But when its over, if you get a poli sci bachelors, just don't follow the devil's urge to then go to law school. You'll end up like Neo Art, sitting in black silk underwear and eating beef jerky and watching [Adult Swim] while Poli rubs your feet with Avocado Ginger Rejuvenating Lotion.

Its an empty life.

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science. I'm interested in pursuing this study for my degree, I hope some people can help answer a few questions:

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)
Be careful about jumping to conclusions like that. People can be politically motivated without choosing an impractical major because of it. Aside from history and economics back in high school, and a couple economics courses now in university, I tend to get more of my political information from the Internet. This way, I still learn about politics, from a source that gives me a variety of perspectives for that matter, while I can use my major for something like physics or chemistry, which are more likely to land me a good job. (A cousin of mine majored in political science, and now he's considering working at a paper mill.)

Plus, I get to feel like a little bit more of a polymath that way...

But when its over, if you get a poli sci bachelors, just don't follow the devil's urge to then go to law school. You'll end up like Neo Art, sitting in black silk underwear and eating beef jerky and watching [Adult Swim] while Poli rubs your feet with Avocado Ginger Rejuvenating Lotion.

Its an empty life.

aqua teen hunger force is on...

aqua teen hunger force is on...

You didn't do your undergrad stuff in poli sci, did you?

But these days, if you juggle your electives right, you can pretty much get a degree in anything while still getting exposure to things you really enjoy.

OP might want to consider slugging out the physics degree, take a minor in poli sci, then kick the GRE in the balls and get his/her grad work done in poli sci...or god help him, law.

aqua teen hunger force is on...

Can we get a different lotion next time, though? This one is making me crave guacamole.

Can we get a different lotion next time, though? This one is making me crave guacamole.

Ah, memories of the Tijuana NSG Get Together and watching you smear the...

...okay, see, I'm going to respect this person's thread and just stop right there.

I thought going to law school, especially a safety school, was an accomplishment itself.

I have no idea what professorship in liberal arts is like, but researching and perhaps teaching is something I'm vaguely interested in should I choose to pursue a liberal arts career.

I'm a PoliSci honours student at UQ, and I know many of the Australians players (at least) are also studying PoliSci, IR (International Relations), PeaceCon (Peace and Conflict Studies).

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)? Not really, high school tends to focus on overarching generalities and you may be shocked to discover many "revelations" unveiled by your teachers are either a minor side-point in university, or are just plain wrong. In uni, you'll probably find that lecturers and tutors will tend to ground in the facts, history, and context, then not just desire, but expect you to go out research, challenge, and develop your own ideas. I think one of the big differences between secondary and tertiary education, is that schools as you to memorise and repeat their curriculum, whereas universities are about sufficiently equipping you to develop your own expertise in a given area.

- would I get to read alot?In PoliSci? Absolutely. My average readings in my first year were 12 pages. Each course (courses are the subjects you take to complete your degree) will include lectures where a lecture stands at the front of the room and talks for 2-3 hours (always take notes on what they're saying, and use the lecture notes provided for things on the board), and tutes (Tutorial) where a small group of you and a post-graduate will cover work in greater detail discuss, debate, and expand on subject matter. Readings are the articles (usually 4 required, and 3 optional) that you must read before your tute (and you should, because it is pretty obvious when a first year pretends they've done the reading).

- are there in-class discussions?Yes, in great depth during tutorials, but not during lectures.

- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?Depends on your university. There is no reason you couldn't do a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in PoliSci and minoring in religion or divinity, if you'd like your degree to be tailored that way. If your are fortunate enough to go onto post-graduate studied (Honours in certain countries, Masters and PhDs) then you will have the option to study a very specific field.

Looking at the polisci subjects I have access to this semester, none of them cover religion, but some of the religion subjects are relevant to polisci.

I thought going to law school, especially a safety school, was an accomplishment itself.

I thought that, too. (Although I may misunderstand your use of "safety school", because here, that usually refers to a school of lesser selectivity that you apply to in case you are rejected by schools with more rigorous admissions criteria, and is thus ostensibly less desirable).


I have no idea what professorship in liberal arts is like, but researching and perhaps teaching is something I'm vaguely interested in should I choose to pursue a liberal arts career.

Nothing wrong with dabbling in it a bit to find out if its for you...your personal proclivity for the material is certainly an asset, but studying and working in the field itself can sometimes suck the joy right out of the curriculum. It happend to people I worked with in physics; they came in loving it, they left wanting to never touch it again.

Have you considered mixing poli-sci with a foreign language (if you haven't already)?

If you were to double major in poli-sci and arabic or chinese or something like that, you'd have some better options at graduation, for works, grad study, travel, whatever.

words

Thank you for sharing your experiences. The tutorials/discussion sound very enticing.


I thought that, too. (Although I may misunderstand your use of "safety school", because here, that usually refers to a school of lesser selectivity that you apply to in case you are rejected by schools with more rigorous admissions criteria, and is thus ostensibly less desirable).

I had no idea; up until now I thought safety meant something like Ivy law (employment secured). You still haven't told me why sitting in black silk underwear and eating beef jerky and watching [Adult Swim] while Poli rubs your feet with Avocado Ginger Rejuvenating Lotion isn't something sought after :D


Nothing wrong with dabbling in it a bit to find out if its for you...your personal proclivity for the material is certainly an asset, but studying and working in the field itself can sometimes suck the joy right out of the curriculum. It happend to people I worked with in physics; they came in loving it, they left wanting to never touch it again.

Well that might happen to me. I might've liked physics alot more if I were born in the 15th century (what the heck did physics look like without Newton?)



Have you considered mixing poli-sci with a foreign language (if you haven't already)?

If you were to double major in poli-sci and arabic or chinese or something like that, you'd have some better options at graduation, for works, grad study, travel, whatever.

That sounds very tempting. Poli-sci + Arabic so I can study in Cairo. With overseas education and quadrillinguality (Mandarin, Japanese), it might land me a governmental/diplomatic position (a small chance, of course).

That sounds very tempting. Poli-sci + Arabic so I can study in Cairo. With overseas education and quadrillinguality (Mandarin, Japanese), it might land me a governmental/diplomatic position (a small chance, of course).

I can't say for sure, but if you had that mix of languages, plus Law School, I'd wager you could write your own ticket.

Hell, even just Mandarin + poli sci would make you marketable, depending on your fluency.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. The tutorials/discussion sound very enticing.




I had no idea; up until now I thought safety meant something like Ivy law (employment secured). You still haven't told me why sitting in black silk underwear and eating beef jerky and watching [Adult Swim] while Poli rubs your feet with Avocado Ginger Rejuvenating Lotion isn't something sought after :D




Well that might happen to me. I might've liked physics alot more if I were born in the 15th century.




That sounds very tempting. Poli-sci + Arabic so I can study in Cairo. With overseas education and quadrillinguality (Mandarin, Japanese), it might land me a governmental/diplomatic position (a small chance, of course).

Damn if you know those foreign languages (and all of them of some strategic importance) then you would have your choice of overseas assigments...

Damn if you know those foreign languages (and all of them of some strategic importance) then you would have your choice of overseas assigments...

For real, that's a high caliber resume, right there.

Plus, if he's a dude, he can take a date to a sushi joint, order in japanese, next date go to a chinese joint (where they speak mandarin) and order in mandarin, then a halal joint, order in arabic...he'll get all the tongue practice he needs.

If she's a girl, it doesn't matter. They can get laid whenever they want.

For real, that's a high caliber resume, right there.

Plus, if he's a dude, he can take a date to a sushi joint, order in japanese, next date go to a chinese joint (where they speak mandarin) and order in mandarin, then a halal joint, order in arabic...he'll get all the tongue practice he needs.

If she's a girl, it doesn't matter. They can get laid whenever they want.
In fact I'd specifically bang a girl who spoke the two languages of Mandarin and Japanese

In fact I'd specifically bang a girl who spoke the two languages of Mandarin and Japanese

Sure, but she wouldn't need those assets to get banged.

When I lived in Sendai, in the land of the paper thin walls, I heard the sounds of a lot of copulating Japanese girls...

It actually does sound like anime porn, minus the tentacles and plasma swords...

Sure, but she wouldn't need those assets to get banged.

When I lived in Sendai, in the land of the paper thin walls, I heard the sounds of a lot of copulating Japanese girls...

It actually does sound like anime porn, minus the tentacles and plasma swords...

Yes, the Japanese is for the sound effects. The mandarin is for discussion of philosophy afterwards..

It seems like sociology is something I might be more interested in. Are the career prospects and study areas for sociology similar to political science?

I don't know what it's like now, but, in the 60s, when I took Poli Sci, it was pretty easy. I mean really, for one of my upper division classes, I wrote a 20 page paper on Ayn Rand consisting entirely of quotes from four of her books strung together with "and" and "on the other hand" and "missing the point entirely." I got an A on it.

I don't know what it's like now, but, in the 60s, when I took Poli Sci, it was pretty easy. I mean really, for one of my upper division classes, I wrote a 20 page paper on Ayn Rand consisting entirely of quotes from four of her books strung together with "and" and "on the other hand" and "missing the point entirely." I got an A on it.

Did the A = A?

Anyway, all the really interesting politcal science happened starting in the 1970's. And to support that statement, I present the following:



http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/MotivationalPoster.jpg

I don't know what it's like now, but, in the 60s, when I took Poli Sci, it was pretty easy. I mean really, for one of my upper division classes, I wrote a 20 page paper on Ayn Rand consisting entirely of quotes from four of her books strung together with "and" and "on the other hand" and "missing the point entirely." I got an A on it.

Damn, I didn't even know objectivism was even considered a political theory, let alone an economic one. I sure would have a fun time "missing the point entirely" by arguing against Dagny's sexual promiscuity, which was totally the cause of her moral death.

What is studying poli-sci like? A waste of time. Stick with something worth-while and productive like engineering or medicine.

What is studying poli-sci like? A waste of time. Stick with something worth-while and productive like engineering or medicine.

no stick with something pure like MATH

no stick with something pure like MATH

I dunno, if the OP's lost his taste for physics, a subject largely spoken in mathematics, he may not enjoy that.

I dunno, if the OP's lost his taste for physics, a subject largely spoken in mathematics, he may not enjoy that.

he obviously lost taste in physics because it wasn't pure enough.
Edit see the comic
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/purity.png

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science.

You know what happens when you assume, don't know? Just because someone is mouthy on the Internet, doesn't mean they're an expert, or even that they know what they're talking about. Most people, myself included, have more time and opinions than they do expertise, especially when it comes to politics.

he obviously lost taste in physics because it wasn't pure enough.
Edit see the comic
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/purity.png

Clearly, the author has fallen for the "Romance of Mathematics".

(Lakoff and Nunez joke).

Clearly, the author has fallen for the "Romance of Mathematics".

(Lakoff and Nunez joke).

i do have a thing for math chicks. don't know if its the glasses or the braces or what.

When I was a kid, I had a throb for the girl on "The Wonder Years"...she went on to publish in mathematics. Not as hot as Emily Noether, but hot.

When I was a kid, I had a throb for the girl on "The Wonder Years"...she went on to publish in mathematics. Not as hot as Emily Noether, but hot.

i never was in to "hot" give me a decent body and a decent face some intelligence And I am all for the girl.

i never was in to "hot" give me a decent body and a decent face some intelligence And I am all for the girl.

I thought we were talking "mathematically" hot.

I thought we were talking "mathematically" hot.

mathematically hot is pure.
but more applied hots are also good.

mathematically hot is pure.
but more applied hots are also good.

Well, they say applied hots will asymptotically approach pure hot over time...

Or am I thinking of nursing majors...

Well, they say applied hots will asymptotically approach pure hot over time...

Or am I thinking of nursing majors...

wrong way you always go from pure to less pure. cant get back purity once you lose it.

wrong way you always go from pure to less pure. cant get back purity once you lose it.

That's why the approach is asymptotic...

I thought there was one girl so perfectly hot somewhere, each iteration of fucking her gets a little closer, but you never get "pure"...

So, from 0 to 1, there is a girl with a hotness of "1".

I (0), fuck her and make 0.5.

0.5 finds the next generations Holy Hotty of Oneness, fucks her, and makes 0.75...

and on it goes, forever approaching but never reaching one...only fucking it...

That's why the approach is asymptotic...

I thought there was one girl so perfectly hot somewhere, each iteration of fucking her gets a little closer, but you never get "pure"...

So, from 0 to 1, there is a girl with a hotness of "1".

I (0), fuck her and make 0.5.

0.5 finds the next generations Holy Hotty of Oneness, fucks her, and makes 0.75...

and on it goes, forever approaching but never reaching one...only fucking it...
sounds like the chance of catching an STD to me

sounds like the chance of catching an STD to me

That was the NSG Tijuana Get Together...

That was the NSG Tijuana Get Together...

and i thought everyone knew to use condoms in Tijuana

and i thought everyone knew to use condoms in Tijuana

The microbial pathogens in Tijuana have developed to the stage where they can penetrate latex.

They've also been beating people up, taking their money, having shoot outs with the Federales, and even more sophisticated crimes like identity theft and voter fraud.

Class of '91, Poli Sci concentrating in IR and Poli Theory.

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?

Not really. I transferred and needed to make up a credit for a government class that my school decided wasn't compatable. I did it at the local community college over the summer, and that was very high school.

But most course work I did was much better. I always mad a point to take an evening course, as the non-trad students were more diverse, brought a lot of experience to the material, and usually more motivated.

- would I get to read alot?

Quite possibly more than you want to. My senior year spring semester IR seminar (Gulf War I) started with four books in two weeks, and we were expected to read extensively in the feild.

If the program's any good you'll learn to write well too - a 15 page paper on Machiavelli really can be done in 3 pages... :eek:

- are there in-class discussions?

You bet. YMMV, but with a good prof and good classmates who're up on the material, a good discussion's quite possible.

- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

Depends on the particular course. I did a seminar on Chinese religion and philosophy my last semester, and several of my papers were interconnected to my other course work...

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)

Have you considered history? If you're at all inclined towards academia & teaching? The science-history locus is in dire need of good teachers, if the my horrid history of science prof I had was any indicator.... :mad:

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science. I'm interested in pursuing this study for my degree, I hope some people can help answer a few questions:

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)

i studied for a BScEcon politics degree, but never actually turned up for a political science lecture... so i'm not sure what its like. still passed. the seminars were full of debates, which was cool. but i found it too much about political systems and not interesting enough. the political philosophy modules were the best

There's a lot of reading. Seminars are ok if you want to listen to about three or four people drown everyone else out thinking they know it all, when really they're just reciting impractical ideological nonsense, or are one of those people. Otherwise, you might as well skip the seminars.

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)

People often equal a political science background with politics itself. This is a pretty spurious relation, since the mechanics of politics itself (or the theory behind it) have very little to do with the opinions people hold on the issues. I don't want to insult anyone in particular, but there exists a lack of political science knowledge on this board.

is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory) Absolutely not, but you will find differences between high school and college in every subject. College classes are far more demanding and flexible. There really is no comparison.

would I get to read alot? Ha. Ha. Ha. Would you get to? Yes. Will you want to? Doubtful. :P Someone said earlier that the average reading their first year was 12 pages. I wish I had gone where they did - average page amount for me is closer to 30, with as few as 10 and as many as a couple hundred. Professors are reasonable though, they give you plenty of time to do each reading, but with that comes the expectation that you are able to know what was said, and interpret it in the broader context of what you're learning at the time. My least favorite types of readings are those by political philosophers like Hobbes or Locke. They are not only about as dry as the Sahara, they also write in ye olde english which is always a bitch to read for comprehension.

are there in-class discussions? Without a doubt. Needless to say, this varies from class to class, but if you major in polisci you can guarantee that a high percentage of your major classes will involve lots of in class discussions. Intro classes can often be hundreds of people (depending on where you go to school, but in my small university psci classes are the biggest intro courses you're going to find - around 90 people on average) which limits the amount of in class discussion your prof can allow, but once you get into the upper levels, at a good uni, it will feature prominently in your class. Just the other day, my prof divided us into groups and we debated whether or not the internet had increased or decreased happiness, morality and democratic ideals from the perspective of Rousseau and our own personal opinions (with an eye on Rousseau's philosophies).

would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics? This depends entirely on your school. My university doesn't have this specific concentration, but I know that my major adviser's specialty is religion in US politics (he recently wrote a book on the subject) so I imagine if I went to him he would assist me in designing my own concentration which would focus on the subject. Again, without a doubt your university will offer classes on it, but whether or not you're able to focus on it (if you meant that in an institutional way) is up for grabs.

I don't know what it's like now, but, in the 60s, when I took Poli Sci, it was pretty easy. I mean really, for one of my upper division classes, I wrote a 20 page paper on Ayn Rand consisting entirely of quotes from four of her books strung together with "and" and "on the other hand" and "missing the point entirely." I got an A on it.

I imagine it has changed, most univseristies don't count quotes towards the word limit these days

It's like get a drill in the head, and then getting screwed in the drill hole.

I'm a poli sci major.

It's like get a drill in the head, and then getting screwed in the drill hole.

I used to know a drill sgt. who would threaten to do that to people. "By God, if you do not effect an IMMEDIATE IMPROVMENT, I will drill a hole in your head and then proceed to fuck the shit out of said hole so that for ONCE IN YOUR LIFE,you will have something between your ears other than AIR!"

is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory) Absolutely not, but you will find differences between high school and college in every subject. College classes are far more demanding and flexible. There really is no comparison.


i started university studing a BSc in Economics, and it was like a completely different subject to what i had known at A-level (high school). not only was there no comparison with regard to how its taught, etc, but, in my experience there, there was no comparison even to what was taught. that's why i dropped it and took up a politics degree instead.
it might just be my particular experience at my particular university, but i know a lot of friends who had similar experiences. just don't expect what you like about the subject to continue at the next level, that's all i'm trying to say.

People often equal a political science background with politics itself. This is a pretty spurious relation, since the mechanics of politics itself (or the theory behind it) have very little to do with the opinions people hold on the issues. I don't want to insult anyone in particular, but there exists a lack of political science knowledge on this board.

largely cos the mechanics of political systems are boring as fuck :p (at least at a detailed level)

My least favorite types of readings are those by political philosophers like Hobbes or Locke. They are not only about as dry as the Sahara, they also write in ye olde english which is always a bitch to read for comprehension.

heh, they were my favourite (well, not Hobbes or Locke, but the philosophers)

Talking with departments, both staff and students, is the best way to find out your info. Different departments at different universities will teach the subject differently.

I enjoyed my Politics/IR courses, though they were split fairly equally between political theory (political philosophy in other words) and what you Yanks would call PolSci. Like Pure Metal, I enjoyed the theory side a lot more than the 'science' side, and decided, with the advice of some Politics postgrads, against taking Politics into my Honours. Instead, I took a lot of political philosophy courses in my Philosophy Honours.


I have no idea what professorship in liberal arts is like...
This has always intrigued me; in the US, does the 'liberal' in 'liberal arts' have the same meaning as 'politically liberal'?

I giggle at the idea of illiberal arts.


What is studying poli-sci like? A waste of time.
Yes, it's not as if a knowledge of political systems is ever useful in the world...

Grow up.

Of all the degrees out there that seem the most likely to churn out douchebags, Poli Sci takes the cake. An undergrad isn't too bad...but once you take a graduate degree, or your PhD, or your post doc on the subject, you are rarely someone that other people want to associate with. And no, it's not because, as you have convinced yourself, that you are just too smart for everyone else.

Of all the degrees out there that seem the most likely to churn out douchebags, Poli Sci takes the cake. An undergrad isn't too bad...but once you take a graduate degree, or your PhD, or your post doc on the subject, you are rarely someone that other people want to associate with. And no, it's not because, as you have convinced yourself, that you are just too smart for everyone else.

It's because you have turned into, yes, yes, let it come, a douchebag.

largely cos the mechanics of political systems are boring as fuck
Man, I love that stuff! Its my bread and butter.

Yes, it's not as if a knowledge of political systems is ever useful in the world...

got a job yet? :p

...err I mean politics is a fragile beast and the idea that somehow your going to understand the worlds processes perfectly with a few years of study on parliament is absurd (coupled with the above fact that career wise its a shity choice)

Of all the degrees out there that seem the most likely to churn out douchebags, Poli Sci takes the cake. An undergrad isn't too bad...but once you take a graduate degree, or your PhD, or your post doc on the subject, you are rarely someone that other people want to associate with. And no, it's not because, as you have convinced yourself, that you are just too smart for everyone else.

I think its more to do with the kind of people who go into it

With a strong, politically motivated userbase in NSG, I assume many people here study political science. I'm interested in pursuing this study for my degree, I hope some people can help answer a few questions:

- is it very much like social studies in high school (history, religion, political/social/economic theory)?
- would I get to read alot?
- are there in-class discussions?
- would I be able to concentrate on religious aspects of politics?

I'm a physics student, but I find myself enjoy reading about history and religion, whereas reading a physics textbook and doing math problems is becoming more like work an unenjoyable one at that. I'm thinking of switching courses, and I'd like to get an idea what it's about before I begin :)
Generally, Political Science is a really broad field. I've focused very much on power dynamics and the like in the international arena (or just internal dynamics in foreign countries...not much interested in domestic politics, other people can study that). I know people who've focused very much on polling (which involves a lot of cool statistical stuff), others on strictly theory and others on campaign or just pre-law focuses. It's one of the few majors where there is A LOT of room for specialization within it.

To be honest, though. Stick with physics, do political science as a minor or a double major, and go on to do medical physics or something. You'll make money and, contrary to popular belief, having wealth goes a long way to being happy. =p
This has always intrigued me; in the US, does the 'liberal' in 'liberal arts' have the same meaning as 'politically liberal'?

I giggle at the idea of illiberal arts.
Mueh? Some people might interpret Liberal Arts to mean that but...uh...no, I think most educated people in the US realize that the liberal arts is a political neutral term.
Of all the degrees out there that seem the most likely to churn out douchebags, Poli Sci takes the cake. An undergrad isn't too bad...but once you take a graduate degree, or your PhD, or your post doc on the subject, you are rarely someone that other people want to associate with. And no, it's not because, as you have convinced yourself, that you are just too smart for everyone else.

You obviously have not met very many philosophy majors. I love philosophy, I think it's incredibly important, so much so that I decided to double major in it. But I've also noticed that it fosters, among people who major solely in it, this level of doucheness completely unseen in other majors. That is not to say that all people majoring in it turn into douchebags, but there is a much higher rate of douchebag turnout in Philosophy.

This has always intrigued me; in the US, does the 'liberal' in 'liberal arts' have the same meaning as 'politically liberal'?
No. Not at all. A liberal arts education is one that requires not only concentration in one's major, but also a grounding of a variety of other topics as well. For instance, my university has what are called the geneds (General Education Requirements), in which you much take two classes from the Social sciences, a science with a lab, English courses, Arts courses, a foreign language, and so on, and fulfilling the geneds is a requirement to graduate.

got a job yet? :p
Not graduated yet; already applied for postgrad.

*steals your taxes*

And, I dropped politics a couple of years back. Anyhoo, the usefulness of a degree doesn't correlate to your job prospects; the idea that a university is a place to create workers is, to be frank, an abhorent one. A grasp of the institutions which run the world is useful, I'd argue, without giving you any benefit to most job applications.

...err I mean politics is a fragile beast and the idea that somehow your going to understand the worlds processes perfectly with a few years of study on parliament is absurd
I'm not claiming a perfect understanding; just a better one.



Mueh? Some people might interpret Liberal Arts to mean that but...uh...no, I think most educated people in the US realize that the liberal arts is a political neutral term.
I ain't from the US, hence my confusion.

That is not to say that all people majoring in it turn into douchebags, but there is a much higher rate of douchebag turnout in Philosophy.
I concur.



No. Not at all. A liberal arts education is one that requires not only concentration in one's major, but also a grounding of a variety of other topics as well.
So it's called a liberal education because you have a liberal amount of choice in subjects?

So it's called a liberal education because you have a liberal amount of choice in subjects?
That's what I'm thinking, but the actual origin of the name I don't claim to know.

The term liberal arts denotes a curriculum that imparts general knowledge and develops the student’s ratiocination and intellectual capabilities[vague], unlike the professional, vocational, technical curricula emphasing specialization. The contemporary liberal arts comprise studying art, literature, languages, philosophy, politics, history, mathematics, and science. [1] In classical antiquity, the liberal arts denoted the education proper to a free man (Latin: liber, “free”), unlike the education proper to a slave.

There we go. We receive the education that free men do, instead of that of slaves.

*steals your taxes*

:eek2: stop that man he's stealing half my paycheck!

the usefulness of a degree doesn't correlate to your job prospects; the idea that a university is a place to create workers is, to be frank, an abhorent one.

why? from the answers I get it seems amazingly ivory tower to justify yourself by saying your learning about the world from a classroom

A grasp of the institutions which run the world is useful, I'd argue, without giving you any benefit to most job applications.

how so?

is there some secret society out their that keeps the inner workings of the UN out of the hands of petty commoners who have an interest?

why?
Because the idea that your life consists of little but being educated to work, working, retiring then dying a few years later fucking sucks; I want more to my education, and my life.

how so?
Because one is informed (a bit more) about how the world is run.

is there some secret society out their that keeps the inner workings of the UN out of the hands of petty commoners who have an interest?
Yes.

They're called the G8, G7, G20, WTO, IMF etc.

So it's called a liberal education because you have a liberal amount of choice in subjects?

as i understand it, it comes from the older 'liberal' as in free. like, the arts that should be known by free men.

One of my three majors was Political Science, I attended Ohio State, a school which is ranked amongst the best in the world in this field (http://www.politicalstudies.org/pdf/psr/hix.pdf). It wasn't hard, I had a very high GPA, and I did some very fun substantive work. It's not like high school social studies, and if you follow a more analytic route you're more likely to find gainful employment.

For example, my undergrad work on decision making and implementation processes in the national security community landed me a nice fellowship in grad school (where I am currently), and I'm looking at fantastic work with the federal government in exactly that field when I finish up this masters degree stuff. I mean, yeah, it's going to take a one quarter more (in the end) than a chemical engineering Bachelor's degree from OSU, but I'll make virtually an identical amount of money.

Oh, and it never hurts to have something like NSG where you can brain vomit. That's what I've spent the past five years doing, and occasionally, I've come across stuff that's legitimately useful.

Oh, one more thing, you've got to make yourself stand out. Don't just get your degree, any chump can do that. Specialize, intern in a major think tank or agency. Be involved in your school, join groups, win awards, do research, earn copious amounts of majors, and graduate very early. Otherwise you will end up in the paper mill.



In essence, studying poli sci is easy. Succeeding at it requires you to bust your butt.

as i understand it, it comes from the older 'liberal' as in free. like, the arts that should be known by free men.

There we go. We receive the education that free men do, instead of that of slaves.
Ta, love.

(A cousin of mine majored in political science, and now he's considering working at a paper mill.)


That can happen with any degree program, though. A former roommate of mine majored in business, and he's not unemployed in Cleveland. A friend of mine majored in architecture and is now the supervisor at a Target. Both of them were hard workers, with great grades and work ethic, but, this little thing called the economy reared its ugly head.

Because the idea that your life consists of little but being educated to work, working, retiring then dying a few years later fucking sucks; I want more to my education, and my life.

and you think your void is going to be filled with smoking whatever the kids smoke these days? get a hobby

Because one is informed (a bit more) about how the world is run.

you can do that as a hobby (or even night school/OU whilst you work for fun)

They're called the G8, G7, G20, WTO, IMF etc.

surely thats economics?

and you think your void is going to be filled with smoking whatever the kids smoke these days? get a hobby
No.

I refuse to have my life revolving around my work, or at least, revolving around a shitty job with which I have no interest in.

My life is far more than the method by which I make money.

surely thats economics?
They're all groups -- in the case of the Gx, closed groups -- which are not entirely transparent, and which exert huge pressure on nations in the UNSC or General Assembly. The workings of the above groups have incredible import to world politics,and in turn the people who live in the world; us.

got a job yet? :p

Why, yes, I do. A very nice one that pays well and has excellent benefits.

...err I mean politics is a fragile beast and the idea that somehow your going to understand the worlds processes perfectly with a few years of study on parliament is absurd (coupled with the above fact that career wise its a shity choice)

Political science is about more than mere politics--at least in the US--it's a study of complex systems. It's the systemic study of how states and governments operate, and quite often, has a lot more in common with business schools than most people realize. Why do things happen, how do things happen, and what actions cause what responses, you know?

They're all groups -- in the case of the Gx, closed groups -- which are not entirely transparent, and which exert huge pressure on nations in the UNSC or General Assembly. The workings of the above groups have incredible import to world politics,and in turn the people who live in the world; us.

The WTO and IMF seem pretty transparent to me, I have to research them and use a lot of their documents for my degree and I can't say I've ever had any trouble accessing information about them, they have huge databases of their work that is easily accessible on the NET. Also, the WTO exert very little pressure on anyone.

as i understand it, it comes from the older 'liberal' as in free. like, the arts that should be known by free men.

and now i am obligated to show you all chris clarke's "what's liberal about the liberal arts? the graphic novel"
http://homepage.mac.com/cclarke3/.Public/whatslib.pdf

The WTO and IMF seem pretty transparent to me, I have to research them and use a lot of their documents for my degree and I can't say I've ever had any trouble accessing information about them, they have huge databases of their work that is easily accessible on the NET.
I'm not saying they exist in some shadowy underworld, but that much of their workings, especially their decision-making, is non-transparent.

Also, the WTO exert very little pressure on anyone.
Hilarious!

Tarrifs? TRIPS? Pushing GM crops?

The entire point of the WTo is to exert pressure on (developing) nations to plump for 'free' trade.

I refuse to have my life revolving around my work, or at least, revolving around a shitty job with which I have no interest in.

your having a midlife crisis already?

you work because you have to it doesn't mean you somehow can either be a penniless hippy or a soulless insurance salesman

My life is far more than the method by which I make money.

I make money and yet I also have a ton of other stuff I do with my life :confused:

They're all groups -- in the case of the Gx, closed groups -- which are not entirely transparent, and which exert huge pressure on nations in the UNSC or General Assembly. The workings of the above groups have incredible import to world politics,and in turn the people who live in the world; us.

and as a student your going to get a more in depth look?

Thank you everybody for the helpful responses. I'm guess I will take both sociology and poli-sci courses next semester to see what they're like.

Plus, if he's a dude, he can take a date to a sushi joint, order in japanese, next date go to a chinese joint (where they speak mandarin) and order in mandarin, then a halal joint, order in arabic...he'll get all the tongue practice he needs.

If she's a girl, it doesn't matter. They can get laid whenever they want.

Dahm. I wasn't thinking when I didn't take any second language courses. Why didn't my guidance officer just say it that bluntly? Words of wisdom...

you work because you have to
Great, just don't tell me I go to university to learn how to work; there's so much more to it than that. Education for education's sake, etc.

That's the issue at hand.

and as a student your going to get a more in depth look?
As a student, I learned a great deal about these groups and their massive influence on the world, and how little the public (including politics students) know about them and their dealings.

I'm not saying they exist in some shadowy underworld, but that much of their workings, especially their decision-making, is non-transparent.


I've seen no evidence of this.


Hilarious!

Tarrifs? TRIPS? Pushing GM crops?

The entire point of the WTo is to exert pressure on (developing) nations to plump for 'free' trade.

I am specifically studying the WTO for my degree, I am really really sick of reading about them and so don't really want to go into this, but this is just nonsense. They have no political power whatsoever, not only this, but they allow concessions to developing countries in their negotiations allowing them to keep their tariffs (through schemes like the generalised system of preferences). Not only this, but empirical evidence has shown that the WTO has had very little actual effect on world trade. Also, they don't target in a predatory way developing countries (they never targeted them at all originally), the whole principle the organisation is built in is non discriminatory trading, so all removal of trade barriers in the agreement is reciprocal to all parties in the negotiation.

I've seen no evidence of this.
Have you access to transcripts of WTO meetings, and of meetings of their affiliates?

They have no political power whatsoever, not only this, but they allow concessions to developing countries in their negotiations allowing them to keep their tariffs (through schemes like the generalised system of preferences). Not only this, but empirical evidence has shown that the WTO has had very little actual effect on world trade.
Empirical evidence such as...?

Also, they don't target in a predatory way developing countries (they never targeted them at all originally), the whole principle the organisation is built in is non discriminatory trading, so all removal of trade barriers in the agreement is reciprocal to all parties in the negotiation.
What do you say to the existence of trade-offs for tarrifs? The inequality of many tarrif schemes?

It's an old article, but this (http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol3/v3n37wto.html) talks about many of the problems.

Have you access to transcripts of WTO meetings, and of meetings of their affiliates?


Why would you need a transcript of all the meetings? What you need is the result of all the negotiations, and all the agreements and conclusions of every negotiation are easily available.


Empirical evidence such as...?


I'm not sure if I can find anything on the web, but there are various people who have looked at tariff reductions, and have concluded that the majority of tariff reductions are due to things outside the WTO, and there has been little tariff reductions on products that matter and that developing countries actually produce. Although, the WTO have negotiated some useful barrier removals.


It's an old article, but this (http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol3/v3n37wto.html) talks about many of the problems.

TLDR :p I'm sick of reading about them as I said.

Why would you need a transcript of all the meetings?
To show transparency.

I'm not sure if I can find anything on the web, but there are various people who have looked at tariff reductions, and have concluded that the majority of tariff reductions are due to things outside the WTO, and there has been little tariff reductions on products that matter and that developing countries actually produce. Although, the WTO have negotiated some useful barrier removals.
I've read 'various people' who'd differ, such as Joseph Stiglitz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization_and_Its_Discontents).

But, if you're sick of discussing the organisation, I can understand.

To show transparency.


But surely that's superfluous information? All you need to know is their policies and their negotiations, as well as probably the various problems and issues the countries had with the negotiations.


But, if you're sick of discussing the organisation, I can understand.

Well, maybe later, right now I've got a lan game to play.

But surely that's superfluous information?
Not to my mind.

The decision process is a vital part. Knowing how decisions were made, what role, for example, developing nations had in policy decisions, I see as vital to transparency.

Though such transcripts would not, unfortunately, shed light on the back room deals that undoubtedly take place.

Well, maybe later, right now I've got a lan game to play.
Then by all means go and LAN, my good man.