A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
genomebiology.com
A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
1–9 of 9 posts
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#2In my experience, the courses I was forced to take in humanities were pretty much useless. There was the film class that 90% of the class slept through, or the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window.
Then there was the advanced CS classes that I missed out on because I had to take these random other classes. I would have been happy if my school had actually allowed me to take more relevant classes.
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#3In my experience, the courses I was forced to take in humanities were pretty much useless. There was the film class that 90% of the class slept through, or the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window. Then there was the advanced CS classes that I missed out on because I had to take these random other classes. I would have been happy if my school had actually allowed me to take more relevant classes.
If you're part of the 10% that pays attention, one of the people that looked forward at the professor, instead of to the side at the trees, you might find that you've learned something. Ancient mythology is full of fascinating stories and tales, surviving movies from the 1920's can tell a story like no other. And both of these tend to get referenced in modern culture and movies (although you wouldn't realize it, if you didn't know about it).
To put it more simply: If you treat something like a waste of time, you'll come out of it having wasted your time.
And in the 8 semesters[1] that it takes someone to graduate, I find it hard to believe that the class was only offered once.
1. Usually.
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#4When I went to the University of Michigan, our Engineering school had its own humanities department. This internal humanities department offered introductory level courses with smaller class sizes and faculty dedicated to teaching engineers rather than research. It was like having an embedded liberal arts school. As the article suggests, rather than eliminating humanities departments, by making these classes both required and well-taught, we earned knowledge that paid off handsomely once we entered the work world and took on roles that required more than technical skills.
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#5In my experience, the courses I was forced to take in humanities were pretty much useless. There was the film class that 90% of the class slept through, or the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window. Then there was the advanced CS classes that I missed out on because I had to take these random other classes. I would have been happy if my school had actually allowed me to take more relevant classes.
the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window
I have my liver torn out by an eagle every damn day, and this is the thanks I get?
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#6In my experience, the courses I was forced to take in humanities were pretty much useless. There was the film class that 90% of the class slept through, or the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window. Then there was the advanced CS classes that I missed out on because I had to take these random other classes. I would have been happy if my school had actually allowed me to take more relevant classes.
the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window I have my liver torn out by an eagle every damn day, and this is the thanks I get?
OK, I'll head over there to shoot the eagle and set you free once I get out of class.
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#7When I went to the University of Michigan, our Engineering school had its own humanities department. This internal humanities department offered introductory level courses with smaller class sizes and faculty dedicated to teaching engineers rather than research. It was like having an embedded liberal arts school. As the article suggests, rather than eliminating humanities departments, by making these classes both req…
When I was at MIT in the '80s the humanities faculty was similarly dedicated, although I remember one history seminar where I was the only student who could identify the French Revolution. Afterward the professor told me he would have seriously considered resigning if none of us had gotten it.
I suppose it goes without saying that I was the only really serious history student of the 5-7 in that class, which is a shame since he was such a good professor, starting the course by explaining historiography, how the omnipresence of death prior to modern medicine made such a difference in, well, everything, etc. etc., before we got down to the nitty gritty details of Renaissance Florance.
Anyway, as others have mentioned in this discussion, if you're serious, the value in these course is generally there for the taking (assuming of course your professor isn't entirely and uselessly PC, but it's your job to ensure that ahead of time).
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#8In my experience, the courses I was forced to take in humanities were pretty much useless. There was the film class that 90% of the class slept through, or the mythology class that we all spent staring out the window. Then there was the advanced CS classes that I missed out on because I had to take these random other classes. I would have been happy if my school had actually allowed me to take more relevant classes.
If you're part of the 10% that pays attention, one of the people that looked forward at the professor, instead of to the side at the trees, you might find that you've learned something. Ancient mythology is full of fascinating stories and tales, surviving movies from the 1920's can tell a story like no other. And both of these tend to get referenced in modern culture and movies (although you wouldn't realize it, if y…
In 4 semesters (I was a transfer student), there were approximately 50% classes I was required to take (humanities, foreign language, gym, math), 25% classes related to CS I was required to take (all throughout my college education, I took 'intro to java' equivalent classes 4 times), and 25% classes I actually chose. This basically came down to 1 class a semseter, and it had to be available at a time that didn't overlap my other classes.
Since someone decided that all the CS classes should take place at the same time, this along with "prerequisites" basically ensured I couldn't take anything I wanted.
For at least 3 years in college, I ended up taking more math classes then CS classes in any given semester. I realize math can be important in CS, but it largely doesn't help me a whole lot now. I would have loved to take more advanced CS classes.
Re: A Faustian bargain at SUNY Albany
#9When I went to the University of Michigan, our Engineering school had its own humanities department. This internal humanities department offered introductory level courses with smaller class sizes and faculty dedicated to teaching engineers rather than research. It was like having an embedded liberal arts school. As the article suggests, rather than eliminating humanities departments, by making these classes both req…
When I was at MIT in the '80s the humanities faculty was similarly dedicated, although I remember one history seminar where I was the only student who could identify the French Revolution. Afterward the professor told me he would have seriously considered resigning if none of us had gotten it. I suppose it goes without saying that I was the only really serious history student of the 5-7 in that class, which is a sham…
I've re-read some of the humanities material from college and now realize how much it has influenced my day-to-day thinking. For example, while re-reading Sun Tzu's 'Art of War,' I realized how often I apply his strategies.