<p>Hey everybody I was wondering if someone who is at or knows quite alot about Berkeley's Philosophy department. Can you tell me if it is a small department, how is the professor to student relationship (do they have time for you at their office hours, or are they hampered by grad students)? How is the grading, how is the readings, anything?</p>
<p>Finally, an interesting question. Well, the department is freaking amazing. It is of a medium size as far as Berkeley goes, not nearly as large as physics or English, both stellar department. But so is philosophy. You have some huge names in the field, and many strong ones, as well as top graduate students. Professor to student relationships, like most department at Berkeley, have to be fostered. Not every teacher wants to spend countless hours with people he or she does not happen to have chemistry with. They are helpful if you need help. All teachers are required to have office hours. I was going to go visit some non-profs of mine, but I didn't, for lack of time, or courage, a bit of laziness. But I could have been talking to one of the biggest names in philosophy in a few minutes. Heck, my profs office was next to Searles, i was feet from the guy. The grading, like most phil departments compared to other departments, is tough. UCB phil is known to have tough grading relative to the other humanities majors, amongst the harder ones like English, and rhetoric. If you do your work, if you really do the readings, you will be fine. The readings aren't anything that out there, as far as a bachelors in phil is concerned. They are still amazing. Sometimes you will be reading your professor's books, which is cool. </p>
<p>Are you more interested in analytic or continental philosophy? Are you more interested in physics, English, linguistics, all three? Poli sci? What other interests do you have?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, Im totally stoked!!! Could you please explain the difference between continental and analytic philosophy? The readings, what can be expected for a week in a class (how many pages and such, how often are essays?). Its a relief to know the readings are not too convoluted. I am also interested in International and Area Studies, Legal studies, Poli Sci, and Peace and Conflict studies.</p>
<p>Well, that's tough to say. :)</p>
<p>Here's some random guy on the internet.</p>
<p>here's some more.</p>
<p>Here's some random board.</p>
<p>This seems to be what most philosophy professors tend to think. </p>
<p>In the lower division, I was expected to read about . . . 30 pages at least once every 3 or 4 days, maybe. Rereading was very helpful, probably necessary. Sometimes more was assigned, sometimes less, and this is a loose guess, so don't freak out and dont' think that it's nothing. The reading is often dense and complicated, so even if it were 3 pages, I would want to reread it multiple times. The more times you reread it the better, to a distant point that few approach. Sometimes the readings will be very convoluted, but this is what every person studying Aristotle's metaphysics has to deal with, so it would be the same anywhere you go. how sure are you about Berkeley? I know on the law thread you listed a nice selection of schools. Where else might you go?</p>
<p>As to the other areas, taking a class or two in legal studies would be good. All of the classes are taught by law profs from Boalt. I don't know much about IAS or PACS, but they are both fairly solid, from what I hear. Poli sci has some political philosophy courses you might take for fun, but they might be cross listed with the phil department.</p>
<p>After looking at those websites, I honestly wouldnt mind studying either analytic or continental philosophy. However, since most philosophy departments (Ivy League, State universities and the UCs) cater to analytic, Id probably end up studying that. Thanks for the ball park on pages a week. Well Im pretty sure I would chose Berkeley if I got accepted, other schools on my list would be UCLA, USC, and UCSD. I also pondered about throwing a Wake Forest, George Washington, and other out of state privates in the mix that dont have grade deflation.</p>
<p>You're welcome. As to continental vs analytic, i would advise taking a few classes in the other general area, if they interest you. Check out the Rhetoric department, as well as upper division philosophy department classes, as well as the German department. Each of the schools you mention has something to offer undergraduate philosophy students, and also, keep in mind philosophy is usually one of humanities subjects graded most harshly. :) It's worth it . . . oh yeah.</p>
<p>Wow. I also appreciate the information. If I get lucky enough to get accepted by Berkeley, I most likely plan on attending, and as philosophy will be my major, I'm excited to hear this information. Thanks DRab! Oh, I just can't wait to start studying philosophy no matter I go.</p>
<p>Hey, DRab, you forgot about the logicians in the Philosophy Dept! :)</p>
<p>Whoops, sorry. Well, two things to note, really- there is a lot of logic stuff available, and a lot of classics/philosophy.</p>