<p>So, I'm having something of a dilemma. I'm a History and Politics major at Oberlin. A couple of days ago, the history seminar I was going to take in the spring semester was canceled. The only other history courses I'd like to take that are being offered have huge waiting lists (popular professor, though I've had him before and he's letting me audit one of his classes). The schedule I may end up with is this:</p>
<p>POLT 121 - Intro to International Relations
POLT 200 - Mass Politics in a Media Age
POLT 310 - Seminar: Failed States
RELG 278 - Crusades, Contact, and Exchange in the Medieval Mediterranean
MENA 273 - Islamic History and Theoretical Perspectives
auditing HIST 277 - Environmental Issues in the 19th Century</p>
<p>I feel wary of going a semester without taking a course in the history department (I'm a first year, but will only be here for three years), though three of those courses are essentially historical in nature. Plus, three politics courses feels a bit excessive, though they're all really interesting.</p>
<p>Unless there's some requirement that you have to take a class in the department each semester, I see absolutely no conceivable reason to be worried. You're taking courses that interest you, and more topically, several of them are, as you said, essentially history courses.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Are you sure you'll still be able to complete all of your major requirements on time, or are you taking electives that you don't really have time for?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have GE's out of the way, or are any of the above classes going toward them? If "no" to both, then again, are you sure you'll be able to finish everything on time?</p></li>
<li><p>This looks like it could be a very reading/writing intensive course load, which is my only thought regarding the three politics courses. Are you sure you'll be able to handle this? Is 5+ courses considered normal at your school (even if you're not accountable for all of the work in your audit, it can still be a drain on your schedule)?</p></li>
<li><p>Would it be possible/preferable to take your audit for credit and drop one of the other, non-history courses? </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Basically, don't worry about the consistency issue, but do still give this schedule some thought. As a first year who wants to graduate early, I'd really encourage you to focus on getting your requirements out of the way early. That said, if you can handle this schedule and still stay on track, you're fine. A significant number of first-years haven't even declared majors yet, you have an understandable reason for your schedule...I don't think this will ever look fishy or hurt you down the road. Hey, it might even make it easier for you to pick up a politics minor if you decide you want one.</p>
<p>After first semester, I have 16/30 credits for my history major, and 9/30 for my politics major. So really, taking one history class each semester would allow me to finish that major easily.</p>
<p>We only have distribution requirements, in terms of taking a certain number of credits towards social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. My majors are both social sciences, but I brought in a significant number of credits that apply to the requirements, so it's not a big worry.</p>
<p>It will be a very heavy reading course load, but that doesn't terribly worry me- last semester, I had two politics, and two history courses, and felt that I could have taken on an additional class. 5+ classes isn't too normal, but there's a large amount that I want to do, and a limited amount of time.</p>
<p>I would prefer to take that history class for credit rather than auditing, but there's already a large waiting list, and the professor is letting me audit it as a favor.</p>
<p>As long as you get the courses completed eventually, learn and do well, I don't think chronology matters to anyone else.</p>
<p>I'm an English and Art History double major with a minor in East Asian studies (which are mostly composed of history classes). I also have to complete at least eight other GE courses (at least one math, science, polisci course etc) at my college. So I've had a semester in which I would be taking three English courses and one art history course, followed by two semesters with absolutely no English courses but a lot of GE's, art history and East Asian history. I've had no problem with it, and none of the profs or advisors I've spoken to have either.</p>
<p>I do take a lot of time to map out my schedule each semester, so I can be sure I will never miss a required course. Just get out some scratch paper and map everything you need to take, it'll give you peace of mind.</p>
<p>I'm a History major. Let me tell you- first semester freshman year was the ONLY semester that I had with NO history courses (though my FSEM was historical based). In my sophomore year, I took 1 history course in each semester because I had CORE and Gen Ed requirements to take care of (along with a minor in Jewish Studies which was a very good year). In order to study abroad (which you might want to consider in your schedule) I had to take 3 history courses (2 lower level, 1 upper) in the fall of my junior year so I won't have to take 3 in one of my semesters in my senior year. Last fall, I took 2 upper-level history courses including a senior seminar with a thesis. Now I'm taking a honors seminar (which is totally optional) and another upper level. My advisor asked me if I would ever want to take another history course this semester to bring up my major GPA, I said, "hell, no way. I've had enough."</p>
<p>I would definitely NOT repeat my fall junior year- that was insane to take 3 courses. I couldn't keep up with the readings in the third course while keeping up with the first two and I had a lot of papers due right after Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>If you think you're pretty strong in history, I encourage you to go ahead and take 2 history courses for several semesters that interest you. If you're a bit of a slacker and like to explore different interests along the way, then just take one but at one point if you find more than 1 history courses in a semester that interest you, then double up! You'll thank yourself later when there's nothing interesting, especially in your senior year.</p>
<p>Your schedule seems okay to me. I would back off the 300-level seminar- it's not made for freshmen who are typically weak in critical reading and writing that are required for seminars. You should explore and enjoy yourself without the rigors of upper level courses for now. I won't bother auditing the class because as someone pointed out there's already a fair amount of reading involved that'll keep you busy. I never allow myself to have more than 3 reading intensive courses at a time and I try to strive for 2 (which usually I do) because two such courses are enough! :) </p>
<p>Good luck and don't be so intent on your majors right now- things can change. I've seen it happen.</p>
<p>Ticklemepink,
I'm not certain on the seminar yet. I took a 300-level history seminar in the fall, and it was an incredible experience--discussion courses with upperclassmen are excellent, and it basically confirmed my desire to study history. So I know I can handle the rigor of it, my only concern is the difference in history and politics seminars, because history ones here are designed as discussion colloquia, while politics ones are research seminars that result in a 20-25 page research paper. </p>
<p>I'm very intent on my majors, because I absolutely know they're what I'm doing, and as I'm going for three years, I can't really change. I'm trying to take as many opportunities as I can (I'm being a research assistant for a professor this semester too), but it's just a matter of determining that what I do properly prepares me for graduate study, and perhaps more importantly, doesn't drive me crazy.</p>