Hierarchy of majors

[holden888]

<p>Only losers go into Humanity subjects, that’s why they exist to bring down Science major’s GPA.</p>

<p>In other words all humanity subjects should be abolished and erased from this planet, especially religion studies</p>

[cormy3]

<p>

I am a social sciences/humanities double major and am taking an intro to history class. 75% of the people are non history majors, and about 50% are natural sciences taking it to fulfill a humanities requirement. The day we received our first papers back, the TA spent 20 minutes demonstrating how to write in the active voice. After the second paper was graded, he sent an email stating that a paper needed to include an argument. So I think the idea that people in the natural sciences would excel in humanities majors/classes is really warped. Our school had to institute required writing classes because employers were complaining that the engineers didn’t know how to write or communicate properly. I have found that most engineers are average to below average writers at best. The non humanties majors typically struggle in my classes.

</p>

<p>I never said there aren’t natural science majors who struggle in the humanities, even if you isolate and discard factors of motivation that often come into play when science majors have to drudge through books they don’t care about.</p>

<p>However, do you believe there aren’t more humanities majors who struggle with science courses, even intro ones? Or that there aren’t complaints from employers about liberal arts majors who can’t reason quantitatively? Humanities majors are not just below average or average numerically, many are deficient to the point it’s hard to function in daily life, and do everyday things like calculate percentages.</p>

<p>When I made my original post, I was speaking primarily about the top tier of students in the respective majors, because those are the ones who are committed to learning usually no matter what subject. Hence it’s easier to separate out issues of motivation that would otherwise obstruct our observations. I drew my representative sample from students going on to graduate schools in top universities, drawing as well from my broad impressions from my overall college experience. From the top students, I noticed that every Harvard math student is able to write at a very high level, his writing not distinguishable in quality from a top english major’s, but the Harvard law students often can’t do basic calculus.</p>

<p>But the point is, if you want to talk about students who by all rights should be in remedial classes (papers should have arguments?), I’m willing to go there too.</p>

<p>

I scored equally well on math and reading back when I took the sat, and did as well in math as the social sciences. I could have done well in engineering, but I thought, what’s so satisfying about solving a problem that has one right answer? How is that challenging? Trying to find solutions to problems without a clear solution is, in my view, much more rewarding, engaging, abstract and challenging. Engineers tend to demean the social scienes to feel better about themselves, especially since their GPAs are in many cases lower than social science majors. It’s so petty.

</p>

<p>Well thank you for irrelevant and poorly reasoned philosophizing. And people think what I post is offensive. Good stuff.</p>

[powerbomb]

<p>

Though it is true that it’s much harder to fail a paper-writing class than it is to fail a science class. At least at my school, the worst student in a history class might get a C, but it’s very possible to get a 10% on a test in orgo or something.

</p>

<p>But not necessarily because an orgo test is more cognitively challenging than writing a good paper - it’s just how classes/curves are designed.</p>

[MLDWoody]

<p>Also papers can be completely subjective. I hate subjective grading. Half your grade is how the teacher feels about you.</p>

<p>EDIT: Not so much in college where there could be a ton of students in a class though</p>

[Sithis]

<p>As an Engineering major, I personally consider it to be an absolute travesty of justice that humanities majors do not prostrate themselves before me whenever I grace them with my presence.</p>

[BillyMc]

<p>I’m glad that there’s such a sense of camaraderie amongst young people seeking knowledge and intellectual advancement.</p>

[WastedxYears]

<p>I would say Computer Science is the king.</p>

<p>Why?</p>

<p>Name any major and I bet it is dependent on the use of computers and programs. Basically we CS majors make a lot of the other majors in the modern world possible. Even a ****ing toaster is dependent on the skills of a CS major.</p>

<p>We make the world in the 21st century go round.</p>

<p>Look at the world around you and you will realize that what I have said is true.</p>

[powerbomb]

<p>

Name any major and I bet it is dependent on the use of computers and programs. Basically we CS majors make a lot of the other majors in the modern world possible. Even a ****ing toaster is dependent on the skills of a CS major.</p>

<p>We make the world in the 21st century go round.</p>

<p>Look at the world around you and you will realize that what I have said is true.

</p>

<p>??? Mankind needed to have been able to philosophize, communicate, write and reason before inventing such a thing???</p>

[lapras]

<p>lol cormy you are getting your panties way too twisted in a bunch. Dwight was just giving an opinion</p>

[Sithis]

<p>Yes, CS majors are the **** because people use computers to do stuff.</p>

[buriedalie]

<p>Knave, my turf studies degree begs to differ.</p>

[lapras]

<p>

??? Mankind needed to have been able to philosophize, communicate, write and reason before inventing such a thing???

</p>

<p>But despite all of that, programming has become the center of a lot of people’s lives. We have things like tumblr and youtube, where people showcase their abilities (music, movies, etc.) and opinions (poetry and fiction through tumblr) to a larger group of people. You have to admit how useful HTML and java and other programs have been to website design and other aspects of life.</p>

[Sithis]

<p>WastedXYears wins all arguments on this thread by default, because without computer science majors we wouldn’t be having this charming discussion.</p>

[WastedxYears]

<p>@powerbomb
Yeah sure but in the present day the importance of those fields has diminished. Technology is leading the future. Once again, look around you. </p>

<p>@Sithis
Yes and without those computers, the world would not be as advanced as it is today. You’re welcome.</p>

<p>EDIT: Also Sithis, you’re right, we wouldn’t be having this discussion without CS majors because there wouldn’t be internet forums.</p>

[powerbomb]

<p>Technology does not and cannot exist outside the realms of communication, human thought, history, and philosophy. People invent and make technological advancements through mechanisms of language, thought, etc.</p>

[BillyMc]

<p>

Name any major and I bet it is dependent on the use of computers and programs. Basically we CS majors make a lot of the other majors in the modern world possible. Even a ****ing toaster is dependent on the skills of a CS major.

But you have to learn about that in buildings. And who designs those? Architects.</p>

<p>And you know who makes our civilized existence possible? Farmers. So why not agriculture majors as king?</p>

<p>Plus, everything that happens is a part of history, so doesn’t history include knowledge from all other majors?</p>

<p>And psychology and philosophy each study different aspects of the most important thing; the mind.</p>

<p>And computer programs aren’t much use if you don’t have people to build the hardware.</p>

<p>Aaaaand, I’d rather not study something that becomes useless when (1) a solar flare hits, or (2) civilization partially collapses, or (3) technology advances at the rate of the past 100 years.</p>

<p>Arguments can be made against calling any major king. Though I actually may have made a good case for agriculture.</p>

<p>

Yes and without those computers, the world would not be as advanced as it is today. You’re welcome.

Oh, I didn’t realize you were to thank for modern technology. Good to know.</p>

[WastedxYears]

<p>@Powerbomb
no technology does not exist outside those realms but it is the very core of those realms in this modern day and age. argue that one for me buddy.</p>

<p>@BillyMc
That was in the past. Now technology drives agriculture. Newer more efficient farming methods are made with the use of extensive CS technology. </p>

<p>I don’t think you’re understanding what I’m saying. All major were useful at some point but in the present day their value has diminished and the value of CS has exponentially grown past them and the future only holds more growth for CS. </p>

<p>CS is never useless. If civilization partially collapses or we have a solar flare, then I think we have larger problems on our hands than which major is king lol. You are stating hypothetical situations, and I am giving you real concrete arguments.</p>

[BillyMc]

<p>No, you’re making sweeping generalizations about how important “technology” is. Then you make an unsupported and dubious link between “technology” and “computer science,” with the suggestion that the latter is essential to the former.</p>

[WastedxYears]

<p>Sorry when I mentioned “technology” I meant computers and computer science. </p>

<p>So no, that was just a miscommunication on my part sorry.</p>

[powerbomb]

<p>

@powerbomb
no technology does not exist outside those realms but it is the very core of those realms in this modern day and age. argue that one for me buddy.

</p>

<p>Subtract written communication, language, reasoning, logic, human interaction, thought, history and see if technology functions. </p>

<p>CS is undoubtedly a very important and useful major (in fact, I’m thinking of minoring in it), but your reasoning behind it being “king” is not very good…</p>