<p>My daughter is planning to apply ED to Brandeis this year. I am wondering whether anyone has any experience or knowledge regarding the History of Ideas major–professors, classes, internships, etc. I woke up this morning to an email from my daughter with a subject line of “doesn’t this look cool?” and a link to the History of Ideas page on the Brandeis site. I think she spends more late night hours on the Brandeis site than she does on Facebook these days. It really does sound, in concept, like something she would truly love, but I’m just a little curious about the more practical side of it.</p>
<p>Well, according to the website, it’s only a minor. From what I see, it just seems like a philosophy minor. Not much information to give (sorry)…but it doesn’t really matter what you minor in.</p>
<p>Oh, and I’m spending all my time on college websites too; it’s good to know that I’m not the only one!</p>
<p>Thanks. Now that I read it more closely, I see that it’s a minor, though it’s not just a philosophy minor since classes can be taken in a number of areas. Regarding whether a minor matters or not, my question is: matters to whom? If it provides some structure to my daughter’s intellectual curiosity and she’s excited by it, then I would like to support her.</p>
<p>Oh, definitely. I’m thinking more in terms of graduate schools, jobs, and the like.
I’m considering eventually getting a PhD in philosophy, so I’m naturally poised to think in that way. I’d personally be apprehensive in getting a major in such a “non-traditional” subject, but it should be fine as a minor, especially since it sounds like she’s really interested in it.</p>