<p>Hi. I'm considering going to Case next year (it's actually my most likely choice, though I haven't had the heart to throw out Boston U altogether yet) and the most significant barrier preventing me from making a decisive decision is my lack of confidence Case's Humanities' depts, especially political science and history, my prospective majors at the moment. </p>
<p>Now, so far, from visiting the campus, I've liked what I've seen, especially the fact that I'd be able to do research, or at least independent research, pretty early in polisci, maybe even freshman year. </p>
<p>Firsthand experience has given my little reason for these doubts I have. However, I want to be sure. Case obviously is far better known for engineering, medicine, and so on, than for it's quality in the humanities and social sciences. </p>
<p>I'm pretty convinced that Case overall is academically superior to BU, but i'd really like to know if Case really has excellent polisci and history depts, or humanities in general. Does Case match Boston U in these areas? And would I be able to (assuming I do well, of course) get into a top university for grad school in the aforementioned fields ( Yale, Princeton, Chicago, etc)?</p>
<p>I’m a poli sci/hsty major.
I am impressed with the quality of the professors, especially the guest professors. I have had 3 poli sci prof’s, and several History Prof’s. First off, the prestige of the social science department is not up to par with the pre med/engineering/science departments, and the course offerings are much more limited.
All the prof’s I have had are passionate about their classes and are extremely accomodating, and make genuine attempts to know their students. All my prof’s knew my name by the second week, which you won’t get at BU, and are always excited to discuss topics outside of class. One advantage is that if you are a strong writer, you have an edge over many students.
It is difficult to say how “good” a department is, especially since I can only compare college to high school. The department is very friendly, and the faculty doesn’t act as though they are above students. The largest class I had was an intro hsty course which was 60ppl on lecture days, 20 on discussion days. Otherwise, none of my poli sci courses (2 of which are mandatory courses for poli sci) are larger than 22 people, which allows for meaningful discussions.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Are class options noticeably limited? Not just in comparison with the other departments, but, in your opinion, of course, are the options broad enough that you can learn enough about what you’re interested in? I mean, I wouldn’t shed tears if they don’t have a course on how middle-aged female taxi-driver’s from Cameroon effect political stability in Africa. Just, to what degree is it “limiting”? </p>
<p>Thanks for any help, by the way. I just feel the need to harp on any detail I come across, just to be as sure as possible about my decision. Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Here’s the course offerings for the fall:
POSC
POSC 109 -The American Political System (Test out with 4 or 5 on AP Gov)<br>
POSC 260 -Introduction to Comparative Politics (required for poli sci majore/minor) CLOSED
POSC 272 -Introduction to International Relations (required for poli sci major/minor)
POSC 321 -News Media and Politics<br>
POSC 322 -Political Movements and Political Participation
POSC 323 -Judicial Politics
POSC 326 -Constitutions in Practical Politics
POSC 334 -Violence and the Political System
POSC 342 -Water CLOSED<br>
POSC 349 -Political Science Research Methods<br>
POSC 354 -Political and Social Philosophy<br>
POSC 361 -State-Building and State Collapse CLOSED
POSC 364 -Dictatorship and Democracy in Modern Latin America<br>
POSC 373 -Politics of the European Union
POSC 378 -International Relations Theory
POSC 379 -Middle East: Politics, Economics, and American Policy<br>
POSC 383 -Health Policy and Politics in the United States</p>
<p>HSTY
HSTY 111 -Greek Civilization
HSTY 112 -Introduction to American History (Test out w/AP US History)
HSTY 113 -Introduction to Modern World History(Test out w/AP World HSTY)
HSTY 200 -The Ancient World<br>
HSTY 204 -Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector
HSTY 210 -Byzantine World 300-1453<br>
HSTY 224 -Early Modern Europe
HSTY 225 -Evolution
HSTY 250 -Issues and Methods in History
HSTY 257 -Immigrants in America
HSTY 262 -African-American History Since 1945
HSTY 319 -The Crusades
HSTY 325 -U.S. Politics, Culture, and Society: 1787-1865
HSTY 334 -History of 19th Century Germany
HSTY 346 -Guns, Germs, and Steel
HSTY 353 -Women in American History I
HSTY 391 -Food in History</p>
<p>Certain courses are rotated per semester, so different classes will be offered in the spring. Personally, only a handful of courses interest me, but I typically schedule based on class times. For example, I have classes 4 days a week next semester. My main interests are Constitutional law and policy. Freshman year you can take the intro courses but usually not 300 levels, but I was able to take a pre law class first semester freshman year, as there are no prereqs. Don’t take Professor Tartakoff freshman year, even if you’re interested in pre law. McMann is good, very easy going and a fair grader, my IR Prof was only here for a year.
For the history department, I had Professor Broich both semesters but he has been ill, so Ledford and Sadowsky are filling in. Both know their stuff but put themselves on the same levels of students.
I think the HSTY selection is more diverse than Poli Sci, but you won’t find those obscure “cultured” classes that liberal arts/Ivies offer.</p>