<p>D was accepted to JHU, which I recognize had a fabulous reputation in science and engineering. However, I am seeking opinions about humanities or social sciences at Hopkins and things seem kind of sparse. Can anyone make any comments about these areas? Even the fact that no credit is given for AP classes in (almost) any of the humanities/social science areas seems to suggest that students in these areas are second-class citizens.</p>
<p>D is trying to decide where to go. She will be re-visiting JHU soon, but I'm concerned that she will be one of a tiny, undervalued minority as a humanities major. Anyone know of any happy JHU English majors out there? And as an aside, any idea why no AP credit in humanities or history is given?</p>
<p>I can see how you may feel that way because Hopkins is typically associated with the Med school. The university itself, however, is different. Take a moment to review my comments because I fear you may be jumping to a few common misconceptions about Hopkins. I hope this clears a few things up and puts you at ease. </p>
<p>The reason AP courses are not awarded in social sciences (they are for languages btw) is because Hopkins doesn’t teach equivalent classes to the AP’s. AP’s are survey classes, they cover a lot of time in some detail. University level courses tend to cover very, very specific topics in great detail. For example, you can take an entire class on the first month of the US Civil War, or Post World War I German MicroEconomics… it’s not that the students are second class citizens at all (they are highly regarded in fact, more so than the dime-a-dozen pre-meds) but rather the university feels no need to teach survey level classes in the humanities and social sciences. </p>
<p>Humanities students at Hopkins are really the chosen ones honestly. 40% of the school are humanities and social sciences - keep in mind that there are many students who are enrolled in multiple departments so it’s rare that students are exclusively anything at Hopkins due to how flexible everything is. International Studies is the most popular major. </p>
<p>I think the humanities students and social science students get the best undergraduate experience at Hopkins mainly because they have the world-class faculty right at their finger tips all the time, teaching all their classes. The classes are very small, often capped at 15 because that is how the university feels the humanities should be taught.<br>
The classes are exceptionally challenging, require a lot of reading and the discussion-nature of the classes challenges students to engage and participate at a high level. </p>
<p>This is the perfect combination of your daughter having incredible classes and faculty readily available at her heart’s desire. The departments are small but that’s what everyone wants - access to the faculty, discussion-based classes. I think it would be a HUGE, HUGE mistake for your daughter to turn down Hopkins if she is looking at humanities and social sciences because I can’t tell you how many times I hear parents/friends and students “how much access do I have to faculty?” or “are the classes taught by faculty” and the humanities at Hopkins are everything and more. The opportunity is staring people RIGHT in the face!! Small departments = attention, personalization, mentoring, resources = good!!!</p>
<p>Watch this video and you’ll get a sense: [YouTube</a> - A Rare Collection](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvXUHI331k]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvXUHI331k)</p>
<p>I hope this helps shed a little light. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks! That video was great. And I can see my D being interested in the Writing Seminars program (major?).</p>
<p>My son was an international studies major and my daughter double majored in psychology and history of art. Both had wonderful experiences at Hopkins. I highly recommend the humanities and social sciences there.</p>
<p>Actually since it seems that your talking about English and writing, I heard (though cannot confirm) that JHU has a GREAT! English department. But more certainly I can answer your other question that, Yes writing seminar is actually a major since my 10th grade English teacher did her undergrad in that and then got a masters from there in English.(At least in 2004 it was. Thats when she graduated)</p>
<p>Writing Seminars is ranked number 2 in the US by US News and World reports; not as sure about english but I do have happy english major friends here, and I took an english poetry class here that was absolutely phenomenal…and I dislike poetry</p>