<p>Hi everyone.
Is the international and global studies program in Brandeis worth something? Because, if I understood correctly, brandeis is well known in the life sciences, but less in the undergrad major i mentioned above.
Please don’t bother telling me Tufts and John hopkins are better, I just want to have an idea how good/bad Brandeis’ IR program is.</p>
<p>Some info: I got accepted to Boston uni (college of arts and sciences), George washington (College of arts and sciences - therefore i can’t major in international affairs, since it is a different college) and NYU (General studies program).</p>
<p>I'm an IGS major and I love it. I've had amazing professors in the core classes (if you go, deeeeefinitely get Robert Art for intro to IR and Sarah Lamb for intro to Anth, and anything with Donald Hindley). For instance, I mentioned to Professor Hindley that I was interested in Bolivia and he sends me articles he finds all the time about issues going on there. With the exception of one professor (who only teaches one class in IGS to my knowledge), all of my professors have been engaging and truly concerned toward their students. What I like about the program is that there is such a variety. You have to take 4 core classes and then you choose a "focus" and take 4 classes in the focus, in addition to 2 classes that can be from any of the other focuses and some required time abroad.</p>
<p>It is a very popular major because it's so interdisciplinary. Almost all IGS majors double major and have at least one minor because your classes are so wide ranging. I'm a 2nd semester freshman and I'm one class away from a politics minor because of the IGS major requirements- and that was totally by accident! </p>
<p>If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.</p>
<p>Hey SilverClover, I have a question not relating to IR but with registering for first year classes since your a freshman at Deis. It sounds like you've taken a few classes freshman year relating to your major. Is this typical? Because of AP credit and the way classes double count for things, the only classes I need to take are my USEM, quantitative reasoning, science/math requirement, and fine arts requirement. Would you suggest getting all of those in 1st semester or 2nd semester as a freshman or not? I kinda don't wanna spend my first year studying things I'm not 100% interested in! </p>
<p>I'm thinking of studying comparative lit and studying a few languages, so humanities/foreign language/non-western/writing intensive are all dealt with.</p>
<p>Hey hemingway. As far as class registration for first year I would only register for classes that you want to take and that interest you. Freshman year I took courses that counted towards my majors, but in the long run it isn't necessary to do in order to graduate on time, and I regret it slightly.</p>
<p>For Freshman year, and you'll be told this during orientation countless times, you should explore and take classes that you normally wouldn't take. Remember you can also take classes P/F.</p>
<p>ahhh, i'm just gonna have such a tough decision registering for classes though! especially the first time around, where i have absolute freedom kinda. i have so many interests, and <em>developed</em> interests in pretty much everything but the maths and sciences. literature, philosophy, anthropology, history, international studies, sociology, art history, theatre....all of it. i'd acutally love not to major in anything.</p>
<p>If you take what interests you for the first year or year and a half, I bet you'll see a pattern develop. Possibly, even, you might notice you're only one or two classes away from a minor.</p>
<p>I think its really important to take classes that interest you, or that you normally wouldn't take because of time constraints. Who knows, you might take a college class and absolutely hate it and know that subject is not for you nor ever will be. Or you might take that one creative arts class and fall in love.</p>
<p>Basically, what I would do, and what everyone tells you to do is just to experiment and have fun! There's no other chance in your life that you'll have to learn this incredible variety of things...take advantage of it!</p>