<p>I am very surprised by how limited the class selection is at Cal (I had more options at my CC!). I am just trying to find any 1 or 2 unit classes in: History, Anthro, Poli Sci, or Socio and I can find maybe 5 total??? thats pathetic! Also there are no art classes and no 1 or 2 unit english classes listed (that I could be in as a junior). I just feel like I won't be able to fill up my 13 units my first semester simply because there are very few classes that aren't 4 units+ for me to take, and very few that aren't in a field like math/science/regional planning! I dont want to take any math or science classes....and I feel like its just wasting time for me to fill up on P.E. and decal classes....has anyone else experienced this? I already have 9 units from phase I.....Am I just being picky?</p>
<p>Oh, I know I totally can! I just took the advice of the counselors at Calso and they said to only take 2 “major classes” and no other “full unit classes”, which they defined as 3units+. They said to fill up the other 5 units with 1-2 unit classes. Of course that is just a guideline but I just find it ironic that they recommend this yet they give you a very limited selection of options for those five units. I’m also just amazed that the arts are so terribly represented at this school.</p>
<p>… That’s the WORST advice… I’ve EVER heard…</p>
<p>Generally it’s 2-3 major courses + 1-2 breadths, each consisting of around 4 units. I have no idea what your CalSo person was smoking.</p>
<p>The reason why there aren’t that many 1-2 unit courses is because there’s not really a demand for them, as if you need that last 1-2 units, people take decals. Normal people take 4 units classes.</p>
<p>Well I’m a junior transfer so I finished all my breadth prior to transferring. All I have left are my few major courses. The rest of my units are just purely for credits. So that’s probably why they said that…I guess I could take another 3/4 unit or so, I just thought I would take the advice of the “minimum” to see if the workload is manageable, and if so I’d do more “full unit” courses in my following semester. </p>
<p>Does no one really not care that Berkeley doesn’t have an “art” department? I am just amazed by that considering its liberal and progressive reputation!</p>
<p>I guess I just think that art (which is not just still art like painting, it also includes performance art and media graphics as well) is just as valuable as math and science. You don’t have to be condescending just because you disagree…jeez many people on this board are so stuck up! Some of us use this a forum to discuss and get valuable information…</p>
<p>i only read the first part of the OP’s post, but I have to disagree. I’m thinking of transferring and the one downside is that the other colleges don’t have as much to offer as berkeley does. as far as study abroad and selection of classes.</p>
<p>“i only read the first part of the OP’s post, but I have to disagree. I’m thinking of transferring and the one downside is that the other colleges don’t have as much to offer as berkeley does. as far as study abroad and selection of classes.”</p>
<p>You might be right that Berkeley has more classes available than many other UC’s or universities…I’ve never attended a university before, only community college, I was just saying that there are more options at community colleges (I am not referring to upper-division courses or in specific majors). I mean more in the variety of fields…its not really that important, and its obvious that I am on my own here. I just wanted to take a figure drawing class and noticed there was no such thing, simple as that. ( :</p>
<p>hmm… I do believe berkeley offers practice of art, art history, and other art classes/degrees… o__o I’m not quite understanding this lack of “art” thing…</p>
<p>I’ll probably take everyones advice and just sign up for another 3-4 unit class. I just assumed the peeps at Calso knew what they were talkin about lol, I guess not?</p>
<p>Anyways, in regards to the “arts department” there are individual art classes (like art theory, and art history) but there are no practiced art classes (like figure drawing, oil painting, etc) and there are few theater classes. I grew up in a heavy arts family, my father is a theater teacher and my brother is a musician. Like I said, I understand that is not the most important thing to some, but for how large the university is you’d think they would have much larger art programs. I really did have more options in “electives” at my community college. I don’t know why it seems to be irritating or offending so many of you that I have stated this…you are obviously not art majors or anything lol.</p>
<p>Simply how can an university call itself adequate by offer a mere 50+ Theatre classes (which are also mostly empty… probably due to the lack of publicity due to these classes!). We should protest, write letters!</p>
<p>Why is it important that we have labs in science anyways? Isn’t equally important that each of the Music, New Media, Theatre, Dance, and Performance studies, Practice of Art, Film, Art History, Visual Studies etc etc. departments get even more classes? So what if the current ones don’t get filled, it’s the variety that counts! Those kids who can’t get into their classes right now should consider taking less major courses anyways.</p>
<p>I also come from an elite art background. My grandfather was a famed composer of classical commercial jingles and my brother teaches oil painting to the homeless (only those who can afford the $240 supplies fee, of course). Obviously those other people don’t understand or appreciate where we are coming from. I don’t understand why all of you think I’m irritating or offensive, just because it’s so obvious that you guys are not art majors and are so beneath me in terms of true enlightenment and intelligence…</p>
<p>ummm…i dont know where that came from. I wasnt implying any of those things you stated. I was just saying that perhaps my interest in the arts roots from my background and that I can understand how some people who haven’t had my experiences can see it differently. Just like how my family has never shown an interest in any type of sport so I have trouble watching football games with my boyfriend, yet I understand why he enjoys them, he grew up with it! Also, I am terrible at math/science so thats why I didn’t want to take courses in those fields ad noticed this situation. There was no implication that the arts are better than any other major…in fact I truly believe that math/science/etc are just as important and of course more practical in our society. I just also happen to think that the arts are under represented at Berkeley. Why is that a bad thing to recognize this? The reality is there isn’t a full art department and thats fine, because I’m not an art major, but I feel if a better variety of classes were offered then more people would participate in them. Besides, when I pointed out that none of you were art majors I didnt mean it in a condescending way, thats how you decided to take it, I meant simply that I understand why none of you care since you aren’t art majors and/or interested in that feild. I don’t know how you drew the conclusion that I had any ill will in my previous posts, but I can defiantly state now that there was none…??</p>
<p>“I just assumed the peeps at Calso knew what they were talkin about lol, I guess not?”</p>
<p>I suppose their responses have something to do with you calling them ‘stuck up’ and ‘condescending’? It’s alright that others don’t care about art the way you do, just like you probably wouldn’t notice if Berkeley had very few physics courses. I’ve had a look, and people here have given you good advice. </p>
<p>Drama aside, I know what you mean about the limited number of art classes - because I’d love to do some art for 1-2 units as well. Unfortunately, that’s just the way things are. Telling people how amazed you are by it won’t really help… I’m currently refreshing DeCal in case they put up some art-related courses. Why would Decal and PE be a waste of time? Aren’t you looking for an elective art course? </p>
<p>Also, I haven’t taken any Practice of Art courses - but the outlines usually list three hours of lectures and six hours of studio, so presumably there is some practical art going on. ART 12 mentions figure drawing.</p>
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