<p>Are the non-technical requirements in the SEAS core comparable to the humanities requirements at most other engineering universities (Stanford, Cornell, MIT)? Does SEAS require more humanities courses than the typical engineering school?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Someone please reply. Does SEAS require more humanities courses than other engineering colleges?</p>
<p>Go to the Columbia University website and look under requirements for SEAS! SEAS students are required to take many of Columbia’s core courses, but how many will be specifically spelled out on the website. If no students from SEAS are responding right now, your best bet is to do your own independent research.</p>
<p>I don’t know the typical requirements, but I think it’s safe to say that SEAS requires taking more liberal arts classes than your typical engineering school. Certainly, the idea that SEAS engineers are well-rounded and deeply exposed to the liberal arts is a central part of the culture of SEAS.</p>
<p>I believe SEAS students are required to take a year-long course in either literature (LitHum) or philosophy (CC), a semester-long writing course (University Writing), a semester-long economics course (Principles) and a semester of either Art or Music. In addition to those Core classes, they have to take another 3 or 4 semesters of humanities classes.</p>
<p>I think that’s significantly more than peer engineering schools, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Here are the requirements: [Liberal</a> Arts Core: 27-Point Nontechnical Requirement | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering](<a href=“http://bulletin.engineering.columbia.edu/liberal-arts-core-27-point-nontechnical-requirement]Liberal”>Liberal Arts Core: 27-Point Nontechnical Requirement | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering)
Here are the Core classes: [A</a>. Required Nontechnical Courses | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering](<a href=“http://bulletin.engineering.columbia.edu/required-nontechnical-courses]A”>A. Required Nontechnical Courses | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering)
In addition to those, you need to choose 3 or 4 courses (each course is 3 or 4 points) from this list to take: [B</a>. Elective Nontechnical Courses | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering](<a href=“http://bulletin.engineering.columbia.edu/b-elective-nontechnical-courses]B”>B. Elective Nontechnical Courses | Bulletin | Columbia Engineering)</p>
<p>I check out the requirements. It seems pretty intensive. How long does the typical SEAS student take to finish all 27 credits of humanities requirements?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>One of the primary reasons I chose to go to SEAS was that I’d get a top-flight engineering education while at the same time having access to world-class educations in dozens of other subjects, from which I could pick and choose. My dad went to MIT and (at least to his knowledge) Astronomy was and is counted as a humanities class as far as their requirements go. This may have changed in the intervening years, but I think it’s safe to say that MIT is not a place that has a very strong institutional focus on non-technical subjects. I can’t speak to the requirements of any other top school, though. It’ll depend a lot on what you’re interested in taking.</p>
<p>27 credits is basically one class per semester. Some of that is taken care of by taking your core requirements (e.g. taking Lit Hum or CC - I regret not taking both, honestly). Some of it is just by taking classes in other areas of interest to you. If you’re the kind of person Columbia wants, chances are you’re curious enough that there will be far more interesting stuff to take than you have time to take it. I would gladly have taken more History classes, Polisci classes, a few Econ classes (well, the grad-level ones - the undergrad ones are a little rudimentary), some Psych and Sociology classes, probably another language (one of these days I’ll learn Spanish, dammit…), and so on. Those 27 credits go by rather quickly, and if you’re scrambling to complete a major (and/or a minor), you’ll often have to choose between a class that sounds fun, and sleep. At a certain point, sleep becomes very appealing.</p>
<p>As a person who isn’t fond of the humanities, would I feel burdened by the non-technical requirements? I chose Columbia for its location and post-graduate career options. I’m the kind of person you would expect at a school like CMU or Caltech. I don’t mind adjusting to some humanities courses, but I hope they don’t impede an engineering education. Are there people like me at Columbia and will I face much trouble adapting to the core requirements?</p>
<p>There are people like you at Columbia, but you should be aware that the non-technical requirements aren’t trivial. Some classes - particularly Contemporary Civ if you opt for it - will take more of your time than almost any single technical course. Then again, there are “people like you” who never leave the library, or never venture below 96th street, or never join any clubs… your experience at Columbia depends a lot on how proactive you’re willing to be. The same is true here: you have to be proactive to find the classes that will be fun for you and interesting to learn in. Consider this analysis:</p>
<p>Downside: going outside your comfort zone
Upside: potential to learn really cool stuff from worldwide experts in a variety of disciplines, who otherwise wouldn’t be housed at an engineering school and thus accessible to you</p>
<p>If you think of it that way, it’s more of a treasure hunt than a chore.</p>
<p>I’ll definitely try to make the best of college, both inside and outside the classroom. However, my idea of interesting clubs and classes are math, physics, computer and entrepreneurship oriented. I’m an international student who has literally no exposure to the humanities. That’s why I’m a little worried about the large number of non-technical requirements. The only non-science books I’ve read are fiction and biographies, nothing along the lines of the Illiad or Shakespeare. Given my position, which of these core classes would provide an easier transition for me:</p>
<p>CC, Lit Hum or the Global Core</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>