I am currently an undergraduate junior at Savannah College of Art and Design studying Art History. As I delve deeper into the subject, I am finding that my interests are slowly shifting towards History and Political Science.
Coming from a chiefly art background, I understand that I am at a disadvantage compared to most students. My passion, however, is no longer in art, but mostly in politics. It’s a strange shift, but it’s a genuine one. I’ve studied politics extensively in my free time and read any political theory that I can get my hands on. I’m currently rereading Machiavelli’s The Prince for the fourth time.
Will my undergraduate education at an art school keep me from getting into a renowned History or Political Science program? I am really worried that I’ll be at a crazy disadvantage.
Probably. It kind of depends on your undergrad degree curriculum. I’d say getting into a political science program would be difficult to impossible without some supplemental coursework. Getting into a history program could potentially be possible, but if your background is primarily art, that’s probably difficult, too.
Since you are a junior, you do have a little time to add some extra classes in traditional history (especially historical research methods and any historical theory you can get your hands on. Ask some professors of history what the most essential classes are). You may have to take them at a nearby college if SCAD doesn’t have them. You may end up needing 1-2 years after college to take more classes and make that transition. You may be able to get into an MA program in history; look for history programs with an emphasis on political history.
Do you want to study political science and be an academic or do you want to be involved in the politics? If it is the latter, you don’t need a graduate degree. You can start by volunteering for a campaign–it can be on the local, state, or national level. All you need is to be willing to give your time. Campaigns are a great way to see if hands-on politics intetests you.
If you’re a junior, take as many history classes as you can, including over the summer at the local community college (depending on where you live, you could take PoliSci+ History each of SessionA AND SessionB and add 4 over the summer.) I 100% agree with Juillet about taking Research Methods and Historiography or Theory, and before you can do so you would need to take all the pre-reqs.
Another option is to not graduate from SCAD and transfer to a SC public (USC Columbia, CoC) where you’d complete the major.