<p>I’m having trouble appreciating the significance and marketability of these four class requirements. In an ever evolving 21st century in an economy that is becoming more and more high tech, what does BC believe will come out of these four classes? I think they will certainly make you better writers and thinkers, but I just can’t help but feel frustrated at the four courses where I could have potentially taken something else.</p>
<p>You will most likely learn more about the world and about yourself from these classes than you will in any other class. Don’t dismiss them yet, they are great courses that force you to face the human situation and understand issues that have divided and united millions of humans throughout history. If you have an open mind about them, you will see how valuable they really are (although you may not appreciate them until years after you’ve graduated)</p>
<p>They are outstanding courses, and well worth taking. Even though high schooler have never taken a philosophy course, many BC students end up with PL minors (or a second majors), so the Dept must be offering something of interest.</p>
<p>Another option is PULSE, which has a service (learning) component, which means less readin’ and writin’.</p>
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<p>Quite frankly, that is what a college with a Core is all about: education in the liberal arts which by definition, is not “marketable” (with perhaps the exception being Econ).</p>
<p>fwiw: IMO, philosophy is one discipline where it is hard to BS your way through. It requires real analytical thinking.</p>
<p>Many people at BC feel the same way you do, including me, to some extent. If these classes weren’t graded and some sort of pass/fail structure, it would be much better. It feels like less of a learning experience and more of a class you have to do well in. It really depends on your teacher and your mindset going into it. I went into BC considering a double major in philosophy, and decided by the end of my first semester freshman year that it was in no way happening. Assigning a number grade to something so ridiculously subjective as philosophy was a dealkiller. With a good teacher and stimulating material, philosophy MAY click with you though. The classes have really helped my writing and reading comprehension though, something that is valuable enough in and of itself I suppose.</p>
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<p>But that is the whole field of lit – it is all subjective. But unlike literature, IMO philosophy is at least logical and needs fact-based support. To me, lit is more creative thinking, but philosophy is more critical thinking. (but just my opinion)</p>
<p>But again, such courses are the essence of a college with a Core curriculum (of which there are only a handful left, such as Chicago & Columbia). There are 2000+ other colleges out there with only a minimum of distribution/GE requirements. Perhaps they would be a better fit?</p>
<p>while some students love these classes, they were easily the worst ones I took at the school other than the english requirements. these classes and the english classes were the only classes in the school i didnt enjoy at all. and i would disagree and say that philosophy is the only class you CAN in fact ******** your way through. just my opinion though. they are the only classes where your specific professor matters so much. wht does that say? highly subjective and some profs in the dept are easier to ******** your way through than others. no other depts in the school are like this to this degree except for english. i understand the concept of a core (as ive taken many classes in it that i enjoyed and were not “marketable” but required) but these specific classes I mentioned I just wish we never had to take.</p>
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<p>I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, what was your question?</p>
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<p>It is my understanding that there any number of other colleges that are more, um, transactionally oriented.</p>
<p>To each, their own jacob. </p>
<p>Perhaps Eng/PL/RL was more challenging for your because, as you posted four three ago, “english is my worst subject”. My D is in your class and absolutely loved the English and philosophy courses. (She took English at BC just because a Prof got rave reviews, even though she could have placed out with her AP score.)</p>
<p>But I do agree that Lit-type courses in general are subject to bs’ing your way through the analysis. That is the point, I guess, in that there is no correct answer. And you are also correct that in such courses, a prof can make all the difference. (Thus the undergrad reviews are critical for choosing well, IMO.) There is no doubt that some Profs are easier than others, and that is true at every college. Just choose your classes well. But if you really don’t want to take 4 such courses out of a total of 38, then perhaps BC is not for you. (Again, PULSE is another option, since the book learning is supplanted by the service learning.)</p>