general update
24 January 2007 13:57![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
argurotoxosMany things going on right now (and it's hasn't even been a full week of classes yet!).
I've had all of my courses at least once except for my Independent Study in Philosophy, which is tonight.
Alexander -- The professor for this class is probably the oldest I've ever had; she's been at the university since the 1960s. However, she seems enthusiastic about the subject and even came to the first class wearing an Alexander T-shirt and bearing photos from her recent trip to Macedonia. Today was the first post-introduction class and I was rather disappointed that most of what the professor did was simply read from the textbook, but the textbook itself is fascinating and contains a conglomeration of the ancient sources (in translation).
Messiah and Messianism -- The class looks to be very interesting and I like the professor; we'll be discussing where the idea of a messiah came from and the numerous ways the concept has been interpreted and represented throughout history.
17th and 18th Century Philosophy -- A.k.a. American Philosophy part II; same professor, similar structure, and many of the same classmates. We'll be reading Descartes, Hume, Berkeley, and Kant; I've studied pieces of each of them before except for Berkeley. I would like to take a Philosophy class where I can study some of the philosophers I've heard things about but never read at some point, such as Nietzsche or Heidegger; nevertheless, P.D.'s a very good lecturer, though the fact that he's using a TA to grade papers for this class rather threw me.
Political and Social Philosophy -- A.k.a. Ancient Philosophy part II; same professor, similar structure, and many of the same classmates. More Plato and Aristotle (The Republic and Politics, respectively). Samaras always makes the class fun, if a little nerve-wracking because of his unique teaching style. Unfortunately, the Philosophy Department refused to consider him for a permanent position, so this will be his only year here. Partly in response to this, Samaras was applauded when he entered the classroom on the first day; he'll be greatly missed. (He's also my Independent Study professor.)
Hollywood and the Jews -- As it turns out, this course is more about stereotypes in general as seen in films rather than specifically about Jews in the movies. It's not something that particularly interests me, but the class isn't bad considering the only reason I enrolled in it was to fulfill a general education requirement.
This semester will be spent doing lots and lots of reading for all of these classes. Each class also has at least one paper to write (more if I'm able to do my upper-level intensive writing with the Independent Study), though thankfully they aren't all due at the same time. Still, I can already tell that I'll be extremely busy.
I officially changed my major today. Yes, yes, I know I said that a little over a week ago and I did fill out the online application, but apparently someone at the undergraduate office still has review the applications themselves and they're very backed up. When I visited their office today, the secretary explained the situation and then filled out my request since I had come personally.
As soon as I got back to the dorms, I checked my transcript and was pleasantly surprised to find that I only need two more classes (not including the ones I'm taking this semester) to complete my Philosophy major. I had no idea I was that close. What's even better is that both of the classes I have left are electives, giving me practically free range in class choice.
For an East Asian Studies major, I have four classes left, which places me in another awkward situation. If I had remained a Japanese major, I would have needed the same number of classes as Philosophy -- two. However, I would have to take Japanese 302.
I only need three more classes after this semester to have enough credits to graduate; I could easily complete the last of my Philosophy classes next semester, study abroad or not, and then graduate in December of this year. Question: would it be feasible to complete both majors with another semester of 18 credits for Fall 2007, even with study abroad? It would be possible to only go part-time for Spring 2008 to finish up East Asian Studies and possibly take another class in the Classics Department, but I'm not very inclined to do so.If only the Classics Department wasn't so ill-managed, I'd have liked to have minored in it, too. Also, I have a feeling the East Asian Studies Department would be very disappointed to say the least if I dropped them to a minor.
My intention is to meet with someone from the East Asian Studies Department to discuss all this next week. I'll also be applying for a passport soon; they have a passport day on campus 7 February.
Now to read Descartes' Second Meditation for P.D.'s class tomorrow . . .
I've had all of my courses at least once except for my Independent Study in Philosophy, which is tonight.
Alexander -- The professor for this class is probably the oldest I've ever had; she's been at the university since the 1960s. However, she seems enthusiastic about the subject and even came to the first class wearing an Alexander T-shirt and bearing photos from her recent trip to Macedonia. Today was the first post-introduction class and I was rather disappointed that most of what the professor did was simply read from the textbook, but the textbook itself is fascinating and contains a conglomeration of the ancient sources (in translation).
Messiah and Messianism -- The class looks to be very interesting and I like the professor; we'll be discussing where the idea of a messiah came from and the numerous ways the concept has been interpreted and represented throughout history.
17th and 18th Century Philosophy -- A.k.a. American Philosophy part II; same professor, similar structure, and many of the same classmates. We'll be reading Descartes, Hume, Berkeley, and Kant; I've studied pieces of each of them before except for Berkeley. I would like to take a Philosophy class where I can study some of the philosophers I've heard things about but never read at some point, such as Nietzsche or Heidegger; nevertheless, P.D.'s a very good lecturer, though the fact that he's using a TA to grade papers for this class rather threw me.
Political and Social Philosophy -- A.k.a. Ancient Philosophy part II; same professor, similar structure, and many of the same classmates. More Plato and Aristotle (The Republic and Politics, respectively). Samaras always makes the class fun, if a little nerve-wracking because of his unique teaching style. Unfortunately, the Philosophy Department refused to consider him for a permanent position, so this will be his only year here. Partly in response to this, Samaras was applauded when he entered the classroom on the first day; he'll be greatly missed. (He's also my Independent Study professor.)
Hollywood and the Jews -- As it turns out, this course is more about stereotypes in general as seen in films rather than specifically about Jews in the movies. It's not something that particularly interests me, but the class isn't bad considering the only reason I enrolled in it was to fulfill a general education requirement.
This semester will be spent doing lots and lots of reading for all of these classes. Each class also has at least one paper to write (more if I'm able to do my upper-level intensive writing with the Independent Study), though thankfully they aren't all due at the same time. Still, I can already tell that I'll be extremely busy.
I officially changed my major today. Yes, yes, I know I said that a little over a week ago and I did fill out the online application, but apparently someone at the undergraduate office still has review the applications themselves and they're very backed up. When I visited their office today, the secretary explained the situation and then filled out my request since I had come personally.
As soon as I got back to the dorms, I checked my transcript and was pleasantly surprised to find that I only need two more classes (not including the ones I'm taking this semester) to complete my Philosophy major. I had no idea I was that close. What's even better is that both of the classes I have left are electives, giving me practically free range in class choice.
For an East Asian Studies major, I have four classes left, which places me in another awkward situation. If I had remained a Japanese major, I would have needed the same number of classes as Philosophy -- two. However, I would have to take Japanese 302.
I only need three more classes after this semester to have enough credits to graduate; I could easily complete the last of my Philosophy classes next semester, study abroad or not, and then graduate in December of this year. Question: would it be feasible to complete both majors with another semester of 18 credits for Fall 2007, even with study abroad? It would be possible to only go part-time for Spring 2008 to finish up East Asian Studies and possibly take another class in the Classics Department, but I'm not very inclined to do so.
My intention is to meet with someone from the East Asian Studies Department to discuss all this next week. I'll also be applying for a passport soon; they have a passport day on campus 7 February.
Now to read Descartes' Second Meditation for P.D.'s class tomorrow . . .
