Strange Classes you've taken

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by peter12

Generalities don't give you the ground to make objectivist claims/moralizing lectures regarding Canada's education system.

That's fine, because as you may recall I posted my opinion on a messageboard, which, if you do not object, I can.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Well if you are a teacher you take pride in the curriculum and academic standards in Alberta and that's fine. I said in my first post that what I know about NA education system is second hand but the things I have been told do not paint a pretty picture. And honestly, this thread doesn't either.

Two quick examples - someone said that they study for two degrees at two separate universities. Now this is ok if you are a/ a genius or b/ both schools have pretty damn low standards or c/ the course in question is something funny such as "communication." I know one guy who did his commerce and law degrees simultaneously but he's now running a multinational company so I think that's an exception. If someone can breeze throught two universities at the same time, well to me that speaks more about the academic requirements than the student in question.

The other example was that from someone's highschool class, 90% of students went to university. Again, as someone who's looking at it from the outside, to me it speaks volumes about the university, well I should call it a post-high school school, that'd be more accurate. Where are the requirements if anybody who has the brainpower to find the way to the campus gets in? Unless the university/faculty has a high drop out rate I'd say it's pretty pathetic when the post secondary education has been watered down like this.

Not only baseless, but even the things you claim to have firsthand knowledge of are misleading. Law degrees in Australia are undergraduate degrees, a double major is not abnormal at all.

I should also add that every single one of my friends who spent a semester at Australian university's cruised through it without much of a problem, nothing was anymore difficult than it was for them at their Canadian university's.

Honestly what's your point? Throw around a bunch of stuff that you've made up in order to get attention? Is Melbourne really that boring in the winter? Head to the Crown or something.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

That's fine, because as you may recall I posted my opinion on a messageboard, which, if you do not object, I can.

So what was your point? Your point has been debated respectfully and you have, for the most part, been proved absolutely wrong. Now you're going to sulk about it? Good grief.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by valo403

Not only baseless, but even the things you claim to have firsthand knowledge of are misleading. Law degrees in Australia are undergraduate degrees, a double major is not abnormal at all.

I should also add that every single one of my friends who spent a semester at Australian university's cruised through it without much of a problem, nothing was anymore difficult than it was for them at their Canadian university's.

Honestly what's your point? Throw around a bunch of stuff that you've made up in order to get attention? Is Melbourne really that boring in the winter? Head to the Crown or something.

I replied to Rory_B._Bellows because he made a good post worth replying to. With you, I won't bother, as I said before.

PS I never said he studied in Australia, but good try.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

I replied to Rory_B._Bellows because he made a good post worth replying to. With you, I won't bother, as I said before.

PS I never said he studied in Australia, but good try.

Well if he studied in the US or Canada it would be impossible as law is a graduate degree program. Good try.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by peter12

So what was your point? Your point has been debated respectfully and you have, for the most part, been proved absolutely wrong. Now you're going to sulk about it? Good grief.

Who's sulking? Proved wrong? You "proved" that taking crap classes broadens you horizons and if I disagree I am narrow minded. Go ahead and think how much of a better person that makes you.

[jammies]

If anyone can declare themselves an artist, and any artist can declare what is art, then "art" becomes a meaningless concept. If "art" is meaningless, then "artist" is equally meaningless, and so the statement that anyone can be an artist and define their art is also meaningless, and thus cannot be true.

Ideas are easy. Skilfully expressing an idea within a medium is hard. Expressing such an idea in a way that the idea is transmitted with both fidelity and force is another magnitude of difficulty higher. For me, it comes down to this: if there is no mastery of technique, it's not art. An artist must necessarily be a craftsman, but a craftsman is not necessarily an artist.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Well if you are a teacher you take pride in the curriculum and academic standards in Alberta and that's fine. I said in my first post that what I know about NA education system is second hand but the things I have been told do not paint a pretty picture. And honestly, this thread doesn't either.

Two quick examples - someone said that they study for two degrees at two separate universities. Now this is ok if you are a/ a genius or b/ both schools have pretty damn low standards or c/ the course in question is something funny such as "communication." I know one guy who did his commerce and law degrees simultaneously but he's now running a multinational company so I think that's an exception. If someone can breeze throught two universities at the same time, well to me that speaks more about the academic requirements than the student in question.

The other example was that from someone's highschool class, 90% of students went to university. Again, as someone who's looking at it from the outside, to me it speaks volumes about the university, well I should call it a post-high school school, that'd be more accurate. Where are the requirements if anybody who has the brainpower to find the way to the campus gets in? Unless the university/faculty has a high drop out rate I'd say it's pretty pathetic when the post secondary education has been watered down like this.

Can you explain these links, I thought that only Canadian University's offer such ridiculous things as "communication"????

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?deta...nications__209

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...of_Acting_7781

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...ctatorship_689

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...e_Sixties_9430

Just a small sample of the courses offered at the University of Sydney, feel free to check ANU, UNSW etc. You'll find the same results.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by valo403

Can you explain these links, I thought that only Canadian University's offer such ridiculous things as "communication"????

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?deta...nications__209

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...of_Acting_7781

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...ctatorship_689

http://www.usyd.edu.au/courses/?uos=...e_Sixties_9430

Just a small sample of the courses offered at the University of Sydney, feel free to check ANU, UNSW etc. You'll find the same results.

Yeah it's the same crap, different country. I don't disagree.

The first one is a good example, regardless of the country. "Communicating arts" that's a good one, a breeding ground for new artists who like to eat ice cream and then puke. And then eat some more.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Yeah it's the same crap, different country. I don't disagree.

The first one is a good example, regardless of the country. "Communicating arts" that's a good one, a breeding ground for new artists who like to eat ice cream and then puke. And then eat some more.

I highly doubt that this is a world wide thing

That was you, page 2 if you want to look back at it.

The point that you came into this thread with, and the same point you've argued upon your recent return, is how poor Canada's education system must be if these classes and degrees are offered. Care to keep arguing that point now that you've admitted that the same courses and same degrees are offered in the places you're holding up as being superior?

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by valo403

That was you, page 2 if you want to look back at it.

The point that you came into this thread with, and the same point you've argued upon your recent return, is how poor Canada's education system must be if these classes and degrees are offered. Care to keep arguing that point now that you've admitted that the same courses and same degrees are offered in the places you're holding up as being superior?

Canada and Australia is now world wide?

I never said anything about Australia, let alone claimed that Australian education system is superior. Why do you keep making stuff up???

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Communications at my Uni has nothing to do with ice cream and puking.

http://www.cmns.sfu.ca/

It's more about media, technology, society, and how we communicate.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Canada and Australia is now world wide?

I never said anything about Australia, let alone claimed that Australian education system is superior. Why do you keep making stuff up???

I've offered you examples from every English speaking country I can think of, I'm not about to pull out my English-Russian dictionary to prove that you don't have the least bit of a clue as to what you are taking about.

You know what, since you're the one making claims that there are so many elite universities out there that wouldn't dare to offer such courses why don't you find me one? Here's a list of the top 100 universities in the world, find me one that doesn't have a single course in the arts.

http://www.topuniversities.com/unive..._universities/

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Pokerface

I believe just because you claim something to be art doesn't mean it should be nor does it make you an artist.

I totally agree with you. For anything to be art it needs a creator and an audience and there has to be some kind of communication going on through the medium of whatever the work is.

the craftsman that made it or the designer should be credited with that piece of art before Duchamp.

Absolutely not. The craftsman made a urinal, Duchamp made it art. Without Duchamp it's just a urinal.

That piece took something I believe defines an artist:

an eye for detail, space and shape that you first understand and then transfer into a creation whether that be a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. ...
but in my mind if you don't have the talent and understanding to pull of a still life I don't consider you an artist.

You're defining a craftsperson, not an artist. A good artist would, ideally, be a technically skilled craftsperson, but it's not necessary.

[Kipper is King]

nm

[bcb]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Who's sulking? Proved wrong? You "proved" that taking crap classes broadens you horizons and if I disagree I am narrow minded. Go ahead and think how much of a better person that makes you.

Sorry, I might have missed it, but could you objectively state what a "crap class" is?

In your definition, please exclude all classes that have the potential to be useful at some point in someone's life.

[I_am_Beast]

"The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude."

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by valo403

I'm going to disagree, I got my undergrad degree in Canada and went to grad school in the US and the difference isn't as large as you've made it out to be. The market obviously isn't as large in Canada, but there's very little difference in the types of employment available. I know tons of people who obtained communications degrees in Canada and work in fields directly related to their study.

As for the professionals thing, I don't think I know anyone in the US who thinks that music historians and the like are "professionals". Maybe it's just a difference in the definition of professional, but professional remains limited to careers that require certification and licensing as far as most of the people I know are concerned.

The one major difference is that it seems like everyone goes to college in the US, regardless of what they want to do. People here really seem to have latched on to college as something they absolutely have to do, regardless of how unnecessary it may be for their future.

I think there is a big difference if you do an undergrad in Canada and an undergrad in the US...plus it also depends on the schools you to as well..there is such a range on the quality of schools in the US.

Also, you're right, I shouldn't be comparing Bay Area to Alberta....point taken.

I think the term "professional" is used a lot more loosely in the US. Here it doesnt mean you need to have licenses and certifications. In fact, I know that as an engineer in Alberta, you have to get a P Eng (and there's a whole process behind it, right). So here in the USA, if someone graduated with an engineering degree, they could work and there really isnt such thing (as far as I know, but Im not an engineer).....you dont need to pass an exam. I know there are associations you can belong to but that's true for every profession. So anyways, does that mean that an engineer in the US is not "professional" because they didnt have to go through a certification process they way you do in Alberta?

And by the way, to the person who didn't respect the Comm degree, I also happen to have an undergrad in Computer Science with a minor in Commerce......Im not "dumb", just expanding my horizons..trying to be well rounded. The other degree I'm pursuing at the same time is a CHild Development degree...I want to know as much as I can about a lot of things so I can work in a LOT of different fields......... and yes, it IS possible here and youd ont have to be a genius or go to crappy schools or major in unprofessional subjects. Im just not working at the same time and some classes are available online and others I go to..the 2 campuses are 10 mins apart. Come on, this is the Bay Area..we prolly have like 8-10 universities (Berkeley, Stanford, San Jose State, San Francisco State, Santa Clara, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Francisco, University of the Pacific, and some that Im missing) and about 25 community colleges within a 75 mile radius. So getting in isn't as hard as it is in Alberta and neither is staying in.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

I think the term "professional" is used a lot more loosely in the US. Here it doesnt mean you need to have licenses and certifications. In fact, I know that as an engineer in Alberta, you have to get a P Eng (and there's a whole process behind it, right). So here in the USA, if someone graduated with an engineering degree, they could work and there really isnt such thing (as far as I know, but Im not an engineer).....you dont need to pass an exam. I know there are associations you can belong to but that's true for every profession. So anyways, does that mean that an engineer in the US is not "professional" because they didnt have to go through a certification process they way you do in Alberta?

There is, its called a P.E. rather then P.Engg. At least as far as the Bay Area CA jobs go, it doesn't seem to be a big deal whether you have a PE or not though. I know the req are a lot looser, you can write the PE exam and after 1 year of experience, you're good to go.

[3 Justin 3]

Wow we went from having a debate on Shakespeare to art discussions and bickering about different education systems. Weird thread.

Anyone who went to Mount Royal, or in particular studied Business, what are some easy/weird/fun classes to take? I wanted to take a WW2 history class as one of my "Arts and Science" classes but it denied me. Only for history major. F***ing business option classes seem so boring reading the description.