Fun and/or easy U of C courses?

[Kipru]

I have always wondered why there is a music history courses in universities? If some university in Finland had those kind of useless courses i would be fairly pissed for waisting my tax money. But i guess the system with tuition fees can teach anything they want as long as you are buing.

For an engineer student it seems weird that someone can include something like music history or fantasy book reading or volleyball courses in their studies.

[gottabekd]

In some ways, music matters much more than engineering. It's all about philosophy. I bet there is a course about it.

[rockstar]

I'm considering taking a block week class, in order to have more time for work during the fall.

Has anyone taken a block week course? Any you could recommend?

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by Kipru

I have always wondered why there is a music history courses in universities? If some university in Finland had those kind of useless courses i would be fairly pissed for waisting my tax money. But i guess the system with tuition fees can teach anything they want as long as you are buing.

For an engineer student it seems weird that someone can include something like music history or fantasy book reading or volleyball courses in their studies.

The U of C likes a "well rounded" student. Which means I get to take the history of witch craft. Although I am a history student, so that'd fit into my program.

By the way, NEVER take the history of witch craft, religion, and science. Interesting subject that was killed by the professor.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Kipru

I have always wondered why there is a music history courses in universities? If some university in Finland had those kind of useless courses i would be fairly pissed for waisting my tax money. But i guess the system with tuition fees can teach anything they want as long as you are buing.

For an engineer student it seems weird that someone can include something like music history or fantasy book reading or volleyball courses in their studies.

if your a Science Major, you can't take any phys. ed courses, so some of the courses offered you can't take.

[Kipru]

I understand that music is important, but what good does it do for example mechanical engineer. It doesn't help you much in your FE-analysis if you know that Thin Lizzy is the best band of the world (they must teach you that on music history course )

Even more off-topic, i don't understand why someone studies history or philosophy unless they want to be historians or philosophers. How much does that help you in your work life when you know that this is "best of all possible worlds" according to Leibniz, unless you are Kris Kristofferson. Well, history is useful so you don't do the same mistakes twice, but History of whitchcraft? give me a brake.

From time to time there is comments from unemployed academicly educated like: " I studied feminology and i can't get no work, goverment sucks." Too many people are just studying something what they find interesting and are paying no attetions to the fact that they can't support themselfs with history of fenno-ugrian languages or something like that.

This rant probably does not concern any of you since you are paying for your studies, but here in Finland university studies are free so you are basically wasting someones tax money by studying volleyball in universities. Maybe tuition fees should be implemented here also so people would think twice until they start studying feminology.

i apologize for my bad english, but i had no time for taking the course " learn to make your opinion in NHL-team's fan forum"

[llama64]

I would recommend anything offered by Bart Beaty (sp?). His courses are well taught, very fun and often very enlightening.

There is also a music professor... Coeleho (sp...) who does music history classes. The guy is awesome. He will discuss the origins and influences of a specific song, then using his guitar break all the components down so you can get an understanding of how to listen for things in music.

Originally Posted by NSFL

By the way, NEVER take the history of witch craft, religion, and science. Interesting subject that was killed by the professor.

As a history grad, I agree with this statement. The professor that teaches this stuff is absolutely BRUTAL! Still, learning how much of a religious nutcase Newton is was interesting...

Canadian history courses are quite fun. I'd recommend some of the lower level ones that don't require much in the way of researching. But they do involve some essay writing. If you can write though, they are pretty simple.

Bout 4 years ago there was a professor offering a course dealing with the origins of the internet. The course had a wierd title... "Innovation and Technology" or something. I'd look that one up as I found it pretty fun. The assignements were pretty much a cake walk too... one small essay, a final and a presentation on something innovative.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Even more off-topic, i don't understand why someone studies history or philosophy unless they want to be historians or philosophers. How much does that help you in your work life when you know that this is "best of all possible worlds" according to Leibniz, unless you are Kris Kristofferson. Well, history is useful so you don't do the same mistakes twice, but History of whitchcraft? give me a brake.

I'm actually a little insulted. I'm taking history so that I can teach social studies. And I took history of witchcraft because you can only take so many courses on normal basic European, Canadian, American, and World War history. I mean, I love history, but 40 courses of that and I'm pretty sure I'd try to kill myself with a spoon.

I don't think you meant to insult anyone or meant anything by it. As you said, english is your second language and usually it's hard to guage what people really mean on a message board. But remember, next time, there are some skills you learn in taking different courses. In history, you learn to do research and that really helps for some jobs not history related. And taking different courses exposes you to new things. So that when you go out, you can have a conversation with someone that's not just about what you studied primarily. You're a better human being.

[gottabekd]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

its one of the first courses to fill up sadly.

Sweet frickin A! I was checking every hour, and it paid off! Next year this Computer Science student will be learning about Led Zeppelin. Thanks for the tip, guys!

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by gottabekd

Sweet frickin A! I was checking every hour, and it paid off! Next year this Computer Science student will be learning about Led Zeppelin. Thanks for the tip, guys!

I hate you... Next year this Computer Science student will be doing Programming Paradigms and Applied Crypto!

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Even more off-topic, i don't understand why someone studies history or philosophy unless they want to be historians or philosophers. How much does that help you in your work life when you know that this is "best of all possible worlds" according to Leibniz, unless you are Kris Kristofferson.

What's university all about, really? I'd say one of the biggest things it's about is learning how to be a critical thinker. And philosophy and history are fantastic ways to exercise your mind and look at issues from a critical, logical perspective. If I think about what I've learned in philosophy especially - not by the material itself, but by the mental gymnastics required to analyse it - I'm amazed by how much more of a critical thinker I've become. Skills like that are not only applicable, but critical to almost any job, and to life in general.

It's not about regurgitating Descartes' meditations.

Anyway, back on topic, I recommend Social Psychology. I realize I'm biased, but I found it fascinating, and the material is easy to read and understand. You might be surprised by how many misconceptions we have about how people work. Plus, what you learn might come in handy whenever you're dealing with people, which is probably just about all of the time.

[Peanut]

Anthropology 201 was my favourite course... in my Civil Engineering degree.

[gottabekd]

For my own part, my favourite course was PHIL 279 - Logic I. It isn't for everyone. It is almost mathematical.

You learn certain logic rules, and apply them to derive truths. Stuff like " If A, then B. IF B, then C. IF and only if C, then D. IF D or A, then E. C." Then prove that "E" is true. That was a bad example.

A better one is from the final exam. IT was sort of a Clue mystery. "If it was done by Professor Plum, it was done with a Rope. If it was done by Ms. Pea, it was doen in the Library."....etc...etc..., then you figure out whodunnit.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Even more off-topic, i don't understand why someone studies history or philosophy unless they want to be historians or philosophers. How much does that help you in your work life when you know that this is "best of all possible worlds" according to Leibniz, unless you are Kris Kristofferson.

Cause engineering doesn't teach you about critical thinking and the hubris of man?

I don't understand why someone would study engineering or math when I have a computer to do those things.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Even more off-topic, i don't understand why someone studies history or philosophy unless they want to be historians or philosophers. How much does that help you in your work life when you know that this is "best of all possible worlds" according to Leibniz, unless you are Kris Kristofferson. Well, history is useful so you don't do the same mistakes twice, but History of whitchcraft? give me a brake.

Someone needs to be able to combine things to generate ideas that lead to work for Engineers. Most innovation and technological advancement comes from creative thinking. "Soft sciences" tend to expose people to a richer canvas of ideas then the standard Engineering or Commerce program.

I have a history degree and a subsequent diploma in Computer Systems development. The amount I've relied on my history training is quite surprising. I think it makes a better developer out of me.

[CurtisM]

RELS333 is AWESOME!
Its Cultural Beliefs on Death and the Afterlife. Easy class, super good professor (This Winter), and really interesting.
Also Goph375 haha, Take it with Stewart though.

[fredr123]

Has anyone mentioned Evolutionary Psychology yet? I think it's Psyc 379 or something like that. A couple MC exams, a bit of reading but you do need to take Psyc 205 first.

It's basically all about sex. You find out some scientific reasons for why women like rich guys and why men like big boobs. You also find out that there are some pretty sweet research gigs out there for psychology students.

[NSFL]

This thread is gold.

[Burninator]

Art History.

I took Art History 203. It was surprisingly more interesting than I thought it was going to be. I actually took it at night at St. Mary's University College in the south part of town. The great thing about taking it there is, the prof (Bershad) teaches the exact same course at the U of C but to an auditorium of 400+ people. Where as at St. Mary's it's only about 25 students, and he brings in donuts! It also might be cheaper and closer to where you live. You will appreciate everything to do with art and architecture of the time so much more. Plus Bershad makes it really interesting and has lots of fascinating stories.

http://www.stmu.ab.ca/ProgramsCourse...ArtHistory.htm

[llama64]

Originally Posted by fotze

You must have gotten a business degree, you would make a perfect manager talking in metaphor like that.

LOL... at least I didn't use "synergy", "paradigm", or "envision".

Careful about accusing people with Business Degrees. To some, it's almost tantamount to a personal insult