Study; how, what and why

[Mari]

My friend does... but he's still learning
It seems that my sister has decided by the way: Forensic research as choice number one and if she can't get in marine biology is a possible number two, depending on whether she can take a University level course or not. That's at least one thing less to worry about

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

True, but there are NO theologians that do.

Except for Zen masters and Unitarian Universalists.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Zen masters don't count; they both admit and do not admit that they could be wrong.

[Curufin]

I'm currently a grad student (MA) in Irish History and Politics. My undergraduate degree is in political science, with an emphasis on International Studies (Western Europe). My research interest is in terrorism and ethnic conflict as well as ways to secure peace and democracy in multi-cultural societies. My main research (to this point in my academic career) is on the failure of consociational democracy to bring peace to the Northern Ireland conflict. For my master's thesis, I want to look at how state-sponsored violence affects the balance in multi-cultural societies. But I'm not quite to the point of writinig my thesis yet.

I enjoy my studies. I plan to go on for a PhD, probably back into political science where I want to look mostly into ideas of state terrorism (when a state attacks its own people) and government repression, especially in multi-cultural or multi-ethnic states.

There's me in a nutshell.

I'm a major nerd.

[shesabrandybuck]

Gosh, I feel so young compared to everyone!! I'm still in High School, I hate to admit it, but I am. It's nice to read this actually, because I am so stressed about my future, and yet so excited about it.

I am currently apart of the Math and Science courses, and maintain some pretty killer grades. I study so much, since I am taking all Honors classes. I want so badly to get into Wake Forest in North Carolina and then become a nurse practitioner. Mainly because I want to be able to travel, and they need N.P.s all around the world, so my hopes in moving to Italy after college are higher than they would be if I had any other job.

I hope the best for everyone in what they aspire to do.

[D.Sullivan]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

When I look back at what I studied as an undergraduate, genuinely the most useful thing was the philosophy class I took in first year. I learned how to argue.

I've always intuited that that was probably true. It's certainly the subject I enjoyed the most in school. I'd love to major in it, but does anyone know what you can do with a degree in Philosophy? You know, besides teach it?

By the way, in regarding your earlier post, what instrument do you play? Right now the one of the only things I can really see myself majoring in besides philosophy would be music. Psychology is also an option, but I love music and love studying it! Even music theory(which is saying a lot, when I compare myself to most other musicians I know).

Anyway, glad to hear you gave music a go.

Originally Posted by shesabrandybuck

I hope the best for everyone in what they aspire to do.

I second that!

[The Gaffer]

Originally Posted by D.Sullivan

Anyway, glad to hear you gave music a go.

I didn't, and don't play an instrument. (Wish I did!) Maybe you were thinking of someone else.

Originally Posted by D.Sullivan

I second that!

Thirded!

Shesab, it's great that you want to be a nurse. I don't know too much about the US situation, but if your ambition is to live and work in Italy, you might be wise to consider doing at least part of your training in the EU, within which most of the qualifications are transferable.

One of the more subtle changes the NHS has implemented in the UK is providing greater clinical powers to nurse practitioners. The government finally realised that nurses actually know more than doctors about some things, and have started to break up the latter's closed shop. Same goes for physiotherapists and other allied health professionals.

What this means is that nurses can think about earning similar(ly vast) sums as doctors when they get to a senior level!

[D.Sullivan]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

I didn't, and don't play an instrument. (Wish I did!) Maybe you were thinking of someone else.

Whoops! You're right, the second part was directed at brownjenkins! Sorry about that!

[Mari]

Woohoo! My sister made up her mind: it's to be Forensic Research (or Crime Science, same study different name ) as in CSI and stuff. She always did like dead and icky things...

[Nautipus]

Awesomeness. I guess I'll have t recruit someone else then.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by D.Sullivan

I've always intuited that that was probably true. It's certainly the subject I enjoyed the most in school. I'd love to major in it, but does anyone know what you can do with a degree in Philosophy? You know, besides teach it?

I believe the two options are A) teach it, and B) do something completely unrelated.

But if you think THAT's bad, try marketing a degree in Liturgical Studies!

[Willow Oran]

A) teach it, and B) do something completely unrelated.

It was that sort of thinking that made me plan at first to double major, in creative writing and something more useful, and then later to at least get a minor in a more solid field; but then I realized that I'm not seriously interested in any of the fields that lead to careers with steady paychecks, so I gave up on that idea and decided just to get my major in creative writing and take whatever classes I please to fill the extra space.

I want to go for a Masters and then later a Ph.D, probably in Medieval literature, which is a pretty useless degree unless you plan to teach or write, but I plan to do both, so that's all right. Mostly though, I want to be the first person in my family to get a Doctorate in a non-agricultural science field...

[HOBBIT]

I'm majoring in Broadcast Communications and I'm minoring in Political Science. I'll definitely also add a minor in Public Administration. I may or may not additionally add another minor in International Studies (with a focus on Europe).

So yeah, I may end up with 3 minors and definitely 2.

[GrayMouser]

Originally Posted by D.Sullivan

I've always intuited that that was probably true. It's certainly the subject I enjoyed the most in school. I'd love to major in it, but does anyone know what you can do with a degree in Philosophy? You know, besides teach it?

Well, in the old days you could drive a cab.

These days you can start a blog.

http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/bio.php

Or get a job with a big multinational epistemology corporation.

[Mari]

Originally Posted by HOBBIT

I'm majoring in Broadcast Communications and I'm minoring in Political Science. I'll definitely also add a minor in Public Administration. I may or may not additionally add another minor in International Studies (with a focus on Europe).

So yeah, I may end up with 3 minors and definitely 2.

How can you have 3 minors in 2 years? Taking extra courses, that I can understand, but a minor is a whole package of courses right?
It does sound interesting though ^_^

D.Sullivan, if nothing works, they are always looking for cleaning ladies/men. It pays pretty good too (in a per hour situation, scale 3)

[Tessar]

It depends, Mari--sometimes the minors are complementary and include a lot of the same classes, so you could technically get two minors that are very similar and just have a few classes different.


I don't know if that's what Hobbit's doing, though.

[HOBBIT]

I have 2 more years of college yes, but college is 4 years and I've been taking courses that I will need for these minors and my major.

The Political Science minor I'd planned all along - the Public Administration minor just requires taking on a few extra courses (many cross listed with political science classes) and the International Studies one shouldn't be TOO hard to do. But I may not be able to get the classes in for that one - thats why it is a maybe.

[Mari]

You have 4 years of college? I didn't know!
Ah, I wish I could take classes in so many different area's >_<
I hope you get in Hobbit!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by Willow Oran

I want to go for a Masters and then later a Ph.D, probably in Medieval literature, which is a pretty useless degree unless you plan to teach or write, but I plan to do both, so that's all right. Mostly though, I want to be the first person in my family to get a Doctorate in a non-agricultural science field...

I don't really like the idea of a Ph.D.; as far as I can tell, the sole value it has is making you more marketable. You just spend years writing a paper on something original, which these days means it has to be so obscure that no-one else will ever care, except future doctoral candidates who will curse your name for stealing their topic.

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Or get a job with a big multinational epistemology corporation.

*snort* Epistemology corporation...I'd apply to one of those!

[Willow Oran]

I don't really like the idea of a Ph.D.; as far as I can tell, the sole value it has is making you more marketable. You just spend years writing a paper on something original, which these days means it has to be so obscure that no-one else will ever care, except future doctoral candidates who will curse your name for stealing their topic.

Exactly.

Besides wanting to be a novelist, I want to write and teach about obscure literary topics at the university level.
Having my name cursed by rivals and students to come would be a bonus.