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Rlyss · 01-10-2005, 04:45 AM

I've just recently (one month ago) completed my Bacherlor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and I have mixed feelings about it.

Arts was most certainly my 'thing'. I went through the entire course guide and ticked off every course that I knew I didn't want to do, and Arts was the only one I said 'maybe' to, so I did it. I started with a mix of anthropology, linguistics, history, and philosophy, but eventually narrowed it down to a double major in History and Linguistics.

I admit the stigma of an arts degree did get to me after a while, particularly towards the end. Lots of people think 'I know English, so whatever linguistics is, I'm sure its simple'. I think you need a thick hide to endure the arts-bashing. But there are plenty of criticisms for every course ("What are you gonna be, a scientist?").

I liked the type of people in my course, a mix of hippies and jocks and regular people, and I particularly liked the relevence it had to 'real' things and events. I liked being able to discuss issues as they happened (for example the Oct 12th 2002 Bali bombings) in class the next day, instead of talking about theories and electrons and gracity, and things that aren't 'real'. It gave me a great sense of a place in the world, I think.

I'm well aware of the job prospect for an arts-only degree, or the lack thereof, but I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything right now. I know that I now need to get something 'real', like an education degree, to activate, in a sense, my arts degree, but I think my experiences in that course are well worth the position I'm in now.

01-10-2005, 04:45 AM	#18 (permalink)
Rlyss The Pusher Location: Edinburgh	I've just recently (one month ago) completed my Bacherlor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and I have mixed feelings about it. Arts was most certainly my 'thing'. I went through the entire course guide and ticked off every course that I knew I didn't want to do, and Arts was the only one I said 'maybe' to, so I did it. I started with a mix of anthropology, linguistics, history, and philosophy, but eventually narrowed it down to a double major in History and Linguistics. I admit the stigma of an arts degree did get to me after a while, particularly towards the end. Lots of people think 'I know English, so whatever linguistics is, I'm sure its simple'. I think you need a thick hide to endure the arts-bashing. But there are plenty of criticisms for every course ("What are you gonna be, a scientist?"). I liked the type of people in my course, a mix of hippies and jocks and regular people, and I particularly liked the relevence it had to 'real' things and events. I liked being able to discuss issues as they happened (for example the Oct 12th 2002 Bali bombings) in class the next day, instead of talking about theories and electrons and gracity, and things that aren't 'real'. It gave me a great sense of a place in the world, I think. I'm well aware of the job prospect for an arts-only degree, or the lack thereof, but I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything right now. I know that I now need to get something 'real', like an education degree, to activate, in a sense, my arts degree, but I think my experiences in that course are well worth the position I'm in now.