What are the most and least useful majors?

[NSNick]

What are the most and least useful majors?

[SpookTheHamster]

Whoever voted EE, you suck!

[4JNA]

in reference to what?

EDIT: oh, Snap! same time stamp and i win... time to go buy a lotto ticket!

[it5five]

Useful for what?

This is an incredibly vague question. If you want to be an engineer, an engineering degree would be most useful. If you want to teach history, a history degree would be most useful.

[JNB]

Trick question. They're all equally useless!

If you're looking for something to go in to, this is entirely the wrong way to make a decision. How about, what do you enjoy doing? Or, what would you want to do, even if it paid the least?

[MotleyPete]

All you need to know is how to make fire with a shinbone and wrestle salmon from a grizzly bear.

Everything else is fluff.

[4JNA]

All you need to know is how to make fire with a shinbone and wrestle salmon from a grizzly bear.

Everything else is fluff.

QFT.

a fan of John West (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpKFPEah3E) i presume... :)

[italiano40]

Computer Science is the most useful :apple:

[NSNick]

I am really just curious as to how Apple fans will answer this question. There is an arguement to be had that Apple fans are art majors because they like photoshop and pretty colors. There is also an arguement that they are Comp Sci majors because they like to program, or Engineering majors because they like technology. I want to know which.

[Leareth]

Least useful:

english lit
psychology
art
art history
women's studies
social worker

Most useful:

Math/Stats
Biology
Physics
Chem
languages

these lists are based on general success of the majors. I feel sorry for the undergrad kids who get a degree in a field they like , such as one in the least list , and then realize just how limited the career and future prospects are and what a waster the last four years were.

I also feel that EVERYONE regardless of which major they choose should have a basic education that broadly spans the science, classical arts and social sciences - kind of like what high school was suppossed to do.

[NSNick]

Least useful:

english lit
psychology
art
art history
women's studies
social worker

Most useful:

Math/Stats
Biology
Physics
Chem
languages

these lists are based on general success of the majors. I feel sorry for the undergrad kids who get a degree in a field they like , such as one in the least list , and then realize just how limited the career and future prospects are and what a waster the last four years were.

I also feel that EVERYONE regardless of which major they choose should have a basic education that broadly spans the science, classical arts and social sciences - kind of like what high school was suppossed to do.


I forgot all about Womens Studies.

[Tilpots]

Most Useful (but not on the list):

Communication Studies.

Learn to manipulate, and the world is your oyster...

[dukebound85]

i really believe art is the most useless major you can get. you are very limited job wise i would imagine

much better prospects i believe for graphic design and such

[4JNA]

i really believe art is the most useless major you can get...

or mechanical engineering. just saying...

[iShater]

Get a Liberal Arts degree with a technical major. You get the major that prepares you for work (if you are not doing a masters degree right away), and you get to cover so many different electives, that you can do art, philosophy, etc.

I used to think that some majors are useless, but now that I have been out of school for a while, I think ANY major can be useless if the person hasn't figured out what to do with it, or if they will get an advanced degree.

Your education is supposed to prepare you for the world, and it doesn't matter if you majored in basket weaving, if you are determined and know what you will do next, you can start that basket weaving business. :D

[dukebound85]

or mechanical engineering. just saying...

sorry if i offended you. are there a lot of job prospects with an art degree?

[Stampyhead]

Any major with the word 'Studies' in the name will not get you a very lucrative job.

[Leareth]

sorry if i offended you. are there a lot of job prospects with an art degree?

Oh yes:

Starbucks
McDonalds
Sales Representative
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Seriously thought - at the three starbucks and 7 other coffee shops in my neighbourhood, about 70% of the staff are either art, art history or multi media students/graduates. with a couple of wannabe actresses/models...

[shecky]

so, in this thread, usefulness is defined as the likelihood of getting a job? if thats true, then the most useful major is no major at all, and going into the military. guaranteed job.

[zioxide]

Awful poll. You just picked a bunch of random majors out of hundreds of possibilities.

[4JNA]

sorry if i offended you. are there a lot of job prospects with an art degree?

i envy your degree, and that is no joke. i can't wait until my kids are old enough that i can go back and finish a degree. i have most/parts of 3, including ME. i gave up a 6 figure salary to stay home with my kids because it is worth it. hardest job i've ever had.

work hard, do what you love is my only point. :)

ART (http://denver.craigslist.org/med/) jobs.

[NSNick]

Awful poll. You just picked a bunch of random majors out of hundreds of possibilities.

If it is not on the list it is probably not real.

[it5five]

Oh yes:

Starbucks
McDonalds
Sales Representative
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Seriously thought - at the three starbucks and 7 other coffee shops in my neighbourhood, about 70% of the staff are either art, art history or multi media students/graduates. with a couple of wannabe actresses/models...

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.

so, in this thread, usefulness is defined as the likelihood of getting a job? if thats true, then the most useful major is no major at all, and going into the military. guaranteed job.

Agreed. This is exactly what I was trying to say. But I'd add in "usefulness is defined as the likelihood of getting a traditional job." With the exception of the example above I already used, I know plenty of people in design, film, multimedia programs that already have jobs within their field before graduation or have jobs lined up.

[NSNick]

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.

You people?

[it5five]

Yes, all of you people in this thread defining "usefulness" as the ability to get a job, which are usually the same people talking about how any degree that isn't scientific or technical is useless.

[63dot]

probably being a medical doctor with a bachelor's of medicine, bachelor's of surgery (MBBS, MBChB) or a barrister/solicitor with a bachelor's of laws (LL.B) are majors/fields that would pay the most worldwide

close by would be chemical engineering and electronic engineering as in high pay starting out of university
....

but for society, we need all disciplines to make our lives work

once a professor made the remark, "what would you do if there were no garbagemen" (let's say in a small villa like london)

[Tilpots]

Oh yes:

Starbucks
McDonalds
Sales Representative
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Seriously thought - at the three starbucks and 7 other coffee shops in my neighbourhood, about 70% of the staff are either art, art history or multi media students/graduates. with a couple of wannabe actresses/models...

Did your degree get you a date with any of them?

[furcalchick]

i say biology, because i feel there are alot of skills you can pick up in that major that could be used as a general qualifier for alot of jobs. i'm not saying it in the job=major relationship, because science isn't a good field right now for young people to get into in terms of $$$ and career prospects. but biology is a (relatively) rigorous major and people are more or less impressed by it for jobs in general. plus, you have a greater understanding of the natural world and such (your miles may vary).

i think the usefulness of a degree isn't about getting a job in the field of your major, but more about if you learned something about yourself and your skills in the process of getting that degree. getting a job isn't about what you major in (there are exceptions), but more about what you put into getting that job.

[NSNick]

probably being a medical doctor with a bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery (MBBS) or a barrister/solicitor with a bachelor of laws (LL.B) are majors/fields that would pay the most worldwide

close by would be chemical engineering and electronic engineering as in high pay starting out of university
....

but for society, we need all disciplines to make our lives work

once a professor made the remark, "what would you do if there were no garbagemen" (let's say in a small villa like london)


Medicine and Law are not majors in the U.S. They are graduate degrees.

[63dot]

Medicine and Law are not majors in the U.S. They are graduate degrees.

I attended university in the United States and in England. Believe it or not, there are other places outside of the United States and ignorant comments like what you just made is why many outside of the USA hate Americans.

For a second, consider the many international students who are members here on Macrumors and add medicine and law to your poll.

Law is overwhelmingly an undergraduate degree for the rest of the 5.7 billion people in the world, but maybe they just don't count in your book.

BTW, I am an American law student and I know my J.D. will not be considered a "doctorate" by my international peers. The American law degree as a graduate degree was legislated and fully confirmed by the ABA in 1976 throughout all the member schools.

[4JNA]

Did your degree get you a date with any of them?

oh, snap! yeah, you want to add a shot?! ;)

i just pity the fool who thinks degree(1, 2 or 3) = job. i'm home, where's my dinner? if you want a job waiting at graduation, go to trade school! (credit unlikely to transfer, call a counselor for details...)

[JNB]

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.

Agreed. This is exactly what I was trying to say. But I'd add in "usefulness is defined as the likelihood of getting a traditional job." With the exception of the example above I already used, I know plenty of people in design, film, multimedia programs that already have jobs within their field before graduation or have jobs lined up.

Well, somebody has to engineer the building that houses all of that art, not to mention your friend. :p

Usefulness is such a relative term, anyway. Useful to whom? Me? "Society?"

I think the current edu system has grown too full of itself, anyway. If someone wants to be an engineer, doctor, artist, dancer, electrician, whatever, let the schools provide the knowledge necessary and just certificate them. The grander "college experience" is such BS any longer. If you're talking about any course of study the purpose of which is to lead to a saleable skill, it's a trade school, period, and should be managed as such.

The number of grads & post-grads I encounter on a daily basis that are barely functional, and functionally illiterate (and I deal mostly with folks possessing advanced degrees), makes me truly question the point and value of universities--in the US, anyway. As far as I can tell, it's nothing but a racket perpetuated by the NEA for job protection.

So I say study what makes you happy, and if you can make a buck doing it as well, you're ahead of the game.

[NSNick]

I attended university in the United States and in England. Believe it or not, there are other places outside of the United States and ignorant comments like what you just made is why many outside of the USA hate Americans.

For a second, consider the many international students who are members here on Macrumors and add medicine and law to your poll.

Law is overwhelmingly an undergraduate degree for the rest of the 5.7 billion people in the world, but maybe they just don't count in your book.

BTW, I am an American law student and I know my J.D. will not be considered a "doctorate" by my international peers. The American law degree as a graduate degree was legislated and fully confirmed by the ABA in 1976 throughout all the member schools.

I was simply pointing out that you are off topic. I too have lived in the UK. If I had wanted to include those, I would have asked, "What are the best and worst subjects to read at university?"

[Dagless]

I'd have voted Medicine.

[rhsgolfer33]

I attended university in the United States and in England. Believe it or not, there are other places outside of the United States and ignorant comments like what you just made is why many outside of the USA hate Americans.

For a second, consider the many international students who are members here on Macrumors and add medicine and law to your poll.

Law is overwhelmingly an undergraduate degree for the rest of the 5.7 billion people in the world, but maybe they just don't count in your book.

BTW, I am an American law student and I know my J.D. will not be considered a "doctorate" by my international peers. The American law degree as a graduate degree was legislated and fully confirmed by the ABA in 1976 throughout all the member schools.

Whoa, 63, calm down man, he was pointing out a fact. You really can't major in "law" or "medicine" in college, it takes a graduate degree to practice both. Law is a 6-7 year school commitment in the US, while its a 3-4 year school commitment in the UK, plus to my knowledge their is a mandatory "internship/apprenticeship" period of a few years after your LLB (in the UK at least).

I understand that most other countries us the LLB, but seeing as how law and medicine majors aren't offered in all countries, and the majority of the others are, it doesn't make much sense to add it. If he really wanted to the best way to add it would be pre-law, since a graduate degree is required in the US and internships are required in many other areas.

While your law degree might not be considered a "doctorate" by international solicitors and barristers, most American attorneys (I work with over 50 of them) that I know would not consider an LLB equivalent to their JD, and neither do almost all of the state bar associations.

As for the most useful major, that really depends on what you want to do. For me I would probably go with econ or business (since Accounting isn't up there), but again, if you want to be an artist, art is probably the most useful major (even if its not the most practical when it comes to finding a job).

[themadchemist]

Most Useful (but not on the list):

Communication Studies.


If you need a degree to figure this out, you're already too far behind.

[Leareth]

Did your degree get you a date with any of them?

Actually yes.

[RacerX]

I am really just curious as to how Apple fans will answer this question. There is an arguement to be had that Apple fans are art majors because they like photoshop and pretty colors. There is also an arguement that they are Comp Sci majors because they like to program, or Engineering majors because they like technology. I want to know which.You know, maybe you should start a new thread/poll then... this one totally misses the mark if that was the type of information you wanted.

My suggestion for a new question...What did you or would you major in?See, I majored in mathematics with a minor in physics, which is the best major for those interested in doing math or physics... but is most likely not the best major for the general public, and as such wouldn't be what I would vote for in your poll.

[rajalot]

most useless:
theology and any humanistic subject, literacy science comes to mind as a forerunner

definately most useful:
medicine (which wasn't on the list)

I picked bio-engineering from the list. you get to develop medicine with that licence.

[cleanup]

Could someone explain to me how computer science is more useful than math?

Mathematicians can write algorithms for computer programmers to use. Computer programmers just make software. Mathematicians can do consulting work for numerous industries. Construction, retail, medical research, etc. Granted, you can work in most of these fields as a programmer, but I think being a mathematics genius broadens your scope to pretty much everything?

[egor]

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.

Technical subjects can be very creative, I find your attitude just as bad as those being criticised. In fact, the fun of computer programming for me is largely down to the creativity (and the logic too). Some of the greatest scientific solutions to exhisting problems have involved thinking outside of the box, etc.

What is the most useful degree? There is no meaning in life so you have to make one up for yourself. For me it's doing what you enjoy and expanding your mind - developing as a human. So I'm of the opinion it is the field you are most interested in that should be your "Major".

[egor]

Could someone explain to me how computer science is more useful than math?

Mathematicians can write algorithms for computer programmers to use. Computer programmers just make software. Mathematicians can do consulting work for numerous industries. Construction, retail, medical research, etc. Granted, you can work in most of these fields as a programmer, but I think being a mathematics genius broadens your scope to pretty much everything?

Do average mathematicians get work though? There are plenty of **** programmers who get employment, but to me (and I may be ignorant) you're either exceptionally clever and can solve important mathematical problems - or the best you can do is understand exhisting solutions.

Although I stand by the opinion that if you enjoy pure maths more, then that's the most useful.

[dukebound85]

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.




i believe finding solutions to complex problems is hardly uncreative or unfulfilling. better yet, it serves a purpose that other people can reach "tangible" benefits from

as far as superiority complex, i dont think that. i base my opinions on what i observe. for example i have friends who majored in art and yea, when i have homework that occupies every free moment every day of the week and see my art friends playing xbox nonstop or going to concerts due to a MUCH less workload i dont feel sorry for them when they have a hard time getting jobs

i picked my major on two criteria
1) will i enjoy it
2) will this enable me to become attractive to employers after i graduate?

to not think like that is stupid and when you dont have parents or relatives to "fall" on in hard financial times, you have to make the smarter decision in terms of major selected

another example:
one of my best friends graduated with a theatre degree 2 years ago. is she working in theatre?no. what she is doing is working at bestbuy as a customer service rep........something i could have done while in high school

[dukebound85]

Yes, all of you people in this thread defining "usefulness" as the ability to get a job, which are usually the same people talking about how any degree that isn't scientific or technical is useless.

when you pay 10's of thousands of dollars to get a degree, i think defining "useful" as the ability to get some return on investment (aka job) is not unreasonable

for the record, i appreciate art, i really do. however i believe it is better as a pastime than as a career. thats my opinion and i realize many people disagree with that but whatever

[furcalchick]

i picked my major on two criteria
1) will i enjoy it
2) will this enable me to become attractive to employers after i graduate?


on #2, i will say that it doesn't have to be strictly in your major field, but it helps (for instance, writing sci-fi films with a chemistry degree). don't get locked into certain jobs because they fit finely into your major or disqualify others because you didn't major in the corresponding field.

but i will say majors in the sciences and such will be more attractive overall than an art or communications major because a major in art is more regarded as a fluff major, as on the other hand, biology is considered a tough major, and employers will look at that more.

[themadchemist]

but i will say majors in the sciences and such will be more attractive overall than an art or communications major because a major in art is more regarded as a fluff major, as on the other hand, biology is considered a tough major, and employers will look at that more.

But if you actually want to work in something directly science-related, a bachelor's degree will get you nowhere fast. Unless you want to go into the business side of the science world, you really do need to get a PhD to get anywhere (and even on the business side of things, a PhD helps).

[furcalchick]

But if you actually want to work in something directly science-related, a bachelor's degree will get you nowhere fast. Unless you want to go into the business side of the science world, you really do need to get a PhD to get anywhere (and even on the business side of things, a PhD helps).

i was referring to two people, one with an art major and the other with a biology major applying for a job unrelated to either major, where the biology person would get the edge because of the perception of a harder work ethic in the major.

but you're right, a bs in biology will get you nearly squat in the sciences unless you want to be a lab techie (something i found out in college that i wouldn't enjoy, this is something i only discovered in college). but the science field in general sucks for those trying to break in now with the endless postdocs and the low pay. this is why so many biology majors end up in way different fields later on and why some just ditch science after college.

[Tilpots]

Actually yes.



Pics or I don't believe it!:p

As many have said, useful is in the eye of the beholder. We're all built differently and everybody contributes something, good or bad.

[BigPrince]

Computer Science for the win.

[question fear]

I majored in philosophy in college and even though I work in a wildly unrelated field on the surface, I believe my education helps me every day.

What I learned from philosophy:

-How to approach any opinion from all sides.

-How to look for the different ways a statement or idea can be interpreted.

-How to express myself concisely and clearly.

-How to approach the world through more than one view.

These are a few of the "soft" skills I learned from my classes, not to mention all the fun anecdotes that make for good small talk stories...

My only regret is that I did not pair it with business or economics to give it a more analytical grounding at the time. But I wasn't the same person I am now, and I firmly believe majoring in philosophy helped me a great deal long term.

My women's studies minor, on the other hand, was accidental at best, and came from realizing how many women's studies courses were cross listed with the philosophy department.

[gmecca2]

Wow, I'm an idiot. I thought it said the most useless major so I voted for classics.

Anyways- the question need to be more focused to get a precise answer.

[Abstract]

I forgot all about Womens Studies.

And Slovak Literature. :p



I'm going to add things like photography, painting, drawing, etc, to the list. If you were meant to do these things, do it. People make budding artists feel as though they should still go to school because it's "better", but they're really careers where your portfolio is the most important part. The only benefit I can really see from doing such a degree is that you can dedicate 3 full years of your life to art without any pressure to find full time work by your parents. If you choose not to go to uni, there'd be pressure to get a job, which takes time out of your development as an artist, as there is no chance that you'll be able to spend 3 year being unemployed and not going to school.

[themadchemist]

but the science field in general sucks for those trying to break in now with the endless postdocs and the low pay. this is why so many biology majors end up in way different fields later on and why some just ditch science after college.

Yeah...don't remind me.

Hopefully, the funding situation will be better when I'm ready to eke it out on my own ten gajillion years from now.

[Whorehay]

My friend had an Economics professor, on the first day of class, tell all the Economics majors in the room to cover their ears. He told the rest of the class to not major in Economics.

[hulugu]

I have a friend who is an art major. She doesn't have to work at a traditional job at all because her art brings in enough money every month to cover all expenses (rent, electricity, tuition).

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless.....

Studying to be an artist is some fashion is riskier than getting something like a business degree because there are fewer opportunities and career paths. A mediocre artist is practically doomed, but a mediocre business major will find something, somewhere.

I majored in philosophy in college and even though I work in a wildly unrelated field on the surface, I believe my education helps me every day. ...
These are a few of the "soft" skills I learned from my classes, not to mention all the fun anecdotes that make for good small talk stories...

It's interesting, I've run into a few undergraduates from different programs who are utterly worthless because they lack many of the "soft" skills that other majors conveyed to their students. These people cannot communicate, have a flimsy grasp of logic and mathematics (?!), and know next to nothing about history, cultural, or literature. It's weird how oddly myopic some degrees are.

...I'm going to add things like photography, painting, drawing, etc, to the list. If you were meant to do these things, do it. People make budding artists feel as though they should still go to school because it's "better", but they're really careers where your portfolio is the most important part. The only benefit I can really see from doing such a degree is that you can dedicate 3 full years of your life to art without any pressure to find full time work by your parents. If you choose not to go to uni, there'd be pressure to get a job, which takes time out of your development as an artist, as there is no chance that you'll be able to spend 3 year being unemployed and not going to school.

For someone working on becoming an artist in some fashion, school can be a wonderful way to learn techniques and practices from masters. But, the portfolio is the center of any art program. Art school, and a few other majors, are defined by what you do with the major rather than just the existence of a piece of paper.

[63dot]

While your law degree might not be considered a "doctorate" by international solicitors and barristers, most American attorneys (I work with over 50 of them) that I know would not consider an LLB equivalent to their JD, and neither do almost all of the state bar associations.



total bs, dude

why don't you ask them?

do you even have a clue as to what a canadian attorney has to do to practice?

or a canadian engineer vs. a us engineer?

look into what a japanese attorney has to be capable of

do some basic research

[63dot]

I was simply pointing out that you are off topic. I too have lived in the UK. If I had wanted to include those, I would have asked, "What are the best and worst subjects to read at university?"

oh, i am sorry, i didn't see the invisible ink in the statement where you said this is only about the usa...my bad

i guess people who recognize the other 5.7 billion people on this planet are just off topic

[weazbert]

as far as usefulness, think of all the world figures who studies something like the dismal science, or some other social field. then think about all the engineers..... obviously the starting salary of an engineer is higher, but i know i could never do that on a day to day basis..... just like accounting... nothing about ti appeals to me. Now of course we are on a computer based forum...on the internets, so the technical fields will be higher rated, but in the end, where does all the content come from? :)

[Abstract]

....where does all the content come from? :)

Ah, so your answers are porn star, and idiots who make YouTube videos?

[rhsgolfer33]

total bs, dude

why don't you ask them?

do you even have a clue as to what a canadian attorney has to do to practice?

or a canadian engineer vs. a us engineer?

look into what a japanese attorney has to be capable of

do some basic research

Yeah, I do understand what a Canadian attorney has to do to practice. Lets see, receive LLB, take about 10 weeks of further classroom courses, pass bar exams at end of class, and complete a clerkship of 9-12 months. So thats supposed to be harder than 4 years of college, 3 years of law school, and a 3 day California bar exam? Give me a break, I have talked to lawyers I work with, most would not consider a Canadian lawyer completely equal to their US counterparts. Sure, they preform similar duties, but are you honestly telling me you feel its as hard to become a lawyer in Canada as it is in the US? I considered leaving the US to become a Solicitor in the UK because it was much shorter, less difficult process and because instead of paying $150,000 for my legal education all I had to do was go to uni for a LLB and then do a few years of paid internship.

I could really careless about what a Canadian engineer has to do to practice, I have no mathematical talent beyond accounting, and as such I have no interest in engineering as a career.

I have done basic research, sure, I didn't look every country on earths legal requirements up, but I have looked into practicing law in Canada and the UK, and found it quite lucrative because of its relative ease of entry when compared to three extra years of school and a 3 day bar exam with a less than 50% pass rate. So unless all the attorneys I work with, the law students I know, and my research is mistaken, it is somewhat easier to become a solicitor/attorney in the UK and Canada than in the US.

[Mechcozmo]

If it is not on the list it is probably not real.

Sorry mate, wrong. Information Systems is a real major and it isn't on the list.

Besides, any poll with more than ~6 choices is too many. Ever hear of categories?

[Abstract]

Yeah, I do understand what a Canadian attorney has to do to practice. Lets see, receive LLB, take about 10 weeks of further classroom courses, pass bar exams at end of class, and complete a clerkship of 9-12 months. So thats supposed to be harder than 4 years of college, 3 years of law school, and a 3 day California bar exam?

That's wrong, but if you want to believe that, then OK.



The most "useful" major is in something like mechanical or electrical engineering, because with such a degree, you can enter the widest number of fields, including business. You can go anywhere, do anything, and still get paid a decent amount of money. You can volunteer in a 3rd world country to build homes, and still put your skills to use. Many high-level business people aren't even business majors. They're law, accounting, or engineering majors. Even computer enginners and comp sci majors are joining that group. Business degrees don't always get you to the highest business ranks.

Like I said before, the most useless degree is anything you're studying because you like it as a hobby, such as drawing.

[Leareth]

Yeah, I do understand what a Canadian attorney has to do to practice. Lets see, receive LLB, take about 10 weeks of further classroom courses, pass bar exams at end of class, and complete a clerkship of 9-12 months. So thats supposed to be harder than 4 years of college, 3 years of law school, and a 3 day California bar exam? Give me a break, I have talked to lawyers I work with, most would not consider a Canadian lawyer completely equal to their US counterparts.

Obviously you dont understand it.

to even apply to law school you have to have three full years of university.
then you do the LLB.

[63dot]

Obviously you dont understand it.

to even apply to law school you have to have three full years of university.
then you do the LLB.

i don't think abstract, you, or others are going to convince him...surely, i tried and i doubt he really talked to his lawyer friends in the know

my torts professor last year practiced both in the commonwealth and the usa and holds an ll.b and a j.d. and while the paths are slightly different, they are more or less equal with entrance into the inns of court harder than any state bar

my wife and i have not just entertained vancouver as a passing thought, so i did literally hundreds of hours of research into common law as well, as it relates to canada

last night i was talking to international law students and we all concurred that while the study of law was hard in the usa, at least we only had to study modern english and some latin

canadian law, with french and old english thrown in, greatly adds more time to the study of law

i didn't even get to the point of french, originally based roman civil law, as it pertains to a lot of eastern canada, and parts of western canada

last year, part of our curriculum to add color to our studies of american law was to get a small background on pre-colonial common law but few could understand the old english so it was dropped

even 18th century english and its grammar and usage is brutal when one reads the federalist papers and tries to interpret its ideas to modern day america

however, many of the ideas the us constitution holds dear actually came from early renaissance england, and some from the same period in france

......

that being said, i certainly think the study of law in the usa is harder than the graduate business studies i did a decade ago or the undergrad studies in labor and employment law

[63dot]

Sorry mate, wrong. Information Systems is a real major and it isn't on the list.

Besides, any poll with more than ~6 choices is too many. Ever hear of categories?

i tired to pry open his incredibly narrow world view, too :)

maybe, he's barely old enough to drink, or smoke?

i am going to give up my age, i guess, but when i started college, the major that the techies/programmers entered was math

the mainframe had tubes in it and the printer, when we had one, was a major fire hazard :)

[NSNick]

Sorry mate, wrong. Information Systems is a real major and it isn't on the list.

Besides, any poll with more than ~6 choices is too many. Ever hear of categories?

That is basically CS.

[63dot]

That is basically CS.

i originally put ee/el as the best major (as for pay and finding jobs), but i think cs will be huge again as it was in the 1990s

there was an obvious drop off of cs where i live in silicon valley after 2000, and people put their investments away from the high tech sector, but i think people are coming around again

right after dot.bomb, i saw so many kids change from cs to another major, any major as if cs was a death knell and there was a flight away from anything computer related

the local colleges and universities are again putting microsoft and cisco certifications back into the cs progam and more students are enrolling again

there has been a trend in people wanting to be apps programmers, and less so for game programmers, so i think cs is growing up and becoming more practical

[rhsgolfer33]

Obviously you dont understand it.

to even apply to law school you have to have three full years of university.
then you do the LLB.

Quite right, I am sorry, in Canada a bachelors of law is three additional years after "college." I was mixing the UK and Canada up, in the UK you can obtain a bachelors of law as a 3 or 4 year undergraduate degree.

Personally, I look up to an attorney/solicitor/barrister of any country. It shows you've had a lot of patience and dedication to make it that far, but I do believe the US has a very difficult system (especially certain states), if not one of the most difficult.

But I'm not going to be here for a while and I think thread has already been derailed, so I'm off. And man, you wake up early 63.

[~Shard~]

My choice going into University was between Electronic Systems Engineering minoring in Computer Science, or Music.

I chose Engineering since I find science fascinating, I love understanding how things work, I love applying knowledge and I enjoy creating things. I also feel proud being an Engineer knowing everything that Engineers have done for civilization throughout history.

I love music too, however I decided that getting a degree would not change my skill level of playing nor my technical knowledge with respect to music theory. I also felt that if music became my livelihood I would not enjoy it as much. To me, the arts should stand on their own and not need to be tied to money - when you start performing or creating for money and to survive, as opposed to doing it solely because it's your passion, I feel it loses something.

So, I am currently a manager in a Network Engineering group and I perform with the Symphony Orchestra as well. I have the best of both worlds, get to exercise both sides of my brain and couldn't be happier. :cool:

As for the specific poll question, I agree with others that it is flawed. An interesting subject to discuss nonetheless.

[themadchemist]

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.


I agree that the arts, humanities, and social sciences are valuable. However, I take umbrage to your assertion that the sciences are "uncreative, unfulfilling" subjects. Science wouldn't exist without massive amounts of creativity, and particularly at the higher levels, success requires being creative. And as far as unfulfilling--why on Earth wouldn't the sciences be fulfilling?

[Peterkro]

I always thought Major Major Major Major was the best major even if he was sometimes mistaken for Henry Fonda.

[it5five]

I agree that the arts, humanities, and social sciences are valuable. However, I take umbrage to your assertion that the sciences are "uncreative, unfulfilling" subjects. Science wouldn't exist without massive amounts of creativity, and particularly at the higher levels, success requires being creative. And as far as unfulfilling--why on Earth wouldn't the sciences be fulfilling?

I wasn't really talking about science as a whole (biology, chemistry, etc...) but rather programs like computer science and the like.

And my post was mostly an angry reaction at what I saw happening throughout the early pages of the thread (and is still continuing).

I think choosing a major based upon the amount of money you can make with it after graduation is the worst thing you could do. Rather, I'd encourage people to study what they enjoy, even if some people find it "useless". If someone finds computer science fulfilling and enjoyable, then more power to them, but I could never do that to myself. Likewise, people who see no value in humanities degrees should realize that other people DO see value in one.

I would be interested in finding out why people think humanities degrees are "useless" without having to resort to job/money arguments. I know full well I won't be entering the corporate/business world with my History degree. But that doesn't make my degree useless, especially since I have absolutely no interest in getting a traditional business/corporate job.

[63dot]

But I'm not going to be here for a while and I think thread has already been derailed, so I'm off. And man, you wake up early 63.

lol

it's trying to change from crim law to torts in my head and i got killed on a test not knowing the diff.

[rajalot]

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.
They are in every single aspect inferior to natural sciences. Let's see now:
- much worse education matching employment
- worse wages on average
- humanists can't create and invent
- humanists never make new discoveries
- humanists lack expertise in every scientific field imaginable but think they know everything which makes them irritating

List goes on and on! What's more fulfilling than learning how to manipulate E. Coli genome, witnessing horizontal gene transfer, uncovering mechanisms of death and maybe some day overcome them?! Meanwhile humanists are debating hard about portrayal of feminism in "Tron".
WHICH IS MORE INTERESTING AND FULFILLING? Yet you humanist scum keep on acting like you were better people. Get a grip, losers.

[~Shard~]

I hate this attitude (usually one held by people who studied technical subjects at university) that all art/humanities/social science degrees are useless. I don't know where it comes from and why you people think you are somehow better than everyone else for studying a completely uncreative, unfulfilling subject at university. Have fun with your technical degree (if such a thing is possible), but quit it with the superiority complex.

Funny, I hate the attitude that technical degrees are uncreative and unfulfilling. :p So as for passing judgments, pot, meet kettle. :cool:

I wasn't really talking about science as a whole (biology, chemistry, etc...) but rather programs like computer science and the like.

Just keep in mind that if it wasn't for computer science you wouldn't be typing replies like this on a Forum (web technology) on your Mac (hardware/software programming) using the Internet (evolution of DoD's ARPANET). :p :cool:

[it5five]

Just keep in mind that if it wasn't for computer science you wouldn't be typing replies like this on a Forum (web technology) on your Mac (hardware/software programming) using the Internet (evolution of DoD's ARPANET). :p :cool:

Yes. I know this. What I said was that I would find doing that work draining and unfulfilling. It doesn't interest me. I also said that people should study what they are interested in, regardless of it's perceived usefulness. Thankfully people out there find computer science interesting, but it is the last thing I would want to study.

[~Shard~]

Yes. I know this. What I said was that I would find doing that work draining and unfulfilling. It doesn't interest me. I also said that people should study what they are interested in, regardless of it's perceived usefulness. Thankfully people out there find computer science interesting, but it is the last thing I would want to study.

Fair enough. Likewise I'm sure many people would find whatever you like to study completely draining and unfulfilling too. As you say, thankfully people have different interests, passions and strengths - without such diversity the world would be a boring, bland and less-balanced place.

[Tilpots]

They are in every single aspect inferior to natural sciences. Let's see now:
- much worse education matching employment
- worse wages on average
- humanists can't create and invent
- humanists never make new discoveries
- humanists lack expertise in every scientific field imaginable but think they know everything which makes them irritating

List goes on and on! What's more fulfilling than learning how to manipulate E. Coli genome, witnessing horizontal gene transfer, uncovering mechanisms of death and maybe some day overcome them?! Meanwhile humanists are debating hard about portrayal of feminism in "Tron".
WHICH IS MORE INTERESTING AND FULFILLING? Yet you humanist scum keep on acting like you were better people. Get a grip, losers.

Educate yourself. Your University would be ashamed.

[furcalchick]

The most "useful" major is in something like mechanical or electrical engineering, because with such a degree, you can enter the widest number of fields, including business. You can go anywhere, do anything, and still get paid a decent amount of money. You can volunteer in a 3rd world country to build homes, and still put your skills to use. Many high-level business people aren't even business majors. They're law, accounting, or engineering majors. Even computer enginners and comp sci majors are joining that group. Business degrees don't always get you to the highest business ranks.

Like I said before, the most useless degree is anything you're studying because you like it as a hobby, such as drawing.

how about someone that enters, let's say, a chemistry program, thinking he could be a chemist after college, and right when he graduates, he has a change of heart and wants to do something else? is his chemistry degree now useless because he didn't get rich off his major? perhaps he learned something about himself that made him incompatible with the field. that doesn't mean all of those years studying chemistry were useless because he's not in a job related in it. in fact, you can argue that he needed to study chemistry to find out what else he can do instead of chemistry based on the skills acquired in the chemistry program.

I think choosing a major based upon the amount of money you can make with it after graduation is the worst thing you could do. Rather, I'd encourage people to study what they enjoy, even if some people find it "useless". If someone finds computer science fulfilling and enjoyable, then more power to them, but I could never do that to myself. Likewise, people who see no value in humanities degrees should realize that other people DO see value in one.

I would be interested in finding out why people think humanities degrees are "useless" without having to resort to job/money arguments. I know full well I won't be entering the corporate/business world with my History degree. But that doesn't make my degree useless, especially since I have absolutely no interest in getting a traditional business/corporate job.

it5five, i think some of the people who make these arguments (that humanities degrees are useless due to not making $$$ on the major) are the careerist types; the ones that are always thinking about their careers through college and miss out on the experience, and turn college into a trade school where it's all training for a job. i didn't think of college as this as the primary function, it's primary function is investing knowledge and knowing more about yourself (at least for me). this brings me back to the chemistry example, let's say he chose chemistry out of several choices of interests, because frankly, like most people at 18, don't know what exactly what they want to do, and usually have several options they weigh on. he said chemistry was the most intriguing of his hobbies growing up, and thinks it has potential to be a career, and also that he'll have fun learning more about chemistry.

[it5five]

They are in every single aspect inferior to natural sciences. Let's see now:
- much worse education matching employment
- worse wages on average
- humanists can't create and invent
- humanists never make new discoveries
- humanists lack expertise in every scientific field imaginable but think they know everything which makes them irritating

+ angry

You need to take a breath and read my other posts in this thread. I was not talking about natural sciences.

But way to prove my point, still. Your first two points are entirely dependent on employment and income, something without which you are unable to argue the "usefulness" of a humanities degree. The rest of your points lead me to believe you are incredibly uninformed in the humanities.

[dukebound85]

Yes. I know this. What I said was that I would find doing that work draining and unfulfilling. It doesn't interest me. I also said that people should study what they are interested in, regardless of it's perceived usefulness. Thankfully people out there find computer science interesting, but it is the last thing I would want to study.

you do realize that you can study arts, humanities and such without paying 10's of thousands right? you can still buy the books and learn on your own. BUT when you make it a point to get a degree in something that will not give much return on investment, how is that smart or logical? in other words why pay that insane amt of cash to get "credit" for a major in which it will be very difficult to get a job when you can learn it on your own through other means.

all paying tuition does is make sure you get credit that you took the class which would then be recognized by the industry that you completed the requirements for the degree.

yes i believe people should study what they are interested in....heck i do it all the time but as far as college goes, you have to be smart and major in something that will benefit you and enable you to pay back student loans and get a job

for example, i take a strong interest in photography and recently programming as well as working on my car. did i go to school to major in those interests?, no as i consider them hobbies and worthwhile subjects to learn about. granted majoring in cs would have been a smart chocie but i couldnt go wrong with engineering either


also, most talented people in art don't need a degree, same with musicians. you do need a degree to even break into the engineering or corporate world these days. that alone proves my point

so unless you have money to blow on studying whatever hobby you like as a degree, i would strongly recommend having some forsight and see how it will affect you after you graduate

[it5five]

also, most talented people in art don't need a degree, same with musicians. you do need a degree to even break into the engineering or corporate world these days. that alone proves my point

so unless you have money to blow on studying whatever hobby you like as a degree, i would strongly recommend having some forsight and see how it will affect you after you graduate

1. I'm not paying 10's of thousands for my degree. I am doing smart thing and I am attending an in-state public school. I'll be surprised if I have 5k in student loan debt when I graduate.

2. I have no interest in "breaking into" the engineering or corporate world, so why in the world would I study something that would make the rest of my life miserable? Because I'll make money? Not for me. I suppose we have different priorities in life, but happiness comes above wealth, for me.

3. I do have foresight. Seeing as how after I graduate, I'll be going to grad school to study History, my B.A. in History won't be a "waste of time".

Speaking of employment opportunities; wasn't it you that made that thread discussing the difficulty of getting a job after college? And you even studied a "useful" subject. It doesn't seem to be so useful for you right now.

[dukebound85]

Speaking of employment opportunities; wasn't it you that made that thread discussing the difficulty of getting a job after college? And you even studied a "useful" subject. It doesn't seem to be so useful for you right now.

haha touche
i too attended an instate public school. however the cost of attendance was 14k a year which is pretty cheap for university. this was for tuition, books, housing estimates, food, the WHOLE estimate it would take to go there a year. tuition on the other hand was only about 4k a year

the basis that i made my argument was on forcast of jobs in major
for instance
1)http://www.bordeglobal.com/foruminv/index.php?act=ST&f=109&t=18549&
2)http://globalsuccessclub.blogspot.com/2008/01/which-majors-are-in-most-demand.html

back to my job thread, i have had offers, just not in a field i take interest in which is aeronautics

[~Shard~]

also, most talented people in art don't need a degree, same with musicians. you do need a degree to even break into the engineering or corporate world these days.

Rightly or wrongly, this is one of the reasons I chose Engineering over music, as I stated in my initial post. I simply decided that although I enjoyed music, getting a piece of paper saying I completed a bunch of classes would not magically make me a better player. Conversely, at the risk of sounding arrogant, I am a better musician than many individuals I know who went through Music in University and received their degree in performance or what have you - it's a simple fact. :o And don't get me wrong, I feel very fortunate and blessed to have the natural musical ability I have. :) Anyway, music has always been a passion of mine, and passions are not something I usually like to associate directly with making money - I'd prefer to pursue them because I want to and I love to, not because my livelihood relies on them. Sure, getting paid to do what you love is an added bonus, but it shouldn't be the reason you're doing it in the first place. In my opinion, once money enters the equation something is lost. :cool:

I suppose we have different priorities in life, but happiness comes above wealth, for me.

That's exactly my outlook too. I guess though it comes down to what each person defines as "happiness" - different things make different people happy - it's all relative I suppose....

[NSNick]

Just keep in mind that if it wasn't for computer science you wouldn't be typing replies like this on a Forum (web technology) on your Mac (hardware/software programming) using the Internet (evolution of DoD's ARPANET). :p :cool:

If it wasn't for EE you also would not be posting on this forum.

[Badandy]

stuff

Let me guess: When you talk to people you don't know, you don't make eye contact. When you stop talking to these people, you immediately think in your head how much smarter you are than they. You will get a good starting salary out of college. For the next forty years, you will be working within the confines of your narrowly scoped job and will not know the necessary skills to either go it alone or to advance within your field. Your brain will stagnate under the monotony of your job. The very same people you ridicule will continue learning a wide array of subjects that might never get old for them. They'll read books that will teach them about human nature, they'll come into contact with prose that moves them. So, go ahead, make $65k out of college (if you go, which I'm doubting by your extremely ignorant pots) and work in the same department for forty years that you started in.

Me? I'm going to continue reading. It's fun, it makes me more articulate, and it allows me to relate to people. While you don't know anything else other than studying, I'm going to stop to appreciate the world, maybe catch a basketball game that might be useful in remembering when I'm talking to a boss down the road who happens to be a fan of that team. I'll know how to run a business, not to run *in* one. And finally, when I want someone who does not have the diverse education needed to make decisions with consequence...I'll hire you.


EDIT: And +1 for using the word humanist throughout your post. Maybe you'd know what it meant had you actually been educated. Me? I'll learn how to learn (not a typo) AND know the krebs cycle.

[ChrisA]

so, in this thread, usefulness is defined as the likelihood of getting a job? if thats true, then the most useful major is no major at all, and going into the military. guaranteed job.

Guaranteed job? Only until the war is over. I think they still have the "up or out" rule. That means those passed over twice for promotions are not allowed to re-enlist. This is what prevents you from seeing any 45 year old Second Lieutenants You actually have to be half way competent to be a career officer. It has to be this way: If they promoted everyone there would be more chiefs than Indians. They need to keep the ratio "correct". Even in the enlisted ranks I know of some that were "let go". They call the "unfit for service" and give them a ticket home and severance pay. Happens more than you'd think

[~Shard~]

If it wasn't for EE you also would not be posting on this forum.

Being that I am an Electronics Engineer you need not tell me. :p ;) :D

[Eraserhead]

In my view Sciences are generally useful but less fun, arts are more fun, but are not so useful.

[sn00pie]

I'm about to start my major at University this fall. What do you guys think about a major in Criminology?

[Leareth]

I'm about to start my major at University this fall. What do you guys think about a major in Criminology?

Crim is useful only if you plan on working is related field
its like a bastard child if Stats, Sociology, Psychology, and History.

best to double major with something usually Psych or Sociology.

There are more Crim grads than jobs.
My Uni has over 480 Majors and 186 Graduates in Crim last time I checked- and its a med size uni.

[sn00pie]

Crim is useful only if you plan on working is related field
its like a bastard child if Stats, Sociology, Psychology, and History.

best to double major with something usually Psych or Sociology.

There are more Crim grads than jobs.
My Uni has over 480 Majors and 186 Graduates in Crim last time I checked- and its a med size uni.

Are you talking about UBC or SFU? I'm attending SFU and I'm planning on going into Law after doing a major in Crim.

[Leareth]

Are you talking about UBC or SFU? I'm attending SFU and I'm planning on going into Law after doing a major in Crim.

SFU.

trust me it is the most over-rated program up there.
insane admissions, long hours working outside of class and not that much payoff. did two degrees in it. :o

double majoring is the best way for future.
if you serious for law it is not the best major to take.


if you want more info pm me.

[Abstract]

how about someone that enters, let's say, a chemistry program, thinking he could be a chemist after college, and right when he graduates, he has a change of heart and wants to do something else? is his chemistry degree now useless because he didn't get rich off his major? perhaps he learned something about himself that made him incompatible with the field. that doesn't mean all of those years studying chemistry were useless because he's not in a job related in it. in fact, you can argue that he needed to study chemistry to find out what else he can do instead of chemistry based on the skills acquired in the chemistry program.


But that's personal reason, and not related to the degree. A chemistry degree is useful for reasons X, Y, and Z. If someone graduates from Chemistry and doesn't like the field, it doesn't change the usefulness of the degree itself. It only changes the usefulness of a chemistry degree for himself/herself.

If the topic is, "What are the most useful degrees?", I'd still go with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.

If the question is, "What are the most useful degrees for someone whose interests include A, B, and C", then that's different. I mean, if you're interested in acting, then obviously chemistry is useless to you. However, you can't really ask the question presented to us and then base your answer off your own personal interests. The answer must be objective, and leave ones own interests behind.

The question requires us to treat degrees as a Swiss Army knife. For general, practical, day-to-day, "take anywhere" and "do anything" degrees, mech eng, electrical eng, and computer science are useful degrees, even if they're not useful for what I want to do in my personal life. They're clearly not related to cancer treatment; however, I'm certain my degree isn't the most useful degree once I leave the university/hospital/research lab. In our technological world, computer science would help. Same with mech or electrical engineering.



2. I have no interest in "breaking into" the engineering or corporate world, so why in the world would I study something that would make the rest of my life miserable? Because I'll make money? Not for me. I suppose we have different priorities in life, but happiness comes above wealth, for me.

3. I do have foresight. Seeing as how after I graduate, I'll be going to grad school to study History, my B.A. in History won't be a "waste of time".

[weazbert]

Ah, so your answers are porn star, and idiots who make YouTube videos?



sure why not, as well as the Wiki people, the recipe people, the Flickstr people, Porn, while enjoying a slight social stigma, was essentially the "killer app" that made it viable. You know content can also come from........ wait for it....... people on a message board! There are hundreds of users on here throwing up pictures of their setup/wife/ferret/ whatever gets them through the day. Thats content. :)

[~Shard~]

If the topic is, "What are the most useful degrees?", I'd still go with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.

The question requires us to treat degrees as a Swiss Army knife. For general, practical, day-to-day, "take anywhere" and "do anything" degrees, mech eng, electrical eng, and computer science are useful degrees, even if they're not useful for what I want to do in my personal life. They're clearly not related to cancer treatment; however, I'm certain my degree isn't the most useful degree once I leave the university/hospital/research lab. In our technological world, computer science would help. Same with mech or electrical engineering.

Along that line of thinking then I would throw in structural/civil engineering as well. Highways, bridges and tall buildings are pretty useful things to have around as well. ;) :cool:

[rajalot]

You need to take a breath and read my other posts in this thread. I was not talking about natural sciences.

But way to prove my point, still. Your first two points are entirely dependent on employment and income, something without which you are unable to argue the "usefulness" of a humanities degree. The rest of your points lead me to believe you are incredibly uninformed in the humanities.
Post-graduate employment and income do play a big role when measuring usefulness of different sciences. Rest of usefulness could be measured as usefulness for rest of humanity. Again, humanists take it hard in comparison. Humanist art student learns to paint a picture and tell a tale about Picasso or the most advanced ones learn to ask tricky questions literally out of real world while studying philosophy. Meanwhile an experimental chemist discovers how to make less toxic and longer lasting batteries for our electronics and physics researcher at CERN crawls patiently through massive amounts of data which could explain origins and basic structure of everything. Which is more useful to humanity as a whole? Being an literacy researcher or physics researcher? What good does knowing what style Aldous Huxley used when writing Brave New World to the rest of us? Nothing, nada, zip!

Admit it, defending humanitarian pseudo-science is useless.

[Tilpots]

Post-graduate employment and income do play a big role when measuring usefulness of different sciences. Rest of usefulness could be measured as usefulness for rest of humanity. Again, humanists take it hard in comparison. Humanist art student learns to paint a picture and tell a tale about Picasso or the most advanced ones learn to ask tricky questions literally out of real world while studying philosophy. Meanwhile an experimental chemist discovers how to make less toxic and longer lasting batteries for our electronics and physics researcher at CERN crawls patiently through massive amounts of data which could explain origins and basic structure of everything. Which is more useful to humanity as a whole? Being an literacy researcher or physics researcher? What good does knowing what style Aldous Huxley used when writing Brave New World to the rest of us? Nothing, nada, zip!

Admit it, defending humanitarian pseudo-science is useless.

Thank a writer for inspiring many scientists for joining their profession.
Thank an English teacher for your ability to write this idiotic statement. Thank you for showing us what you're all about...

[~Shard~]

This thread is morphing into "arts versus science" debate... ;)

[4JNA]

This thread is morphing into "arts versus science" debate... ;)

which is why philosophy is by far the most useful degree. :)

[Tilpots]

Artists v. Scientists Cage Match!!!

Will post video on YouTube!;)

[~Shard~]

which is why philosophy is by far the most useful degree. :)

For such a debate, yes, I'll give you that. In general though... :p ;)

[r1ch4rd]

I would like to put forward Watersport studies and management (http://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/watersports_studies_and_management_ba/course_details.aspx) as the least useful degree on offer in the UK.

[surjavarman]

How can anyone not say mathematics? In my opinion its the most important field and its highly flexible. With mathematics you can the work of a computer scientist or an economic. You can use mathematics to do research in every field you want like physics, medicine, psychology etc.

Mathematics is in the business world in high demand. Not only are mathematicians used for insurance companies or banks they are hired to do the work of electrical engineers or computer scientists. A Bachelor of Science in mathematics is worth two bachelors of arts in any field or three master of arts. People will recognize the time, work and effort you gave to get that degree.

Mathematicians are extremely flexible and are used in every field. And they can easily reschool themself for any job in any fields.

Excuse my spelling as its really late at night here.

[themadchemist]

A Bachelor of Science in mathematics is worth two bachelors of arts in any field or three master of arts.

So I didn't major in math or anything, but are you saying that one BA is equal to 1.5 MA's? :confused:

[surjavarman]

So I didn't major in math or anything, but are you saying that one BA is equal to 1.5 MA's? :confused:

It was a figure of speech. But that is what I meant yes. In my country the masters are generally easier then a bachelor in terms of work effort.

1) you can pretty much select any subject you want to create your own master and still get an official aproval of the examination boards.
2) a master is thus not only easier but most masters are 2 years, some are even 1 years. Compared to 3 years it takes to get a bachelor. So its shorter and easier

And a Bsc is certainly harder to get then a BA. People in the business world would recognize that.

Again excuse my spelling. I'm typing this in the dark...

[themadchemist]

It was a figure of speech. But that is what I meant yes. In my country the masters are generally easier then a bachelor in terms of work effort.

1) you can pretty much select any subject you want to create your own master and still get an official aproval of the examination boards.
2) a master is thus not only easier but most masters are 2 years, some are even 1 years. Compared to 3 years it takes to get a bachelor. So its shorter and easier


In terms of length, sure, but one certainly studies a subject in much greater depth during a Masters degree.


And a Bsc is certainly harder to get then a BA. People in the business world would recognize that.


I know this distinction is still very clear in some countries. In the United States, at least, the distinction between a BS and a BA is becoming obsolete. For instance, my degree is in Neurobiology, but is a BA. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other degrees are also BA's at my university, because they are obtained through the College of Arts & Sciences. In fact, the only BS degrees from my alma mater were in engineering and, oddly enough, journalism (don't ask me, I have no idea).

[dukebound85]

It was a figure of speech. But that is what I meant yes. In my country the masters are generally easier then a bachelor in terms of work effort.

1) you can pretty much select any subject you want to create your own master and still get an official aproval of the examination boards.
2) a master is thus not only easier but most masters are 2 years, some are even 1 years. Compared to 3 years it takes to get a bachelor. So its shorter and easier

And a Bsc is certainly harder to get then a BA. People in the business world would recognize that.

Again excuse my spelling. I'm typing this in the dark...


weird, in the us the system is as follows

undergrad =4 year degree resulting in a BA or a BS
grad: 1) masters is in addition to undergread and typically takes ~2 years. usually requires a thesis
2) phd is after masters and takes an additional ~3years. requires a dissertation

i agree, math is a very useful major. i view engineering and any of the hard sciences (math, physics, chem, cs) as equivalent in terms of value and difficulty.

[63dot]

I know this distinction is still very clear in some countries. In the United States, at least, the distinction between a BS and a BA is becoming obsolete. For instance, my degree is in Neurobiology, but is a BA. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other degrees are also BA's at my university, because they are obtained through the College of Arts & Sciences. In fact, the only BS degrees from my alma mater were in engineering and, oddly enough, journalism (don't ask me, I have no idea).

where i went to school, the accounting degree was offered as a bs and a ba with the difference being in some of the general education, non accounting foundation courses

all third and fourth year courses were the idential material and heavily weighted toward accounting with some management and business administration courses thrown in

[dukebound85]

In terms of length, sure, but one certainly studies a subject in much greater depth during a Masters degree.



I know this distinction is still very clear in some countries. In the United States, at least, the distinction between a BS and a BA is becoming obsolete. For instance, my degree is in Neurobiology, but is a BA. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other degrees are also BA's at my university, because they are obtained through the College of Arts & Sciences. In fact, the only BS degrees from my alma mater were in engineering and, oddly enough, journalism (don't ask me, I have no idea).

not according to thse articles

http://ezinearticles.com/?Bachelor-Degree---BA-Vs.--BS&id=272581
http://www.campusgrotto.com/ba-vs-bs.html

im still researching it as it is kinda interesting

[63dot]

not according to thse articles

http://ezinearticles.com/?Bachelor-Degree---BA-Vs.--BS&id=272581
http://www.campusgrotto.com/ba-vs-bs.html

im still researching it as it is kinda interesting

i tend to like the more rigorous math background that the "science" majors have to endure, being the engineering majors, bio engineering majors, physics, chemistry and the pre-med and pre-dentistry majors especially

some majors like statistics, computer science, business, and journalism (as mentioned above) may fit more with the "ba" crowd as far as respect and impressing hr people (i was a govt/military hr person)

there is no doubt the phenomenal respect that a bs in chemistry, biochemistry, botany, and physics has as their bs may be stronger than some who have a master's in fine art, business administration, or english

while i find law school challenging, i am still glad that i didn't have to embark on a bs in physics, and physics is my hobby and i love it dearly but find even the undergraguate stuff is ridiculously hard

richard feynman's undergrad cal tech physics classes on DVD or CD are amazing and far harder than any grad business classes or law school has thrown at me

the absolute dedication that any of feynman's students had to endure must be legendary

besides einstein and newton, feynman ranks high

[SLC Flyfishing]

I'm double majoring in Health Promotion and Education (BS), and Biology (BS). I'm definately a career student; have been for the past 4 years and will be for at least 2 more. I do research in a neurobiology lab, and I also do various volunteer stints each week. It's all so I can hopefully blow my degrees off and attend medical school; there's no straight pre-med major at my university, but there is a medical school here, the powers that be feel a major in pre-medicine would be useless for those who don't make the cut, I'm with them on that for sure.

I think the key to success in the post college world is liking what you study, being happy with your prospects for income, and the main aspect is becoming as well rounded as you possibly can. There's nothing wrong with minoring in something while you are in college ya know. Just make your educational experience a diverse one and you'll do just fine.

SLC

[yg17]

Q: What's the difference between an art major and a large pizza?



A: A large pizza can feed a family of four :D

[Badandy]

Adapted joke from something I've heard before :eek:



But good...

[AlaskanGrown]

Whoever voted EE, you suck!

I am Guilty