mchoya
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 376
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Post by mchoya on Sept 24, 2009 9:27:24 GMT -5
I think Map already had the perfect amount of Geography, Hrebenak discussed it when it was relevant and focused on political matters when those mattered more. I think that this statement is the one that the uninformed observers do not understand. The old class was not lacking geophysical discussion. For instance, when discussing Colombia, Hrebenak discussed the fact that the mountains basically bifurcate the state into a government zone and a FARC zone and it is difficult for the government to project power. The class was tough, but ultimately, if you aren't going to change the actual logistics of the class (adding more sessions to go into more detail), then why change an already successful format? Also, on a more selfish note, I'll never know if the girl who texted in the first day of my class was actually a plant. I was going to sit in on the first day of class this year and see if someone was that dumb again or if it was planned for the class' benefit. Hrebenak's reaction later in the semester when a phone went off was more cavalier than the that first time.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,791
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Post by SFHoya99 on Sept 24, 2009 10:54:41 GMT -5
SFSers are so cute.
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Post by williambraskyiii on Sept 24, 2009 11:49:13 GMT -5
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Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
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Post by Jack on Sept 24, 2009 12:32:01 GMT -5
I know. You would think someone removed Shakespeare from the English major requirements.
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vcjack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,875
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Post by vcjack on Sept 24, 2009 14:39:58 GMT -5
I know. You would think someone removed Shakespeare from the English major requirements. I think all of the schools should base their reputations on a weird freshmen survey class requirement. Everyone in the MSB study hard for the "Companies of the DJIA" test!
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rosslynhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,595
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Post by rosslynhoya on Sept 24, 2009 15:53:05 GMT -5
SFS without a real Map of the Modern World requirement would be like MSB without group projects or a Nursing School without STI.
Of course, without those three, the University is essentially Villanova in DC.
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mchoya
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 376
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Post by mchoya on Sept 24, 2009 19:49:13 GMT -5
SFS without a real Map of the Modern World requirement would be like MSB without group projects or a Nursing School without STI. Of course, without those three, the University is essentially Villanova in DC. But without contraceptive sales.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Post by Boz on Sept 25, 2009 8:23:26 GMT -5
SFS without a real Map of the Modern World requirement would be like MSB without group projects or a Nursing School without STI. Of course, without those three, the University is essentially Villanova in DC. I know a few Jesuit CAS professors who might take issue with this claim. (I know they don't call it CAS anymore, but I'm old.)
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Sept 25, 2009 19:50:56 GMT -5
Lots of coverage in the Hoya today, with guest opinions from the leader of the Facebook group and others. The group is tabling in Red Square and will be circulating half-sheets at Homecoming. Perhaps a sympathetic and self-loathing CULP major or two could be scared up to pitch a tent in Red Square until they are force fed vitamins and apple juice by the administration. ;D
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Post by reformation on Sept 27, 2009 21:35:45 GMT -5
I know. You would think someone removed Shakespeare from the English major requirements. I think all of the schools should base their reputations on a weird freshmen survey class requirement. Everyone in the MSB study hard for the "Companies of the DJIA" test! Hopefully some good will come out of what you somewhat correctly point out is a is a big uproar over something that is maybe not so important in the big picture. I do agree with the poster's though who argue that the current format is worth keeping; if the new course really is that valuable there is no reason you culdn't have the students take both. Pirtle started teaching the course in my soph year I think, so I just missed having to take the class, though we had to take a probably watered down exam primarily by studying on our own--I vaguely remember some old geography prof giving a couple of lectures. As mentioned above the uproar over the map will focus attention on the SFS core curriculum which needs a major overhaul. Its really pretty much the same as when I was a student in the mid 80's and in fact when my father in law was a student in the late 40"s. Obviously a lot of things have changed in both the academic and real world over that timespan and the sfs core curriculum has not kept pace.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Sept 27, 2009 22:12:32 GMT -5
Agree, reformation, about curriculum overhaul. That's a valuable point when you consider that one could read the Communist Manifesto three or more times in SFS classes and have to endure same treatment with Graham Allison's analysis of the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you're lucky enough, you will only get the realist/liberal/constructivist stuff twice.
Part of the problem is that the SFS has hired professors who naturally want to teach the same stuff. How Albright's National Security Toolbox course differs from Lake's upper-level course is an open question, I think, if these courses are still being offered.
Now, your STIA majors (Science, Technology and International Affairs) and CULP (Culture & Politics) majors may not experience this redundancy, but IPOL (International Politics) folks - forget about it.
That being said, I am not sure that the best time to initiate major curriculum revisions is now, without a permanent dean in place. Put together a more serious review effort when a new dean is appointed/confirmed or whatever the process is.
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PhillyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,016
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Post by PhillyHoya on Sept 27, 2009 23:03:38 GMT -5
Now, your STIA majors (Science, Technology and International Affairs) and CULP (Culture & Politics) majors may not experience this redundancy, but IPOL (International Politics) folks - forget about it. Having sat next to you in Lake's class, oh yeah, changes are definitely needed. In most IR programs, Itrade and Ifinance = one class. And frankly there are more changes beyond that needed but one step at a time. Map first. I agree that D R-A's class has some relevance and perhaps the best option would be a 2nd geography requirement - a political geography class like map and maybe a social geography class. Again make it 1 credit pass/fail.
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