Chose Gtown / one other question

[afalcon10]

Hey all - first let me say thank you for putting up and helping me with my endless stream of seemingly meaningless questions - it helped me discover that Georgetown is the place for me. Sent my deposit this morning. I can not wait for next year the basketball games are going to be amazing - will def be at the hoya blue meetings as well.


Unrelated, but does anybody know which courses tenet albright and lake currently teach in the SFS?

[vcjack]

afalcon10 said:

Hey all - first let me say thank you for putting up and helping me with my endless stream of seemingly meaningless questions - it helped me discover that Georgetown is the place for me. Sent my deposit this morning. I can not wait for next year the basketball games are going to be amazing - will def be at the hoya blue meetings as well.


Unrelated, but does anybody know which courses tenet albright and lake currently teach in the SFS?

Good for you, we'll see you in August.

[Jack]

Actually all of the SFS big names teach at least one undergrad course every year. So if Albright and Natsios are teaching grad courses first semester, they are likely working with undergrads in the spring. Tenet's got a book coming out next week, so he may be taking a semester to tour/speak on it. The only SFS name who may not work with undergrads is Feith, not sure on that one.

[reformation]

Most of the SFS name prof's teach one undergrad + one grad class--I would bet that a lot of faculty at gtwn prefer teaching the undergrads as gtwn is a much more competitive place at the undergrad level than at the grad level

Also, just because a class is listed as grad does not mean that you can't take it as an undergrad--you probably just have to ask the prof for permission. I teach a grad class in an Ivy bschool and I usually have an undergrad or two in my class --they generally do pretty well and are usually more highly motivated than the the avg grad student

[jerseyhoya34]

Albright normally offers a section or two of that toolbox course during the spring semester.

I would suggest that you stick to the core courses and frosh prosem during the fall semester, with maybe an elective course or two. 300 level courses in the SFS are no picnic if you are a frosh, and I wouldn't be surprised if the deans advised against it.

Consider doing a regional history in the fall -- Professor Voll in HIST-111 is supposedly outstanding. Witek in HIST-120 and 124 is likewise. Great offerings there...

If you truly want a challenge, take Tucker for American Diplomatic History. She is one of the most recognized history profs at GU.

Given the preference structure in preregistration, you're unlikely to be able to take any of the name profs until you are an upperclassman, unless it is through the frosh prosem.

If you want suggestions on profs, PM me.

[PhillyHoya]

Most of the "big name" classes are only open to juniors and seniors so forget about them for awhile. Some of them occasionally teach a proseminar though so there's a chance for that. I'm also more than willing to recommend profs.

And I definitely echo Jersey's recommendation of Father Witek. I took HIST 124 (History of Japan I) with him and loved it. He's a little dry but he's brilliant (he speaks 6 or 7 languages) and you'll learn a ton.

[tal1286]

Yeah, as far as classes go, when I registered freshman year, they had a pretty structured list of what you should take your freshman year. I don't know how much you actually have to follow that but I figured that the classes they advised are the ones you should take.

For example, I think a typical fall semester schedule for an SFS freshman looks like this:

Prosem
Microeconomics (unless you passed it)
Political and Social Thought (if your name is between A and L, I think)*
Foreign Language Course (You have to take one until you are proficient in that language)
English Course*

Obviously if your last name is after L, you take PST in the second semester which gives you more leeway but another common option if you come in with some AP English credits is to take a history course like European History.

Another option would be to take theology, and I actually think that is what the school recommends you take if you aren't taking PST First semester. There are two options, Problem of God and Intro to Biblical Literature. People love Problem of God. Father King is good. I don't know too much on that front though.

If you have AP credit for micro, you can take macro. If you have both, You could take International Trade if you wanted although, honestly, I think I'd recommend waiting so you can take it with Dean Kaneda because I'd be surprised if a freshman got into his class since it is by far the most sought after section of ITrade.

In any case, hope that helps. I'd really recommend sticking to the core requirements for your entire freshman year unless you know for sure what you want to major in. If that is the case and you also have a number of requirements out of the way due to AP credits, it might not be a bad idea to get started taking one of the lower level classes in the major second semester if you have space. I did that and I'm in good shape as far as all my requirements go.

[miamihoya]

Lake usually teaches a prosem, so thats your best chance at one of those name professors

[Nevada Hoya]

reformation said:

Most of the SFS name prof's teach one undergrad + one grad class--I would bet that a lot of faculty at gtwn prefer teaching the undergrads as gtwn is a much more competitive place at the undergrad level than at the grad level

Yes, that was even the case for the College in my days at GU (40+ years ago). In grad chem courses the undergrads would get all the A's.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Its more important to get the core out of the way in the first few semesters - you'll need to take International Relatons and Comparative Political Systems before being able to take upper level government classes in the IR field. Other professors in SFS that are really good include Anthony Arend and Chistopher Joyner.

[The Stig]

If you can take Professor Douglass for Political and Social Thought, do so. He's probably the best lecturer I've ever listened to.

Also, take Professor Langenbacher for Comparative Political Systems (I'm not sure if you have any choice on that one). He's a real character - and I'll leave it at that.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

I'd like to put in a word for Lagenbacher - I had him for a class that dealt with psychology and International Relations - I think it was one of his first years teaching at GU - he was still really good - lots of reading though. I don't know if that was because of the class or because of him - he's a really good/funny lecturer though.

[RockawayHoya]

Can't help you much in the way of suggesting SFS classes or profs (COL '05 here), but I did want to say welcome to the GU family, afalcon. Enjoy the next 4 years, they go by quick.

[hoya4ever]

Though you may want to get the SFS core out of the way keep some general requirements in your schedule for junior and senior year. Sometimes you just want to take an English class or might think that some cool sounding class in another department is the way to go. Another way to do this is by not using all your electives immediately.

[LizziebethHoya]

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050600952.html

Interesting WaPo article about Tenet and Feith