| I think much of it comes from the difference in expectations. Most of the people I know who complain about Political Science are engineering or natural science majors. Their courses consist of regular labs and problem sets. To them, they expect regular "work" that they have to do in groups. With Political Science majors, the work is more of a "read this book and write a 10 page analysis" a few times a semester, and then take exams sort of major. They don't realize what is involved in reading and analyzing hundreds of pages of upper level theory a week, applying it in practical analysis, forming and presenting cogent arguements based on it, and otherwise weaving together significant amounts of abstract material to construct a more elaborate and broadly applicable theory. Were they to take a few upper level courses, they might change their minds. |