amptron2x

I want to major in art or English (Creative Writing) or both. Are the Art and English Departments at Vassar good?

kee10

i second amptron's question - want to be an english and international studies major - how are those departments?

huskem55

english is very strong

amptron2x

And the Art Department?

sweetbee03

The English department is indeed very good. I'm taking this English freshman course and the professor is AMAZING...don't know much about the Art Department except that Art History at Vassar is very well known.

Misty_Rain217

This may be wrong but I heard from someone on this site that Vassar has a good film program.
I am I right or totally off?

seole

I've heard that too (about film). I don't know whether it's true, but it would make sense since Vassar is so well-known for theater.

From what I understand, the Vassar art history department is quite strong, but the actual art department isn't as strong on its own. I think people who major in art tend to have a lot of art history mixed in there, and I think there are stronger art departments in other schools if you're interested in it as a major. I want to take art courses, but it's important to me that English and art history (and other things) are very strong as well since I don't want to major in the visual arts, so for me it's worth the compromise.

English is supposed to be excellent, definitely.

I'm curious about international relations as well, kee10...and what do you guys know about the history department? I haven't picked a major yet, but I'd like to know more about these areas at Vassar.

kee10

they don't have an international relations department, seole but an international studies department - i'm assuming they are more or less the same though i would like to exactly know why it's called "studies" and not "relations". is it because the major is more... general, in nature? does vassar offer any courses on international terrorism? how are the languages?

i can't wait for the december 8th chat *sheepish smile*

dwincho

Baby, international studies usually means you will need to choose an area of specialization, e.g.: Latin American studies, East Asian studies, Africana studies, etc. You study the area's literature, art, language, history, geography, political movements, etc.
International relations refers to diplomacy and political science at a global scale, it's usually more of a graduate-level major.

kee10

ah, thanks dwincho. i was checking out the course catalogue and saw courses like, "global feminism", "the political economy of globalisation", etc. so i suppose you're quite right. the political science department has some of the courses that you'd expect in an international relations department. it's possible to combine these courses (becuase both departments offer some really interesting ones), right?

prachi240987

does Vassar encourage writers?
does it have a campus magazine.. i searched the site but couldnot find any links..