<p>I’d like to hear some opinions on the pros/cons of field specialization vs. distribution. Do students need to decide which way they’re going before freshman year starts, or does it fall into place later?</p>
<p>You can decide on this anytime–and can change anytime you like. </p>
<p>The advantage to me of the field specialization is that you are able to pass the necessary courses to graduate while essentially getting a minor (or even a second major) in a different subject area easily.</p>
<p>The advantage of the distribution option (in my view) is that you get to take a bunch of courses in different areas–and therefore get to explore a lot of different topics. It might also helpful to the person who is not sure they are in the right major–and therefore is considering possibly switching majors after getting to the college. Taking a few classes in different areas would help them decide where their interests really lie. It might also be helpful for those considering pursuing a masters degree in a different major.</p>
<p>The distribution option is way better if you come in with a lot of AP credits. You need 27 credits for the distribution option, and a lot of the AP credits are for basic freshman classes that fit into the A&H, S&H, and N&M distributions. For instance, scores of five on the AP American History, AP Biology, and AP Art History tests would give you 18 credits that can be applied to the 27 hour core, leaving just three classes to take at IU to fulfill the distribution option.</p>
<p><a href=“http://ud.iub.edu/fs_ap.php[/url]”>http://ud.iub.edu/fs_ap.php</a>
<a href=“http://www.indiana.edu/~bulletin/iub/college/2008-2010/appendix2.shtml[/url]”>http://www.indiana.edu/~bulletin/iub/college/2008-2010/appendix2.shtml</a></p>
<p>Also, the distribution option classes are way more easy to get for scheduling, as you have hundreds to choose from. Since all the field specialization classes will be from the same department, and many of these are obscure programs, there will be much less choice in formulating a convenient schedule. </p>
<p>Also, it is very unlikely that many field specialization classes (you will need nine of them) can be fulfilled at a community college during the summer and transferred to IU. This too makes the field specialization option less flexible for scheduling.</p>
<p>Excellent points, bthomp1.</p>
<p>This really helped with my decision also. THANKS</p>