what degree history vs political science

Ghost1986 · 3rd-December-2009, 05:49 AM

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Taprobane · 3rd-December-2009, 07:39 PM

I'm just coming to the end of my history degree (albeit in Britain) and it's not quite as you'd expect from the outside. It involves a lot of similar stuff to political science, you learn about historical schools of thought and other historians thoughts more than perhaps coming up with your own theories. Over here we also do quite a bit on general theories of history, theories of why things happened, not just what happened. My main area of study at the moment is the British Empire and there are a lot of theories as to why the empire grew as it did and we learn about and evaluate though as opposed to just finding out what happened though the rise and fall of the empire.

Hope that helped, probably not particularly considering I'm studying in a different country to you!

nickgray · 3rd-December-2009, 07:42 PM

I'd take Physics.

Decaf · 3rd-December-2009, 07:56 PM

I don't really know much about either, but between the two I would think your average INTP would enjoy history over political science.

EditorOne · 3rd-December-2009, 09:59 PM

Depends on the specifics of each course of study, I can see already that history in England is a different animal than history taught at the local university here in Pennsylvania. However, political science can be very analytical, as can history, and analytical is Good in my book. I'm thinking of finishing up my political science undergraduate degree and then going for a masters in history, just for sake of the futility of doing all that now for any reason except "I feel like it and I think I now have the patience, maturity and insight to deal with pedantic squat and bullroar."

Neither field of study is necessarily a path to wealth or a fulfilling career, but either is better than stepping on a nail.

Taprobane · 4th-December-2009, 10:25 AM

In Wales actually

But yes, at degree level history tends to be more analytical than at school as knowledge of the facts is assumed.

Speaking of history degrees, I should be doing a document analysis for my dissertation at the moment but I decided the forum would be far more productive...

3rd-December-2009, 07:39 PM	Taprobane's time 3rd-December-2009, 07:39 PM #2
Taprobane Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 32	Re: what degree history vs political science I'm just coming to the end of my history degree (albeit in Britain) and it's not quite as you'd expect from the outside. It involves a lot of similar stuff to political science, you learn about historical schools of thought and other historians thoughts more than perhaps coming up with your own theories. Over here we also do quite a bit on general theories of history, theories of why things happened, not just what happened. My main area of study at the moment is the British Empire and there are a lot of theories as to why the empire grew as it did and we learn about and evaluate though as opposed to just finding out what happened though the rise and fall of the empire. Hope that helped, probably not particularly considering I'm studying in a different country to you!

3rd-December-2009, 07:42 PM	nickgray's time 3rd-December-2009, 09:42 PM #3
nickgray Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 218	Re: what degree history vs political science I'd take Physics. __________________ Can't say that I'm ahead of my time, I fear that my time will never come...

3rd-December-2009, 07:56 PM	Decaf's time 3rd-December-2009, 11:56 AM #4
Decaf Professional Amateur Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 2,129	Re: what degree history vs political science I don't really know much about either, but between the two I would think your average INTP would enjoy history over political science. __________________ "I want freedom for the full expression of my personality." - Mahatma Gandhi

3rd-December-2009, 09:59 PM	EditorOne's time 3rd-December-2009, 04:59 PM #5
EditorOne Resident Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,916	Re: what degree history vs political science Depends on the specifics of each course of study, I can see already that history in England is a different animal than history taught at the local university here in Pennsylvania. However, political science can be very analytical, as can history, and analytical is Good in my book. I'm thinking of finishing up my political science undergraduate degree and then going for a masters in history, just for sake of the futility of doing all that now for any reason except "I feel like it and I think I now have the patience, maturity and insight to deal with pedantic squat and bullroar." Neither field of study is necessarily a path to wealth or a fulfilling career, but either is better than stepping on a nail. __________________ WJW I think, I think I am, therefore I am. I think. -- Moody Blues, In the Beginning Need a public adjuster? (Yeah, you probably do.)

4th-December-2009, 10:25 AM	Taprobane's time 4th-December-2009, 10:25 AM #6
Taprobane Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 32	Re: what degree history vs political science In Wales actually But yes, at degree level history tends to be more analytical than at school as knowledge of the facts is assumed. Speaking of history degrees, I should be doing a document analysis for my dissertation at the moment but I decided the forum would be far more productive...

3rd-December-2009, 05:49 AM	Ghost1986's time 3rd-December-2009, 11:49 AM #1
Ghost1986 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The United States. Posts: 291	n h

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