what collage corses/collage should i take/ go to

[senorsassycat]

i am a high school junior and am extremely find myself more and more interested the changes that need to be done to make our society a productive one. after looking at collages and majors that they have available i haven't been able to find any that offer anything designed to teach that sort of thing.

i was wondering if anybody knew of any collages which offer a courses i would be interested in.

[Invincible Summer]

i am a high school junior and am extremely find myself more and more interested the changes that need to be done to make our society a productive one. after looking at collages and majors that they have available i haven't been able to find any that offer anything designed to teach that sort of thing.

i was wondering if anybody knew of any collages which offer a courses i would be interested in.

To make society productive? Are you suggesting reformism?

Most of the people on RevLeft don't want to make society productive, but rather to totally change society.


Regardless, sociology is a pretty good field that's all about analyzing society. It's not too radical/revolutionary, however.

Also, it's "college," not "collage." The latter is a pastiche of images.

[senorsassycat]

my spelling is terrible i knew it looked wrong.

when i say society i mean a group of people working together, i don't mean the current society. i don't believe that there is any possible way to reform the current society into something that works.

by productive i mean one that works with a central focus on the elimination of poverty, sustainability, and overall wellbeing of all people.

i feel strongly that a revolution is both necessary and possible in my life time and have considered going to west point for the military training.

[which doctor]

I'd start with a few English classes.

Besides that, I'd go for anthropology over sociology. Anthropology has the tendency to look at things from a historical and comparative perspective while sociology has the tendency to look at things entirely with the capitalist paradigm. I'm sure some people will disagree with this assumption (they may be right), but this is what I have gathered from my experience with the two disciplines. My university even offers a marxist anthropology course.

[leggy leftist]

Geography and political science are two more areas or departments to look into. History courses will give you some background, but how the course is taught and from what perspective (leftist, capitalist, etc.) will depend on the professor. Courses like History of the Labor Movement would be interesting. Don't be shy about talking to professors if you find out their point of view is socialist. They will often know who the other professors are who have the same point of view in other departments.

I was at UC Berkeley when there were courses in almost every department in the liberal arts being taught by leftists. You couldn't swing a dead cat without running into left-leaning professors there. An urban geography class I took was taught by a Marxist. Native American studies, Mexican American studies (now they are called Ethnic Studies departments?) would also be useful.

Talk to a college counselor at your school about schools that would have what you want. Most college catalogs list the professors' names and their areas of emphasis, and you can get an idea from that whether they are going to have the right perspective for you.

[Invincible Summer]

I'd start with a few English classes.

Besides that, I'd go for anthropology over sociology. Anthropology has the tendency to look at things from a historical and comparative perspective while sociology has the tendency to look at things entirely with the capitalist paradigm. I'm sure some people will disagree with this assumption (they may be right), but this is what I have gathered from my experience with the two disciplines. My university even offers a marxist anthropology course.

Nearly all the sociology profs I've had declared that they were either Marxists or leftists of some sort (didn't specify).

Although, I'll admit that I've had a share of sociology profs that would end up describing a social democratic solution, or suggest a welfare state in order to "solve" problems.

Political science, on the other hand, is purely capitalist. When I took a few courses (was considering a PoliSci major at one point), all the other students were either "liberals" (in the Canadian sense, which means wishy washy on every issue) or libertarians.

[ComradeOm]

i am a high school junior and am extremely find myself more and more interested the changes that need to be done to make our society a productive oneThen avoid sociology or any humanities/arts. We have enough academics waffling on about society's ills as it is. Pick something constructive and practical - such as engineering, computers, or science - where you will actually be contributing to the productive forces of society

[Invader Zim]

Then avoid sociology or any humanities/arts. We have enough academics waffling on about society's ills as it is. Pick something constructive and practical - such as engineering, computers, or science - where you will actually be contributing to the productive forces of society

Ah yes, because understanding society is neither constructive or practical.:crying:

[ComradeOm]

Ah yes, because understanding society is neither constructive or practical.:crying:Philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways, the point however is to change it ;)

[Revy]

Psychology seems rather interesting, from a revolutionary point of view it might be useful to understand the human mind. Or Philosophy.

[Invincible Summer]

Then avoid sociology or any humanities/arts. We have enough academics waffling on about society's ills as it is. Pick something constructive and practical - such as engineering, computers, or science - where you will actually be contributing to the productive forces of society


Ah yes, because understanding society is neither constructive or practical.:crying:


Philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways, the point however is to change it ;)

Although I am a Sociology major in Uni, I do think that ComradeOm has a point.
We had a guest speaker in one of my classes that told us that "You sociologists are the ones who can change the world! You study society and know how best to fix it!"

I knew he was kissing our asses, but the point is this: if one decides to become a sociologist, all you'd do really is write up boring, pretentious academic journals for other academics to read. If you end up in federal policy administration, then you do have some role in changing society, but you have to play within the rules of society.

I'm very disillusioned with my sociology education. On one hand, my political development has culminated to this point due to the fact that I've been exposed to all the ills of the world through my sociology classes; on the other hand, I feel like a useless academic.

When the revolution comes, I will have no skills that are helpful except writing academic papers.


Psychology seems rather interesting, from a revolutionary point of view it might be useful to understand the human mind. Or Philosophy.

I'm biased, but psychology seems too micro-scale. It's always based on the individual. However, sociology can span from global social phenomena to a conversation between two or three people. Its theories and observations are much easier to apply to society as a whole; IMO, it's more effective to study society as a revolutionary than to study individual thought patterns or something.

[senorsassycat]

^but skills like that are necessary now when we need to start the wheels a`moving and build up momentum to break down the fortifications of capitalism. in a true marxist revolution there will be enough of us that no one will need to be combat skilled, and hopefully there will not even need to be combat. the hard part is convincing the sedentary masses that life could be better and that things need to change.

my goal in school is to learn what i need to to sway the masses towards revolution and progressive socialism

[ComradeOm]

my goal in school is to learn what i need to to sway the masses towards revolution and progressive socialismThen I'd advise you to ditch the sociology and join a seminary

[swirling_vortex]

I think you're looking at this from the wrong viewpoint. Yes, college is about expanding your horizons and learning new and different things, but you should look for a major that you are good at & will allow you to get a somewhat decent job in the future. There's no point in majoring in something like philosophy if you can't find a career for it. Don't worry about the "revolution", worry about your financial and job future first.

[Decolonize The Left]

Ignore everyone who tells you to major in one thing or another.

Take a wide variety of classes in a wide variety of disciplines and then hone down your options according to what interested you the most.

I personally found Political Science and Philosophy the most interesting, but you may very well find Anthropology and Biology the most interesting.

Just remember, to be a revolutionary does not mean you must follow any guideline - it only means that you are committed to the development of class consciousness and the fight for freedom and equality worldwide.

- August

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Your first consideration should include two thoughts: what do I like? Is there a good job to be sought?

If you're set on turning your career into a political tool, consider economics. I think more leftists should pinch their noses and become economists, but be prepared to learn everything short of Marx.

[elgranlocomotor]

I'm sort of in the same predicament.

I'm in my second year of Civil Engineering, which I chose to study because I wanted to be one of the few environmentally-conscious engineers, who are not just driven by the desire to make money. As I kept taking other sorts of classes and getting into literature, I now feel the urge to study Journalism, because I feel it's my moral duty to bring the real truth to the people.

I don't really think that an engineer can do more for the revolution than a person who majors in Sociology, or in Journalism. It's all a matter of perspective, and being good and passionate at what you do.

[Glenn Beck]

I don't really think your politics should determine what vocation you choose. Rather if you have a passion for a particular field of study you should go for that, even if your interest is broad. If you have a particular artistic talent you may wish to develop that further or if you have an interest in science that is always a fruitful path. Educators are also always needed. Play to your strengths, a revolutionary society will need all kinds of people.

If you feel your vocation IS your politics then you perhaps seek a liberal arts/social science degree and develop your written and spoken communication skills to the best of your ability in order to be able to spread your message.

I started out interested in the natural sciences but I came to find that I was way better at critical reading and writing than anything else so I went for a philosophy major and now I'm looking towards an educational role.

In any case don't try to pigeon-hole yourself too much and try to take a diverse array of classes in your first year or two. Don't rush shit either unless you absolutely have to.

[Diagoras]

I am currently working on my PhD in political science. I still love the field, and would not be nearly as passionate writing, researching, and teaching about other things (aside from history, perhaps). However, I initially got into it in my undergrad years with a similar mindset of, "Hmm, how do I go about majoring in revolutionary?" It doesn't work that way ;). Find something you love doing, or at least can stand doing for the rest of your life... or if you are getting a liberal arts degree without going to graduate school, then something you can recall fondly as you wait tables, and find yourself jealous of public teacher salaries :lol:.

I enjoy teaching, writing, and generally being an advocate for my ideas, and academia appealed to me as a point of access for these things. However, we are all royally screwed come the revolution if we really need someone to operate a cake press, design a bridge, or figure out the optimal timing of street lights with our worker-run bus system... and all we have are political scientists or historians :lol:. Primitivism might be closer than we think if such is the case, whether we want it or not ;).

[Cult of Reason]

Physics is fun. Do that.

[ZeroNowhere]

my goal in school is to learn what i need to to sway the masses towards revolution and progressive socialism
Go to a church.


Physics is fun. Do that.
Yeah, physics is fun. If you like it, go for it. Also, it should help with the whole 'making society more productive' thing.


I am currently working on my PhD in political science.
Political science is neither political, nor scientific, generally, from what I've seen. So yeah, if one is interested in taking that, I'd advise you to be cautious and make sure that it's not a load of tedious bullshit wherever you're planning to go first.


Then avoid sociology or any humanities/arts. We have enough academics waffling on about society's ills as it is. Pick something constructive and practical - such as engineering, computers, or science - where you will actually be contributing to the productive forces of society
Artists = Academics waffling on about society's ills? Eh?

[ComradeOm]

Artists = Academics waffling on about society's ills? Eh?See arts degree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts)

[Coggeh]

i am a high school junior and am extremely find myself more and more interested the changes that need to be done to make our society a productive one. after looking at collages and majors that they have available i haven't been able to find any that offer anything designed to teach that sort of thing.

i was wondering if anybody knew of any collages which offer a courses i would be interested in.
Well I know what you mean , I'm doing social care next year as it is a direct way of helping people . And I think a lot of just studying random interesting courses is a waste of time but hey thats just me.

[Diagoras]

Political science is neither political, nor scientific, generally, from what I've seen. So yeah, if one is interested in taking that, I'd advise you to be cautious and make sure that it's not a load of tedious bullshit wherever you're planning to go first.

Quite true :lol:, at least in regards to the science aspect. Obviously the theory segment is not about science as much as logic, ethics, etc., applied in a social context. Primary assumptions about human nature, power, etc., always shape the conclusions people draw when given the same set of data, so the science that is used (statistics, population distribution patterns, some aspects of economics) can be described as "soft" science at best. The most commonly used unit of measurement in my own areas of study tends to be human body count, but that is just me :lol:. There is plenty of tedious stuff, especially concerning asinine studies about electoral patterns, but that is usually only the study realm of the boring bourgeois profs ;).

[bretty]

to study politics i'd go with political science, international relations, or international development. I'm doing Intl development and environmental studies. It's been fun so far.

[MarxSchmarx]

If you must declare a major, do a "self-designed" major that most colleges let you do. I would recommend "applied social epistemology". Sounds lofty enough, but should also be practical enough.

Study philosophy and study it diligently.

Don't waste your time on the history of philosophy. Take as many logic courses as you can. You should be ready to augment these with math classes if needs be. Take a philosophy of science class or two.

Also study deeply political philosophy. Study hard the arguments of the latest political philosophers. Take a course or two in the philosophy of law.

Then take as many marketing courses as you can. And neuro-linguistic programming, as well as a "cultural studies" type course on modern mass communications.

Learn what excites people, what works, how to sell ideas.
And take a generous sampling of Botany/Ancient Carthage type class for the hell of it. It will keep you grounded in the real world.

Finally, make sure you cover the basics of economics (micro + macro, econometrics and/or Marxian economics class if you can) ;) That should keep you busy for 4 years.