Welcome to 2021, the year where my only thoughts so far have been "I can't believe I'm graduating this year" and "I can't believe I'm turning 20 this year". Admittedly both are still months away, but it's all feeling a lot more real.
I logged onto AN for the first time in months today ago and found a PM
(from November, I'm so sorry) asking how my history major is going, and it took me a while as my first thought was, "What history major?".
So here's an update, 6 months too late…
I dropped my history major.It’s really crazy how things change. Since my very first post on AN, I’ve talked about how much I love history and how history at UoM is the dream. Dropping history was frankly the last thing I expected myself to do - but I did.
Why I dropped history
I dropped history for multiple reasons. First, some may already know this, but the Faculty of Arts is cutting a huge number of subjects in 2021, including history subjects. Unbelievably, the ones they chose to cut are generally considered the staples of historical studies — subject such as Modern European History 1789-1914 and the Italian Renaissance — how on earth can they cut periods which laid the foundations of modern western society? Other subjects cut include USA and the World, and the Great War 1914-1918. Imagine the outrage if the economics department cuts microeconomics from the course, or if the science faculty no longer offers calculus 2.
There are other factors too. But essentially, the reality of history at UoM is very far removed from what I had expected as a VCE student back in 2018.
Anyway, I don't want to discourage anyone from pursuing history at UoM. SHAPS (The School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at UoM) is not bad and the staff are all very supportive. Just be warned that there is a lot less 'security' around subjects in comparison to science/commerce majors, and you'll probably find yourself revising your study plan more often than others.
I ultimately decided to drop history due to a disinterest in the subjects that are offered for 2021, and due to not wanting to extend my degree until 2022, especially as there's no guarantee those subjects will be back by then.
I am now doing a minor in Politics and International Relations. I would've done it as a major if I could, but I don't have enough credit points left for that.
Recap of Last SemesterIn 2020 semester 2, I overloaded and did 5 subjects, which were:
- POLS20031 Political Economy
- POLS30018 Politics of the EU
- HIST20060 World War II
- HIST30010 Hitler’s Germany
- ECON20001 Intermediate Macroeconomics
My biggest relief is passing macroeconomics. I didn't do very well, but as the wise proverb states, P's get degrees. Thankfully macro isn't compulsory in third year, because frankly, I passionately hate it with every inch of my soul.
2021 — final year!It’s crazy to think that I'm now in my final year. Technically, I still have 2 years of Master of Teaching, but unless I spectacularly fail at finding a job, I'll be letting the offer lapse, as teaching is no longer something I'm particularly interested in.
In 2021, I'll be doing:
Semester 1ECON30020 Mathematical Economics
(economics - major)ISLM30018 Engaging the Muslim World
(politics - minor)ENGL30051 Comedy
(English/theatre studies - elective)Semester 2ECOM30003 Applied Microeconometric Modelling
(econometrics - major)ECOM30004 Time Series Analysis & Forecasting
(econometrics - major)POLS20006 Contemporary Political Theory
(politics - minor)CHIN30001 Classical Chinese Civilisation
(Chinese - elective)Being a macroeconometrics subject, I'm quite undecided on Time Series Analysis & Forecasting at the moment, so my Plan B is just the good old Econometrics 2. On the other hand, I'm
very looking forward to Mathematical Econ and Microeconometric Modelling. I'm also very keen for my arts subjects, particularly my two electives (Comedy / Classical Chinese Civilisation). I've never done subjects from the English/Chinese majors, so I'm curious to see how they will be taught.
Anyway, this is getting too long so I'll sign off here. If anyone going into 2nd year wants some more detailed insights into the subjects I did this year, just shoot me a PM