When I first got to UCSC in 1988, a number of my hallmates
got in a conversation about
majors, and we asked one hallmate what her major
was going to be. She said she hadn't decided yet.
I wrote this major
for her. She and other hallmates were originally listed as
"professors." Also, the buildings I used for the "in its upcoming
move" line have changed through the years. I believe they were
originally planning to move to Nat Sci III, a building now long since
built. I finally quit trying to keep up with the frantic pace of
UCSC construction.
This may not be at all funny without the background of what UCSC's
catalogs look like, but what the heck.
Indecisive Studies
Faculty and Professional Interests
Hoo K. Aires, Professor of Politics, Stevenson
Diplomacy and the open mind, undifferentiated products
May Bhee, Associate Professor of History of Consciousness, Kresge
East Asian indecisiveness
Vic R. Bray, Lecturer of History of Consciousness, Oakes
Tudor-era indecisiveness, agnosticism, Olivier's Hamlet
C. Ross Campus, Professor of Education, Merrill
Academic advising, class shopping, university administration
Knot Know, Professor of American Studies, Cowell
Procrastination, hypocrisy, history of "No Comment"
P. R. Haps Nott, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Porter
Quantum uncertainty principle, indecisiveness from the cosmic perspective
Aaron R. Priven, Professor of Sociology, College Eight, Coordinator
Western cultural indecisiveness, mostly
Scope
The Indecisive Studies Committee is at this time (it is believed) a group
of faculty members (well, they could be faculty members; frankly, we've never
checked) who have not yet decided that they want to help students who are
similarly irresolute. The Committee may possibly like to see students who are
unsettled about their academic interests and are indetermined to continue on
in such a fashion in the future. The Committee may offer a path for students
with any possible interests, except perhaps psychobiology (well, maybe even
that).
The Committee has recommended in the past (although this may change
without notice) that incoming students prepare themselves in many different
subjects, although theater arts and engineering courses are stressed on
alternate Thursdays. (Or was that Tuesdays?)
The Indecisive Studies Committee office was last known to be located at
313 Merrill, and could be telephoned at 459-2850, but the office furniture
and supplies have been put in storage at Hahn Student Services in preparation
for a move to the new College Eight facilities (or was that Natural Sciences
IV?).
Requirements for the Major
Eleven or so courses and something of a comprehensive are required for a
B.A. Those requirements are (at press time):
Introduction to Indecisiveness, Perhaps (course 10). This
course may provide a basic study of modern indecisiveness for those who are
not sure they want to enter the major.
Sort-Of-Advanced Indecisiveness (course 100). This has given
students (in the past) a strong foundation in whatever the fundamentals of
Indecisive Studies are.
Two upper-division courses from each division, and two from the arts. Arts
courses may not be used to satisfy humanities requirements except in years ab
urbe condita divisible by 3.
One other upper-division indecisiveness course, well, unless you don't
have time this quarter.
Completion of an oral comprehensive examination or senior thesis.
Alternatively, this requirement may be satisfied by doing the coordinator's
laundry for a month, if the coordinator doesn't get too nervous about being
found out.
Lower-Division Courses
10. Introduction to Indecisive Studies, Perhaps
Introduction to what might be the major. May discuss the nature of
indecisiveness and why people don't choose to become indecisive. Or do they?
Maybe you can find out. Studies indecision, frustration, and the burdens of
choice. Field study in the 5th week at Baskin-Robbins. (General education
code: either IH, IN, or IS, but nobody's really sure.) The Staff
42. Student-Directed Seminar.
Seminars taught sometimes by upper-division students under faculty
supervision (but not necessarily much of it). (See course 193, or was that
192? Whatever.) Prerequsite: consent of instructor and a note from the
chairperson of any board beginning with "C" or "E."
80. Topical courses.
These courses probably deal with a single subject, somewhat in-depth. That's
the intention, anyway.
Q. Hypocrisy and Cowardice in 1950's America.
Might well deal with McCarthyism and the refusal of many to commit to it.
Discusses the reaction (or lack of it) by the moderate-to-liberal business
community and media to the assault upon leftist groups by the House Un-
American Activities Committee, and in doing so will try to find out what an
un-American activity is anyway. (General education code: T, usually.) K. Know
Z. Strategies for Course Selection
All (well, most) about courses at UCSC and how to avoid picking yours
until the last minute, if even then. How to shop for classes, how to attend
two different classes at the same time for at least the first week, tutorials
on Add/Drop Petitions and Late Fee Waiver Petitions. (General education code:
T, W for designated sections.) C. Campus
Upper-Division Courses
100A. Sort-of-Advanced Indecisiveness.
Mostly a continuation of studies from course 10. Goes into vacillation,
incohesiveness, confusion, and coin-tossing, and the effects on American and
world society. Priority given to majors and people who say "please" a lot.
Prerequsite: course 10, or an equivalent course at another institution. A.
Priven, K. Know
100L. Sort-of-Advanced Indecisiveness Laboratory (.2 course credit).
Laboratory sequence studying some (but not all, probably) of the topics
covered in 100A. One about three-hour laboratory section per week.
Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in 100A (or promising you will take it
real real soon). The Staff
120A-*B. The Western Tradition.
Studies the way indecisiveness has progressed in the West. A: Begins with
Greek and Roman indecisiveness and continues through indecisiveness in the
Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Special seminars on Hannibal: to stay in
Italy or to return to Carthage; and on Jerome's literary decisions. Special
unit on the English Reformation. B: Post-Renaissance indecisiveness. English
public opinion during the Revolutionary War, French monarchism and
republicanism, Haiti's status as a colony, and American isolationism. A: A.
Priven, V. Bray; B: A. Priven, H. Aires
140. Eastern Indecisiveness.
Indecisiveness in Eastern religions and the works of Eastern philosophers,
including Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, Vedic, and Shinto thought. (Well, I
guess including that... I really haven't made up my mind yet.) Also studies
uncertainty within the Eastern religions' world view, if there is any. M.
Bhee
163. Uncertainty in Modern Physics
Analysis of the uncertainty principle: Schrödinger's and Heisenberg's
revelations and what they mean to modern science, philosophy, and religion.
Relation of the uncertainty principle to indecisivism and the way in which
indecisivists have affected modern physics. P. R. H. Nott
187. Study for the Comprehensive Examination.
Reading and discussion under individual direction (if you can decide what
to read and what to discuss). Required of majors who are taking the
comprehensive examination, unless you complain to the coordinator enough.
192. Directed (sometimes) Student Teaching.
Teaching a lower-division seminar (if anybody shows up) under some
(usually not much) amount of faculty supervision. (See course, uh, 42.)
Prerequisite: upper-division standing (or sitting, if you have a broken leg);
submission of a proposal supported somewhat by a faculty member willing to do
what passes for supervision. The Staff
195A-B. Senior Essay.
Preparation for the senior thesis over one or two quarters normally
including the middle quarter of the senior year. If taken as a multiple-term
course, the grade and narrative evaluation submitted for the final quarter
will apply for the first quarter unless a Petition to Erase the Evil IP is
filed. The Staff
196. Coordinator's Laundry.
Students selecting this method of fulfilling the comprehensive requirement
may take this class to receive credit for the work. Due to odiferous
footwear, prospective students with olfactory nerves are cautioned against
taking the course. A. Priven
198. Independent Field Study.
This course is to provide for off-campus work for credit. Only offered to
nonmajors because no Indecisive Studies major could decide where to go. The
Staff
199. Tutorial.
Independent projects carried out under supervision of the faculty, or at
least part of it. Prerequisite: bribery of the coordinator.
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