Arts or Commerce? (1 Viewer)

[jackono]

Ok...someone has to tell me one and for all: what degree is the best to combine with undergraduate law? This question has plagued me for many months, years even. I always think that i would enjoy doing an arts degree more than i would a commerce degree, however on the flipside i think that commerce would be a whole lot more useful in the long run. Ive also heard that arts is overall a pretty useless degree to have, and only a foundation for the need for more tertiary education. I also like the look of "BA" more than "BComm"...not that important but i think "BComm" looks awkward for some reason. Anyway if someone can put my mind at ease thatd be great.

 

[The_Apprentice]

Arts

 

[volition]

Commerce

 

[helmut]

why not just do BA and com? law is just about silly legal stuff and yelling out "objection" every few seconds. that and conversations about john howards eyebrows. haha. they're bushy, what a suck up, even his body hair supports his dear little american friend.

 

[bustinjustin]

This question goes to the very core what you values you hold dear:

Minimal class time = Arts
Something employable = Commerce
Something enjoyable = Arts
Asian background = Commerce
Socialist = Arts
Capitalist = Commerce
Rigid Course Struture with units specified = Commerce
Freedom to do everything, anything, including jack all = Arts

Go through list, see what result you get, follow that, if not your heart.

 

[bustinjustin]

Better still, go ask women who they'd go out with, and even marry - the Arts graduate, or the Commerce graduate? Oh, and try not to make the mistake of assuming you'll get into Combined Law, unless you're willing to compromise (i.e.: go to Macquarie, ANU, or, lo and behold, UWS). From my own experiences

Arts = great to talk to, but won't be able to buy a fancy dinner, let alone put food on the table regularly
Commerce = one for the gold-digger, the Commerce graduate will spend hours on end at the office and will most probably end up sleeping with the boss, if not the secretary, whether they be male or female.
Law = Ditto
International Studies = A worldly, cosmopolitan man, he'll never be grounded and will constantly want leave to travel, if not to leave you

Didn't ask about the other degrees though

 

[sunjet]

Both, just drop law.

 

[lala2]

Seems like Arts is the one. Someone correct me on this if necessary, but I think you can do commerce electives in your Arts degree depending on the uni right, regardless of the fact Law is there?

 

[Bobness]

what if one does arts AND law? is that two contradictions bustinjustin

 

[bustinjustin]

haha @bobness, good point, but I'd imagine the law component would override the arts one. of course, those responses are only reflective of the women at my (old) workplace, but they ring true, don't they?

@lala2, theoretically yes, with a single BA, but not with combined law, because the law units would take up all of space that would've been used for commerce electives (bar for a couple of first year units).

 

[The_Apprentice]

Better still, go ask women who they'd go out with, and even marry - the Arts graduate, or the Commerce graduate? Oh, and try not to make the mistake of assuming you'll get into Combined Law, unless you're willing to compromise (i.e.: go to Macquarie, ANU, or, lo and behold, UWS). From my own experiences

Arts = great to talk to, but won't be able to buy a fancy dinner, let alone put food on the table regularly
Commerce = one for the gold-digger, the Commerce graduate will spend hours on end at the office and will most probably end up sleeping with the boss, if not the secretary, whether they be male or female.
Law = Ditto
International Studies = A worldly, cosmopolitan man, he'll never be grounded and will constantly want leave to travel, if not to leave you

Didn't ask about the other degrees though

As if! Arts students are definately the most interesting and I'd rather spend time with them than people majoring in accounting :s (I do Arts and Commerce btw). Thats a very stereotypical perspective you put forward. Not everyone values money over a cultured and well-read person.

But to stay on topic, I've been told that Arts/Law is definately the way to go. The best lawyers have law combined with an arts degrees. Its logical when you think about it. Lawyers need to be well read and analytical and all that. As Lala said, if you're really into particular areas of commerce than you can pick up a few units of econ+bus in your arts degree. I'd definately go arts if I was ever in your position.

 

[adambra]

Do arts. The only benefit I can see of Commerce is employability, and you already have that with law.

 

[c_james]

I'm currently doing a BA/LLB at USyd. It's great, and I'd highly recommend it. People make the mistake of thinking the BA's generic nature is its downfall. It really isn't. The degree is designed to teach you how to write in a proper, scholarly fashion, as well as how to undertake proper research - both skills you'll use extensively in law. That said, the content is also very enjoyable. Already in a semester my writing has become much more concise and snappier.

The dean of USyd has said that Arts makes for more rounded law graduates, and from my current experience I'd fully agree with him. Doing a BCom/LLB is a bit redundant, because law can give you a decent grounding in business if you choose your electives wisely.

 

[wheredanton]

I'm currently doing a BA/LLB at USyd. It's great, and I'd highly recommend it. People make the mistake of thinking the BA's generic nature is its downfall. It really isn't. The degree is designed to teach you how to write in a proper, scholarly fashion, as well as how to undertake proper research - both skills you'll use extensively in law. That said, the content is also very enjoyable. Already in a semester my writing has become much more concise and snappier.

The dean of USyd has said that Arts makes for more rounded law graduates, and from my current experience I'd fully agree with him. Doing a BCom/LLB is a bit redundant, because law can give you a decent grounding in business if you choose your electives wisely.

Agreed.

 

[charlie_charlie]

Plus don't underestimate the work involved with Arts; the class time doesn't take into account the reading + research time, which is a huge amount, especially if you want to do well. Arts= easy to pass, hard to get beyond a credit.

And you can be a capitalist Arts student. Why do you think they are the most fashion conscious lot on campus? My history lecture was filled with sass+bide skinny leg jeans wearing fashion conscious girls...

 

[Lainee]

It's hilarious reading through this thread! I really hope some of the things said were said sarcastically, otherwise... I'd really be worried.

For me, everything boiled down to the fact that uni costs money, and if I'm paying for something I better damn well get my money's worth. I'm paying to learn something that I wouldn't be able to learn effectively by myself. I'm not going to pay for someone to give me a book list and tell me to read it - I can do that in my own time, and not have to pay $800 a subject. The same can't be said for Commerce, there would be no freaking way I can self-teach myself Finance, Econometrics, Marketing, Human Resources!

 

[c_james]

It's hilarious reading through this thread! I really hope some of the things said were said sarcastically, otherwise... I'd really be worried.

For me, everything boiled down to the fact that uni costs money, and if I'm paying for something I better damn well get my money's worth. I'm paying to learn something that I wouldn't be able to learn effectively by myself. I'm not going to pay for someone to give me a book list and tell me to read it - I can do that in my own time, and not have to pay $800 a subject. The same can't be said for Commerce, there would be no freaking way I can self-teach myself Finance, Econometrics, Marketing, Human Resources!

Ummm...not everyone is so pragmatic. Many have a genuine interest in the arts, and, in addition to that (which is in itself a justifiable reason for doing a BA), you're missing what the BA is geared towards. It's not so much about what you learn, as is the case with BCom, but the skills you acquire. I look at the prose written by historians and philosophers and am truly in awe. I look at an accounting balance sheet drawn up by a bean counter and shrug. To each their own, I guess.

 

[The_Apprentice]

I look at the prose written by historians and philosophers and am truly in awe. I look at an accounting balance sheet drawn up by a bean counter and shrug. To each their own, I guess.

LOL, thats so true.
I knew some people who did Law and Commerce just because they thought it sounds more academic, but they didn't really know what they wanted from a commerce degree. It's silly.

 

[sunjet]

Um.. like everyone at UNSW does Comm/Law because of it's prestige/uai/parents.

 

[Lainee]

Ummm...not everyone is so pragmatic. Many have a genuine interest in the arts, and, in addition to that (which is in itself a justifiable reason for doing a BA), you're missing what the BA is geared towards. It's not so much about what you learn, as is the case with BCom, but the skills you acquire. I look at the prose written by historians and philosophers and am truly in awe. I look at an accounting balance sheet drawn up by a bean counter and shrug. To each their own, I guess.

Without doing an Arts degree I can still appreciate beautiful writing. Without a Commerce degree, I won't be able to appreciate the functioning of the economy. As you said, it's pragmatic reasoning, though quite logical considering that most people have limited time in which they want to dedicate towards university study (unless you're like me and plan to go into academia), and limited money to put to that end.

The history and philosophy subjects that I would have chosen had I combined Law with Arts are not lost. I've read up on them in my spare time, since they're subjects of interest for me. But I've become more and more interested in commerce as I start doing senior subjects which I have found have become quite interesting and challenging.

That said, if you're exceptionally keen on pursuing a career in an Arts related field, then of course don't be a dumbarse in choosing Commerce. But if someone is trying to decide either way between Arts and Commerce to combine with Law, where both are equally attractive options, then this pragmatic reasoning might be a contributing factor in your deliberations.