School of Social & Political Sciences

Hi! I'm Zoe! I am a 3rd year Economic & Social History/Sociology student doing a study abroad programme in Massachusetts, USA! I've been studying in the US for over two months now, and I'm having the time of my life! Although the USA is in a scary political climate right now, I feel safe, and I am enjoying my studies whilst broadening my academic knowledge. Since this is my first experience leaving the UK alone and integrating my life into a completely different context, I've decided to share the biggest differences when it comes to academics, teaching methods, and study schedule.

 

 

Academics- When I say "academics" what I really mean is the way that my subjects are taught. I take four classes (Capitalism & Slavery, Race and Racism in the USA, The American Religious Experience, and 10 Ideas That Shook the World) and as you can tell, two of those classes revolve around experiences within the USA. This is my dream as I love American history, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how broad the content was. Out of every class, the only one that solely focuses on the USA would be Race & Racism. The other classes touch on European, Middle Eastern and Asian History, and relate it directly to America. I genuinely didn't expect my history classes to be so generous on other parts of the world.

 

Teaching Methods- I think the most obvious difference here is the length of classes. A typical class is one hour and 20 minutes long. Some subjects prefer to have longer classes, called a "bomb", and they can be roughly two and a half hours long, or closer to three. A lot of content is covered in these classes, and luckily, we are also given short breaks, but it is very different to UofG's teaching method. Back home, I've only ever done classes that are one hour long, so this was a total culture shock for me. I had to learn when to eat so I wouldn't get hungry, when to arrange meetings so they wouldn't overlap, and when to relax. The more I do these long classes, the more I like them. There's a lot of leeway for questions, long discussions, and a deep dive into theories. However, these classes obviously have their flaws and are very tiring, but overall, I leave feeling stuffed with knowledge.  

 

 

Study Schedule- This is what I am struggling with the most. There is a LOT of homework to do. For one class, I have four readings a week with a response; for another, I have two readings, but they're a book full in length. I have now got into a schedule and not scrambling to get it done at the last minute, but this has truly tested my organisational skills. The lectures here revolve around the readings, whereas, back home, the seminars revolve around them. I feel like there is more expectation for you to do the readings and answer questions over here whereas back home, UofG's reading responses are more laid back and independent.

 

Overall, although it's very different, and I'm enjoying my time here. I don't see many negative aspects, just a massive change from back home.