Emerson College Top Questions

Academics are a joke. When students have to teach parts of classes, or teachers are so lazy they have their own STUDENTS put together the final exam, it generally reflects poorly upon their abilities and their work ethic. Classes are also extremely easy. To quote one professor, "There are classes here where you could write your name in the dirt with a stick and get an A."

Emerson is a place where everybody knows your name. The education is like a lot of life-- it is what you make it. You don't want to come to Emerson if you're someone who wants to get away with as little as possible, because a lot of the professors will let you and then you're graduating with a degree that hasn't taught you anything. However, the professors are invested in anyone who shows interest. So you can turn in a half-assed assignment and get by in your classes, but you can also really dedicate yourself to your work and get a ton out of your classes.

The classes are small which gives the professors a good chance to learn who each of their student's are. The General Education courses are the hardest to get through because most of them have nothing to do with your major so you don't really want to be in the class. Most people try to get those out of the way as quickly as they can so that they can focus on their major. Because it is a communication school certain subjects (mainly math and science) are toned down a little bit, but most of the classes are really interesting. Probably the most difficult classes you will have to get through are the Freshmen writing courses and the public speaking class that everyone is required to take. Once you pass those you feel as though you can take on any class, and the truth is you can.

The most unique class I've ever taken at this school is slightly tough, because Emerson offers many uncommon classes. The most unique on is called Love & Eroticism and it is also my favorite class now. The professor is amazing and really knows how to draw in student interest.

All the classes have been really great, the teachers know who you are and really want to help you succeed. Even the teacher of my biggest class, which was a history of media arts lecture of about 50 kids, gladly met with me just to talk about some film stuff and knew who I was. All of my teachers have kept all the projects and papers really interesting, they definitely cater to the students' artistic sides. Even in academic setting there is often the opportunity to make a film or present a skit or whatever. The education is not necessarily geared towards getting a job, but the opportunities offered with clubs, etc. definitely prepare you for the industry, for film at least.

Emerson has very small class sizes, which personally I love. I like being able to email my professor and have them know who I am. I like being able to approach a professor after class and have them ask, "What can I help you with, Rachel?" I'm impressed by the staff here, even the ones who most people can't stand. I have yet to come across an incompetent professor. The courses are also really great. Whenever I go through the course catalog I can't help but "ooh" and "ahh" at all of the interesting classes the school has listed. I haven't gotten so far towards my education to where I'm looking for internships and career opportunities, but it seems to me like Emerson is focused on preparing you for life after your education, so that when you graduate you're not standing out on the street holding your little Liberal Arts diploma going, "Well, shit." As far as competitiveness goes, I don't think I've taken a class that has been challenging past my capabilities, or that has even pushed my capabilities. I don't know if I was just extremely well-prepared in high school, but Emerson hasn't been that stressful to me academic-wise.

Emerson takes pride in its emphasis on the liberal arts. The school is designed for specialized study in the arts, but Emerson makes it clear through their strict academic requirements that they want their students to be well-rounded. Unfortunately, the non-major related classes leave much to be desired. Instead of having normal college requirements such as Western History or Philosophy, Emerson has designated their "liberal arts" courses into different disciplines (U.S Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Interdisciplinary study). Most Emerson students spend their time hoping to fill these vague requirements. And instead of giving a diverse selection of classes, the courses all seem to center around lesser studies. For instance, one of the most popular classes at Emerson is History of Jazz, not because Emerson has a lot of avid students of Jazz history, but because that class fulfills two of the vague disciplines. I have yet to come across a liberal arts course at Emerson that seems worthwhile. Courses such as Fundamentals of Speech Communication (public speaking) and Research Writing seem designed to eat up credits and keep students from learning anything of interest (in the conventional college sense). As for the film courses (I'm a film major), its another situation where requirements keep students from taking anything advanced until the end of their junior year and senior year. Though there are important staple classes such as Film 1 (an introductory 16mm production class), they add up to no more than a semesters worth of work. The average film student at Emerson spends three years of his college experience using equipment that most people learn to use in high school. Part of the issue with the classes is that the school cannot support the inflated student body. With so many film-related majors, its no wonder that Emerson sets up the number of road blocks that they do. However, understanding the problem does not make it any less of a problem.

Classes here tend to be small enough that your professor should know your name, the exceptions to which would be the larger seminars (many of which are taken during freshman year). Academics take a back-seat to professional experience. As an a member of the Honors Program, this has not been as problematic for me as it might have been. It's likely that I'm in the minority at this school, because while I want to gain as much film experience as possible I would also like to pursue a more diverse liberal arts education. Emerson lacks a rich variety of classes outside of the Visual & Media Arts department, which is unfortunate. Do not come here and expect to sit in your room and study for hours on end; rather, you'll sit at a computer and edit film or write a thought-provoking paper.

Feel like because of Emerson's academic reputation I will be able to get a good job after I graduate.

I am really lucky to be at a school that has the least amount of general education requirements. However, I still wish it was a lower number and that the classes that I did have to take were directly related to my major. I had to take an ethics class that was all about literature and philosophy. I wish it had directed towards my major of television. Though a plus at Emerson is that I do not have to take a Math class because I got a waiver. Most people get waivers, so if you do not like Math this is the place for you.