During this time of the semester, students are putting together their schedules for the next semester, dropping and adding classes based on their requirements and interests. A neat thing about college is the opportunity to take courses in a variety of subjects. If it interests you, there's probably a class for it! Plus, everyone should be able to take a fun, stress-free and engaging elective every once in a while to break up the stressful load of major courses.
Based on personal experiences and input from some friends and fellow Odyssey writers, here are five amazing classes you should consider taking while at IU!
- Music of the Beatles (MUS-Z401): Greatest. Class. Ever. Even if you're a kind of Beatles fan, this class will turn you into a big one. Your homework? Listening to the Beatles! Although the class time is two hours long, it goes by quickly, because professor Glenn Gass makes it so interesting with all his stories about the music and the band (he once met Ringo!). You'll actually want to come to class, and you'll literally be disappointed if you have to miss it for any reason. If you're into this kind of subject, he also teaches MUS-Z202, History of Rock and Roll (about the 60s).
- Ballroom and Social Dance (SPH-I109): I've already written an article about this one, so I'll just leave it there.
- Human Sexuality (SPH-F255): You'll learn more about the birds and the bees than you ever did in middle or high school health class. The material is interesting, and it teaches you a lot about things that you thought weren't normal but actually are! Plus, you get a Gen Ed credit for this too :)
- Jewish Cooking (JSTU-P180): If you like eating and need more recipes in your life besides the three you usually cook in your apartment, then this is the class for you! You come to Hillel once a week and make a tasty new dish each time. You make everything from traditional Jewish foods like challah and blintzes, to Israeli favorites like falafel, hummus, and shakshuka. The best part? You get to eat it in the end, and maybe even take some home for a future snack! And no, you don't have to be Jewish to take this!
- Gender, Sexuality, and Pop Culture (GNDR-G225): Basically, you learn all about how the ideas of masculinity and femininity are constructed through popular culture and the media. This is a much talked-about topic - you probably see a lot of articles and posts about on your news feed (I know I do!) - so this a great opportunity to more knowledgeably participate in the conversation. Odyssey IU Editor-in-Chief Arielle Kaplan wrote an article about the lessons she learned from this class, and specifically, her professor.
