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Looking for spring courses? Check out these 11 intriguing offerings

November 9, 2015

Registration is upon us once more. Before you click that “Enroll Now” button, explore all your options.

Why not take a class in a subject outside your major that’s always interested you or expand your comfort zone by trying something completely different?

To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting courses offered this spring. Bonus: they’re open to almost everyone.

If you’re interested in finding thoughtful answers to life’s many questions, Philosophy 141: The Meaning of Life may be right for you. By studying classical philosophical works by Aristotle, Plato and others as well as the works of contemporary philosophers, you’ll be well equipped to determine where you stand in the centuries-old debate.

If you want to explore other cultures or examine your own, try:

  • History 335: Korean History (1945-Present). In this social sciences course, you’ll also have classmates from two other Big Ten schools. The class, which will explore the history of North and South Korean politics, society and culture from 1945 to the present day, will be videoconferenced to students at both Penn State and Ohio State.
  • Religious Studies/Consumer Science 173: Consuming Happiness. This course will examine consumer culture in America and how money intersects with well-being, using materials on positive psychology, persuasion and prosocial spending.
  • Afro-American Studies 154: Hip-Hop and Contemporary American Society. Interested in learning about how hip-hop has evolved aesthetically and politically and how it relates to contemporary social issues? This is the class for you.

    If you’re looking for something practical, check out Consumer Science 111: Financial Life Skills for Undergraduates. You’ll learn how to manage your money throughout college, including navigating student loans, housing costs, saving plans and more. The course is open only to students with freshmen or sophomore standing.

    If you want to learn more about the world around you, check out:

  • Astronomy 103: The Evolving Universe. Learn more about space and its most marvelous mysteries, including star life cycles and black holes.
  • Botany 123: Plants, Parasites and People. This course will cover how microbes and society interact, and how they’ve collided in the past. Topics will include the Irish potato famine, pesticides in agriculture, genetically engineered organisms and more.
  • Geoscience 115: Science Behind the News. Become a more environmentally knowledgeable citizen in this online course, which will investigate the earth science behind important news stories.

    For an unconventional approach to history, try History 249: Sport, Recreation and Society in the U.S. In this intermediate social sciences class, you’ll learn about the ways in which sports interact with broader social, political and cultural contexts. Though it may appeal to you more if you’re a sports fan, non-fans are encouraged to enroll. Sophomore standing is required for enrollment.

    If you’re into different forms of media, you might like:

  • Communication Arts 325: Mass Media and Human Behavior. How do people use mass media and what effects does that usage have on them and on broader society? This course, which requires sophomore standing, will attempt to answer those questions.
  • Art History 206: Survey of Photography (1839-1989). This elementary humanities class will survey 150 years of photography’s processes, genres and practitioners, exploring tensions between its commercial, vernacular and artistic forms.

– Devin Lowe

Tags: student life