College is a time to not only get a degree and explore your own interests, but a time to push yourself to be exposed to new concepts and ideas. As I get ready for graduation, I like to think back to all of the classes I took that I might not necessarily need in order to graduate, but consider totally crucial in my academic and personal development. Nazareth has so many faculty with such a wide range of interests and expertise, that you can find a class in just about anything that interests you. With that being said, here are my top three favorite classes that weren’t necessarily a part of my curriculum. All three of these classes were pretty challenging in one way or another, and forced me to think in a different way than I’m used to. These classes certainly don’t have to interest you personally, but hopefully reading this will inspire you to work on expanding your horizons during your four short years at college!
COMM/ENGL 430: “Reading ‘The Wire’” with Dr. Wiltse
This class is first to come up when I think about my favorite classes that I’ve taken, and is perfect for TV junkies, literary buffs, or anyone looking for a challenge. The Wire is one of the best made television shows of all time, if not the best. The English and Communication Department’s Dr. Wiltse teaches the course. Be warned: It’s a 400 level seminar course, but is cross listed for English and Communication students. It also counts for legal studies majors. The Wire is all about the Baltimore crime scene and police department, and the way it blurs a lot of lines of morality will make you rethink many aspects of American culture and the nature of many American institutions. This class really challenged me to think differently about the treatment of criminals in America, as well as what our role should be in the war on drugs. With so many thought-provoking and intricate storylines, The Wire questions a lot of current societal norms. As an English major, I thought that analyzing a television show would be a no-brainer, but it ended up being a lot more difficult than I expected. Camera angles, different stylistic techniques, and other cinematic qualities seen in The Wire are all subject to analysis. Dr. Wiltse is clearly very passionate about this class, and, hopefully, some of that might rub off on you if you get the chance to take it.
SOC 410: “Race, Ethnicity and Society” with Dr. McGann
I’m no sociologist, but that was all the more reason to take this class. I took it as an Integrative Studies course, and ended up really loving it. It really opened my eyes to the struggles of different races and ethnicities in this country and I still think about some of the concepts to this day when thinking about relevant political or social issues. Dr. McGann is a super cool professor and really knows how to connect with students to explain touchy and hard issues. If you’re someone (like me) who did not have a lot of exposure to diversity in your younger years, this course will hopefully really help to introduce you to some ideas and concepts that may change your way of thinking about what it means to be a part of the American identity. In the class, you’ll take an online test that measures your level of unconscious prejudices, and the answers may surprise you. This class challenges a lot of what one may think about the treatment of specific minority groups in this country, and does so factually and pragmatically. This class really brought me out of my comfort zone to learn something new, and that is why it earns a spot on this list.
COMM 205: “Writing for Digital Media” with Professor Stacy
As an English major who used to be afraid of computers, this class really taught me technology won’t bite: It’s actually an amazing tool that I can utilize. Professor Stacy has a wealth of knowledge that makes fairly new concepts like professional social media usage, online journalism, and podcasting seem like age-old sciences. I feel much more comfortable taking photos, writing in different mediums, and even tweeting, all skills that I use right now, and may need at some point in my career. Professor Stacy is heavy into hands-on learning, making this course much more of an experience than your typical lecture. This class was absolutely crucial for me to discover my career interests, playing a huge part in me taking my love for writing to the internet. So basically, without Writing for Digital Media, you probably wouldn’t be reading this right now.
Check out Nazareth’s course catalog for more unique and interesting class options!