Everyone from LSU ambassadors and counselors to resident advisors and parents say students should get their general education requirements out of the way early when scheduling classes.
And although that may be a good idea, it also is important not to bog down a schedule with heavy calculus and boring biology classes.
From the “easy A” to the “difficult but interesting,” The Reveille encourages students to take advantage of all the interesting electives the University offers.
Students have raved about the Sociology 2505 “Marriage and Family” class for years. But after sociology professor David Sultan left the University, many doubted any professor could fill his shoes.
It seems sociology professor Mark Melder has managed to step into the spotlight.
Chris Mickens, a mass communication senior, said Melder is an entertaining professor, who encourages lively debate.
The class focuses on sex, divorce, race, gender, family and other related topics.
Mickens also said as long as a student attends the lectures, it is fairly easy to receive an “A.”
“If you don’t get in an ‘A’ in the class you need to check your vital signs because you’re apparently comatose,” Mickens said.
A Greek T-shirt and New Balance tennis shoes are all a student needs for Education 2000.
A course devoted to making the University’s Greeks better leaders, Assistant Dean for Greek Affairs Victor Felts normally teaches the class.
For movie buffs, English 2231 “Reading Film As Literature” can serve as an English elective where students mostly watch movies and write film reviews.
English professor Cornelius Cronin teaches the class and most students find it interesting and easy.
Anyone curious about firearm safety can enroll in Military Science 1010, “Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship.”
Military specialists instruct students how to safely and accurately shoot targets.
Learn how to take care of and repair an instrument in Music 4761. For all majors, the one-hour course is held Friday mornings. Roger Wattam, an instrument repair technician, teaches the course.
Students also can try to become the next Nick Saban or Sue Gunter next spring with two-hour kinesology courses on coaching.
Kinesology 2519, “Coaching Football,” teaches the fundamentals of leading a winning team.
Kinesology 2616, “Coaching Basketball,” focuses on enforcing game winning strategies on the basketball court.
But students should not walk away from the University simply taking electives because they are supposed to be easy.
In some cases, the classes with the most work can be the most rewarding.
Art graduate student Toby Aucoin said Music 4901 was one of the most interesting classes he took while an undergraduate.
Music professor Bill Kelly teaches the class, which has a maximum of eight students and allows students to record and master their own album.
Unfortunately, the class is only taught periodically, so check the course catalog or contact the music school for course offerings.
Many students also find African and African American Studies courses interesting.
For basics and background AAAS 2000 is a common favorite, instructed by African and African-American Studies professors Leonard Moore or Thomas Durant.
African and African-American Studies instructor Herman Kelly compares the lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. in “Martin and Malcolm.”
Kelly also examines the legacy of South African leader Nelson Mandela in “Philosophy of Nelson Mandela.”
For more information about interesting classes or professor ratings, visit universitytools.com or check out the course offerings on PAWS.