Cool classes

The task of completing a class schedule for the first semester of college can seem daunting. The usual game plan for most freshmen? Get those pesky core classes out of the way. To most, however, the completion of the core is much more of a chore than wading through the course catalog.

Unless math and core humanities are your idea of a good time, there are still classes that can make your schedule a more enjoyable experience.

It’s always hard to make the transition from sleeping in bed to learning at school, but a compromise can be reached by making a jump from chilling on the couch to watching movies in a classroom. While most classes make an effort to incorporate several different forms of media, some classes at the university are geared specifically toward film. In essence, you’re receiving credit to discuss, among a panel of your peers, movies you love, hate or just haven’t gotten around to seeing.

The art department features several cinema courses under the tutelage of Professor Howard Rosenberg, separating the silent era and sound era into three courses, hitting on themes and social relevance.

The music department fuses songs with shows in a film music course, which focuses on the roles that movie scores play. The course, which is a capstone, follows the chronological evolution of film music from the use of Wagner-esque instrumentals in films like Metropolis to the pastiche of Tarantino’s Kill Bill soundtracks.

Other classes ask for a completely different interpretation of film; the criminal justice department offers a capstone course that uses Star Trek as a vehicle for teaching law and ethics.

For those that would find themselves hard pressed to sit through a film course without having a limb fall asleep, there is a selection of recreational/ physical education courses that allow for movement in lieu of movies.

An assortment of classes ranging from rock climbing to social dance is available. The choices stretch to the extremes of triathlon training to underwater world of scuba (while we’re talking habitats, there’s also a course on wilderness skills that has weekend labs to put your knowledge to use).

Cory Fleming, a junior computer science major, took several bowling classes at UNR. “It’s great to be able to step out of the classroom and into a pair of rental shoes. Bowling is only worth one credit, but it is definitely a good time if you don’t mind spending time with friends and playing a game to get you closer to a college degree,” said Fleming. “Everything is really laid back, and not a lot of focus is required.”

An important element of the equation for a great semester schedule is a great professor. Although some courses can seem like a good time, neither you nor your art deco textbook can save you from the predicament of a poor professor.

“Certain professors can really make a class,” said Eric Harper, an academic advisor. “For example, [philosophy professor Piotr] Hoffman was what made his class on existentialism amazing.”

In the case of classes, existence certainly precedes essence—cool classes aren’t born, but made. So, it doesn’t hurt to ask around and get advice about courses. Check with friends and advisors, and read up on course descriptions on the UNR Web site. A few extra minutes of research could save you an entire semester of suffering.