Best class to take

[vikesfankevin1986]

I know there are a lot of smart people in this forum, so I wanted to ask if there was any specific class in college you took that really made a difference in your life. I am getting paid to go to school, so I am just trying to learn as much as possible and be as well rounded as possible. I always say that I want to know a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff. I am going to major in History and Religious studies but the classes don't need to be linked to them. The only thing I don't get is math...Last semester I took Speech, Writing, Judo, Eastern Orthodoxy and Intro to World Religions. I took 15 credits, drank almost every day and made the dean's list...
This fall semester I am taking
BIOL1003
CNES3201 Bible context and Interpretation
PE1044 Self Defense
PHIL3302W Moral Problems of Contemporary Society
RELS3542 The Age of Justinian and Muhammad

I am also meeting up with my writing professor to work on my grammer. I always got As in my high school English classes, but slept through them. I know its a weak point of mine, so I want to work on it.
I just got a job but I am still thinking about taking another class to entertain my time so I can stay focused. I just wanted some ideas of good classes to take in my college career. I do want to take something with American politics and some kind of international government class.
Anything you guys suggest?

[IBCoupe]

I don't have any recommendations. No particular undergraduate class stands out in my mind as being especially good. Then again, I went for a relatively technical degree. In contrast, my law school classes have been more interesting than not.

I would suggest that you read as much as you can in your spare time - not necessarily books, but look on the internet for things you disagree with. If you've got an opinion on the subject, seek out the best argument against it. Always ask, "what might make me wrong?" Not only will you get to choose the subject matter that's most interesting, it will probably also serve to improve your grammar.

[srellim234]

I can think of a couple that have really made a difference in my life.

The first was Intro to Speech, which I combined with a few minor speech competitions in impromptu and extemporaneous speaking. I was absolutely horrible in the competitions but knew that it would help me later as I spoke publicly and spoke to reporters. That has helped me throughout my adult life when dealing with others. The ability to think on your feet and communicate clearly is immeasurable.

The second was Intro to Logic, which has helped me formulate decisions while seeing through and/or understanding others' positions as I've gone through life.

[n00b240]

I think the school autocross club made the biggest impact in my life. The second was prolly an Immunology class, and the last was my genetics class. In the classes, the teachers were great. I think that the teacher makes the most out of a class having an "impact"

Having said that, I would try to pick up the most liberal history teacher, and then for the second part find the most conservative history teacher, for your foray into american politics.

[AZhitman]

For me, a few.

I took a 2-semester honors course series called "Drugs, Brain and Behavior" from a prof who studied / taught at Johns Hopkins... brilliant course, very engaging.

Con Law - As basic as it sounded, it was taught by someone who would later become the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (and who I would later work for)... Brutally difficult class, in which no one was expected to recieve higher than a C. I pulled an A-.

Technical Writing - My prof really took an interest in much of what I wrote, so much so that had she not been so rough on her grading, I'd have thought she thought I was brilliant. She really reinforced my belief that being able to communicate effectively in writing is quite possibly the most important skill one can have in the work force.

I never took a Logic or debate course. That said, I struggle with the "academia" of both. Never really saw the appeal to being "technically" proficient in disputing something in a sterile environment, only to go out in "the real world" and find that context and other factors can render those disputes ineffective.

[Cold_Zero]

Your class on Eastern Orthodoxy would be fun and something I would be interested in taking.
Depending on what type of college you attend the class CNES3201 Bible context and Interpretation could be a wild ride. To be honest, my Classical Greek class was the one class that kept me interested and out of the bars, in college. We spent more time speaking German and going through the Indo European languages when disecting word origins, it was really fun.

[smockers83]

Some of my econ classes that were favorites were:
Economics of population
Macroeconomic principles
Macroeconomic theory
European Economy
Money and banking
International trade

Some non-econ classes that were faves:
20th Century American Wars (all time favorite)
Some sort of weather class, mainly dealt with dangerous types of weather
An American Cultures class, can't remember the title
Polisci 101

[srellim234]

AZ- mine was not a debate course. Intro to Speech walked us through a few different styles of speaking and we gave stand-up-in-front-of-the-room presentations in the classroom. It taught how to research and present any topic, with or without props.

The two classes I picked out are universally helpful no matter what the career path. They teach basic skills I think are necessary for all successful adults. Within specific majors other classes will have more impact but they are not necessarily valuable across the board.

[vikesfankevin1986]

I noted all the comments. They are very good ideas. I like the idea of reading about stuff I don't agree with. I try and do this now. Like you said, I want to know what might make me wrong or if I should change my view on the topic. I like knowing more about the other side of the argument than the person arguing with me does. So I do make a strong effort to learn about things I don't agree with.

I wanted to take Intro to Logic but I could not make it fit. I want to take it next semester and it will count as my math credits.

I also like the idea of taking classes from both conservative and liberal professors.

The Eastern Orthodoxy class was very unique. I wasn't sure if it was a history or a religion class. The professor is an award winner and probably the smartest guy I have ever met. It was frustrating though because he used so many huge words. It seemed to be mostly a Russian history class and I think Russian history is one of the lamest things you can study. Some of the lectures were great and others were rough. Going in and talking with him seemed to be the biggest help. He loved my attitude about school and everything. He most stressed the Russian history part but I was more interested in the religious part. It really taught me a lot about Christianity and the split of the church.
I am still debating if I want to take another Russian history class with him. He turned out being an amazing teacher and I would love to take another one of his classes but I hate Russian history...even though the Bolsheviks did have some great ideas.

[themadscientist]

I enjoyed Philosophy but sadly I have no space left in my degree plan to expand on it. Nothing but Poli Sci and Business courses for the next two years.

[IBCoupe]

You might find, in seeking out viewpoints that could make you wrong, that you run into what I have: I go to pains to not come to conclusions on issues. There are a few exceptions, of course, but usually that's where there's a question about whether a thing is legal, which is something you can easily confirm or deny.

[vikesfankevin1986]

You might find, in seeking out viewpoints that could make you wrong, that you run into what I have: I go to pains to not come to conclusions on issues. There are a few exceptions, of course, but usually that's where there's a question about whether a thing is legal, which is something you can easily confirm or deny.

If I am understanding you correctly, I already try and do this. I was raised Christian but I am now agnostic. My wife is Christian though, and has been on mission trips. It's a weird combo. I know she hopes some day I will find God and that is one of the reasons I study religion. I try and listen to Christian arguments but the more I do the more I turn away from it. I won't get into it but I do believe the Bible is fact, it's just a matter of interpretation and what people knew at that time. That is one of the reasons I am taking one of the classes I listed.
I have been doing a lot of reading/watching about the ancients aliens theory and also about what Graham Hancock has to say. There are just so many things that can't be explained. One for example is, why does the sphinx have water erosion if Egypt hasn't had that type of climate for 12,000 years?
Now don't go thinking that I think we came from aliens but after listening to Graham Hancock, it would be hard to deny that something weird didn't happen 12,000 years ago. There was a very advanced civilization on Earth. My question is...Where they naturally evolved humans, or did something give them technology or even destroy them?

[marlin29311]

I have to say, one of my favorite classes from college was the class I took on Christian Marriage - not only did it give me a great framework to understand the theology behind a christian marraige, it also presented many thing that help couples get along in life and how to work with future spouses. Those skills of how to work with another person have come in handy working with other people in my life too.

[stebo0728]

Quantum Physics is a nice audit of fictional literature.

[vikesfankevin1986]

I have to say, one of my favorite classes from college was the class I took on Christian Marriage - not only did it give me a great framework to understand the theology behind a christian marraige, it also presented many thing that help couples get along in life and how to work with future spouses. Those skills of how to work with another person have come in handy working with other people in my life too.

That sounds interesting. It seems very specific and that probably makes it a harder class. It would be good for those gay marriage debates.

[vikesfankevin1986]

Quantum Physics is a nice audit of fictional literature.

Ewww I don't do math...

[IBCoupe]

Steer clear of chaos theory.

[themadscientist]

I believe that is called 240 general chat isn't it?

[vikesfankevin1986]

I guess maybe General Chat. I don't have a 240. I posted it here because I figured this is where the most informed and educated people were. I guess I will check out the general chat a little more.