If we were students at Greendale Community College we would represent the “E Pluribus Anus” flag and be offered courses such as Celebrity Pharmaceuticals, A Modern History of Middle Earth, The History of Ice Cream, and Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design. Unfortunately, those courses which Jeff Winger, main character from the sitcom Community, calls “blow-off classes” are not offered here at UFV, nor anything like them. The closest thing to a unique and offbeat class (like Greendale’s selection) that UFV offers would be the media and communication studies course Star Wars — A Cultural History (MACS 299G).
I’m not necessarily looking to register for “blow-off classes,” as I’m at that point in my degree where in order to graduate by April, I need to take all the classes I didn’t take in my first year like PHIL 100 and a lab credit. However, I think it would be nice for those first-year students who aren’t ready for an intense course load right after high school to have some breathing room for their entry into university by taking a class that studies contemporary young adult fiction or a class focusing on cooking for one.
When I look at the psychology courses offered each semester I see that the department has all their bases covered. They offer Environmental Psychology, Neuropsychology, Adolescent Psychology, Memory, and the list goes on. I can’t even think of what a psychology slacker course would be.
But I often think about the visual arts department. Do they even offer pottery? I would take that in a heartbeat. Heck, I would take Pottery I, II, and III.
Maybe the culinary arts program should offer courses for students outside of the program, like classes available for students who are majoring in mathematics but still want to take an elective to broaden their horizons. I’d be game for that. A course to sharpen one’s tasting palate would be phenomenal.
UFV offers only two women’s studies courses. But if the university offered it as a major, the department could include courses on feminist literature, women in politics, and Beyonce and female power, offering countless eye-opening courses for students to learn more about the world around them.
Last semester there was a MACS course that studied social media. One course. Presumably every student at UFV interacts with social media in some way, shape, or form. Why is something that is only becoming more prevalent in our lives so underrepresented in our course offerings? I feel that it would be an excellent idea for students to have the option to learn about Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and God knows whatever else the youths of today are using, through a critical lens in an academic setting. When registering, students may view these as “blow-off classes” because social media is not a new concept, but by taking these classes, students get the opportunity to take a deeper look into our culture in a less traditional manner.
Obviously, UFV is not Greendale Community College. Under no circumstances is UFV required to provide “blow-off classes,” but in light of thinking about various course offerings, it wouldn’t hurt our university to continue to expand the selection they present us with.
Illustrator: Kayt Hine
