From history on film to gender and international relations, these classes are the perfect addition to your summer schedule
Photo by Sage Blackwell.
Whether you need one more credit to graduate, or are trying to get ahead with an extra credit, consider adding one of these seven electives to your summer schedule.
HSTR 310C: American History in Film
From unpacking the colonial era and the civil war, to the cold war, History 310C is the perfect blend of American history and film studies. According to the course description, the course “examines critical points in U.S. history through major Hollywood films that document the American story, asking whether this film works as history.” The films may vary by semester, but previous films have included Changeling, set in 1920s Los Angeles, Unforgiven, a revisionist western, The Gangs of New York, set during the civil war, and the World War II film The Thin Red Line. This condensed course takes place from May 12 to June 4, and is asynchronous and online.
ASL 100A: American Sign Language I
If you want to start learning a new language this summer, American Sign Language 100A is a perfect option. This class introduces students to ASL, the language used by the Deaf community here in North America. Students require no previous knowledge of ASL. The course goes over a variety of concepts, including basic vocabulary and grammar, while also providing students the opportunity to learn about the Deaf community and Deaf culture. Fully online, this course runs from May 12 to June 27 on Mondays and Thursdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
SOCI 202: Constructing Social Problems
Do you ever wonder how issues like homelessness, drug use, and childhood vaccines are transformed into major social debates? Sociology 202 explores the social construction of social problems, which are the “ways in which human beings identify and come to think about certain issues as social problems at particular times, in specific places, and with different levels of intensity.” The content varies by term, but in the summer the course will focus on a wide variety of topics such as terrorism, Halloween sadism, the fight against breast cancer, infectious diseases, and serial killers. SOCI 202 will be offered online as an asynchronous course from May 12 to June 27.
ATWP 135: Academic Reading and Writing
Still need to satisfy your Academic Writing Requirement? Academic and Technical Writing (ATWP) 135 is a foundational course for undergraduate students, allowing students to take a cross-disciplinary approach to create a research project based on personal interests. Students will undertake several different assignments to learn the skills for successful academic writing, regardless of their major. There are five different online asynchronous sections offered this summer: three from May 12 to June 27, and two from July 3 to August 20.
AE 310: Introduction to Visual Design
Offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Art Education 310 introduces students to the theory and practice of visual design, exploring the role of visual design in our lives. Projects may include package design, typography, wayfinding, and brand design. This condensed asynchronous course is offered online from July 3 to July 25, and helps students get creative while developing new skills.
ENSH 315: Coming of Age Novels
English 315 analyzes novels that explore the transition from childhood to adulthood. Course readings vary, but previous years have analyzed J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye (1951), Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach (2000), Sally Rooney’s Normal People (2018), and Haley Jakobson’s Old Enough (2023). There are no prerequisites for the course, but your Academic Writing Requirement has to be completed. This online course runs from July 3 to August 20, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
POLI 328: Gender and International Relations
Political Science 328 discusses how gender shapes international relations, examining gender inequality through feminist lenses, and through the study of key concepts in international relations. According to the department website, “this course aims to help students develop a more nuanced and holistic appreciation of international relations,” using a gendered lens to focus on the “big questions” of international relations, such as war, peace, and security, while also considering connected issues such as international political economy and foreign policies. POLI 328 is offered online on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., from July 3 to August 20.
Get ready — registration for the summer semester starts on March 10.
