Scheduling classes can be stressful for any student, but when you are new to Penn State it can seem even more intimidating. You do not know what any of these classes are and in reality what is best to take. When you go to schedule classes at your advising session you are told to schedule some gen-eds or general education classes. But what are those? There are so many, which ones should I take? In order to help clear up some of this confusion I have compiled a list of some of the best gen-ed classes that Penn State has to offer in order to fulfill those pesky requirements.
1. Theatre 100: While this class may seem like an unusual selection if you are not into theatre it is a fun and easy art elective, while also earning you credit for a United States culture class. I myself had some doubts when I signed up for it (based on multiple people’s recommendation). I knew nothing about theatre and honestly had very little interest in the topic, but from the first day of class I can say it did not fall short in the entertainment category. Not only are the professors super out going and willing to act out almost anything, the class’s TAs are all aspiring actors. Rather than just lecturing you on information, almost every class consists of some sort of acting. For example, I remember one class where the TAs just started running around the classroom acting like different animals. This class is great and I strongly recommend taking it at some point while at Penn State (and the sooner the better)
2. Geosci 010: This class, while not entirely interesting to me (it is the geology of national parks) it was a painless way to fulfill a science requirement. For those who may not be interested in science (half of us here are trying to pursue a degree in the arts anyway) this is the class to take. It is conducted entirely online so there is no in class requirement, which is always a nice thing. Just picture it; you get to stay in your warm dorm room snuggled in bed while getting your work done at the same time! Each week there is a quiz so you will need to read over the weekly readings but as long as you stay up to date this class really is an easy way to get three science credits out of the way.
3. African Studies 110: Every student at Penn State has to fulfill humanities credits. This course, again, is completely online and is actually very interesting. I originally took this class just to fulfill a requirement but came out of it with knowledge on another culture that I never thought I would get let alone enjoy. Each week there are quizzes but they coincide nicely with the weekly reading so there are no surprises. Also, there is a project that spans over the majority of the semester, but don’t worry, it is broken up into multiple stages. This project is meant to get you acquainted with one African country so afterwards you feel almost like an expert. Overall, this is a great class to take if you are interested in learning some fascinating facts about African culture and society.
While fulfilling requirements may not seem like something you need to worry about now, the sooner you do, the sooner you get to dive into your major classes. These are just a few of the fun electives you can take but when you are scheduling your first semester, especially if you are undecided on a major, try and think about what you are interested in and schedule gen-eds around those interests. You may even find a major through these classes!
Want a complete list of gen-eds Penn State has to offer? Visit http://bulletins.psu.edu/undergrad/courses/A to learn more.
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