Here at SU, we're already gearing up for fall 2011. Students' mailboxes were recently filled with papers of all the classes offered not only next semester, but spring as well; this way students can plan their entire 2011-2012 academic year. I've already endeavored to make a tentative schedule.
Before I register for my classes, I need to get my minor declared, Religion, so I can have a better chance of getting into the religion courses I want. Declaring a minor basically consists of getting a form and having your advisor and the head of the minor's department sign a piece of paper.
Deciding on courses can be somewhat tricky. There are a lot of balls up in the air, so to speak. Requirements for one's major. Requirements for a minor. Requirements for the Central Curriculum, or what other schools might term general ed. classes. This is why the degree audit is particularly helpful. A degree audit basically tells you what requirements you have fulfilled (or are currently working towards fulfilling) and what you still have left to do; it also lists the courses that apply to each requirement. Many courses knock out multiple requirements so there's a certain amount of strategy involved in planning a schedule that is, in some regards, efficient as well as interesting for yourself.
For the fall, I plan on taking a course for my Honors program, probably Thought & the Natural Sciences, which explores the history and philosophy of science. This would also take care of my science class. Each SU student needs to take one science with a lab component; admittedly, this fills with me some dread. Also for the Honors program, I need to do a Sophomore Essay, which could happen in the fall or spring depending on the availability of faculty sponsors. I've already talked about my idea--representation of faith in young adult literature and whether it adequately addresses the spiritual needs of teens--and now I just need to find a faculty member who is interested in my idea and has a helpful expertise, as well as the time to work with me. Dr. Winans, who conducts the Sophomore Essay class, has already been great with suggesting some names to me.
In the fall, I also want to take English Writing & Grammar and Intermediate Fiction. Both of these go towards my Creative Writing major. I'm especially psyched to get back to fiction. My other course would be The Hebrew Bible, which contributes to more than one Central Curriculum requirement, my Honors minor, and my Religion minor. That's getting a lot out of one class so I suppose you could say that's a strategic choice, but I also am very much interested in the subject matter.
It's very strange to me that I already have Spring 2012 planned out as well--though very, very tentatively. Right now, that schedule would consist of Aesthetics & Interpretation, a course required for Creative Writing majors that I've heard is quite difficult, Introduction to Poetry, Intro to Asian Religions, and...okay, well one other class that is totally slipping my mind right now.
It feels good to have these ideas of what next year will be like. I'm sure it'll feel even better once my fall schedule is actually settled!
No comments:
Post a Comment