what classes should I take?
October 29, 2006 10:56 PM Subscribe
collegefilter: what classes should I take?
I just found out my employer is willing to throw money at me for continuing my education. I can take anything I want at pretty much any college or university, even during regular office hours, and they will gladly pay for it. yes, this could in theory mean that my employer thinks I am vastly undereducated but I am willing to ignore that.
I figured I have time to take one class. searching through psychology, philosophy and linguistics programs got me to some interesting places but I ended up somewhere completely different: I found a class called 'interview and interrogation techniques' taught by what seems to be a high-ranking fbi official. how exciting!
that got me thinking: what classes might I have missed? what might I not even be aware of?
recommend the most intriguing classes you have ever taken, please. tell me about the courses you felt were going to be a bore but turned out to be delightfully interesting. all fields but math are up for consideration - I am an artist and numbers beyond four cause me to assume the fetal position.
bonus credit for anyone who can recommend what colleges or universities in the chicago area to check out or avoid.
I just found out my employer is willing to throw money at me for continuing my education. I can take anything I want at pretty much any college or university, even during regular office hours, and they will gladly pay for it. yes, this could in theory mean that my employer thinks I am vastly undereducated but I am willing to ignore that.
I figured I have time to take one class. searching through psychology, philosophy and linguistics programs got me to some interesting places but I ended up somewhere completely different: I found a class called 'interview and interrogation techniques' taught by what seems to be a high-ranking fbi official. how exciting!
that got me thinking: what classes might I have missed? what might I not even be aware of?
recommend the most intriguing classes you have ever taken, please. tell me about the courses you felt were going to be a bore but turned out to be delightfully interesting. all fields but math are up for consideration - I am an artist and numbers beyond four cause me to assume the fetal position.
bonus credit for anyone who can recommend what colleges or universities in the chicago area to check out or avoid.
Do you have a degree? If you do not already have a degree, take "core" classes that will easily transfer to other colleges when you decide what you major will be.
If you have a degree, have fun and take what sounds cool.
In Chicagoland, there is one great university and some others.
posted by LarryC at 11:05 PM on October 29, 2006
If you have a degree, have fun and take what sounds cool.
In Chicagoland, there is one great university and some others.
posted by LarryC at 11:05 PM on October 29, 2006
Response by poster: Do you have a degree?
yes, I have a BFA from art center college of design in pasadena, ca. ...is there anything specific at the university of chicago that just floored you? a professor, a class?
as far as liberal arts and sciences go, I think I've really taken a lot of those. I am the guy who broke the school record for classes taken as an undergraduate (by bending the rules heavily). I think I took pretty much all advertising, graphic design and photography classes and packed on a hefty load of directing/film and (get this) art theory and critisism material.
btw: I find myself currently fascinated with heidegger but I have a feeling psychology will play quite a role in my future anyway...
posted by krautland at 11:29 PM on October 29, 2006
yes, I have a BFA from art center college of design in pasadena, ca. ...is there anything specific at the university of chicago that just floored you? a professor, a class?
as far as liberal arts and sciences go, I think I've really taken a lot of those. I am the guy who broke the school record for classes taken as an undergraduate (by bending the rules heavily). I think I took pretty much all advertising, graphic design and photography classes and packed on a hefty load of directing/film and (get this) art theory and critisism material.
btw: I find myself currently fascinated with heidegger but I have a feeling psychology will play quite a role in my future anyway...
posted by krautland at 11:29 PM on October 29, 2006
Response by poster: have fun and take what sounds cool
yeah... that's precicely what this is about...
posted by krautland at 11:30 PM on October 29, 2006
yeah... that's precicely what this is about...
posted by krautland at 11:30 PM on October 29, 2006
Response by poster: correction: the link to art center is www.artcenter.edu. fargo, can't we get an edit feature for our posts? pretty please?
posted by krautland at 11:31 PM on October 29, 2006
posted by krautland at 11:31 PM on October 29, 2006
Seeing that you're a designer with an interest in psychology, you might want to take some classes in Human Computer Interaction, Information Theory, or Cognitive Science. All of these play a role in design, and all are in some way related to psychology.
Also, University of Chicago is a very good school, and I imagine that's why LarryC pointed it out. It's pretty highly selective, but with a degree from ACD, you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting in.
posted by dantekgeek at 12:59 AM on October 30, 2006
Also, University of Chicago is a very good school, and I imagine that's why LarryC pointed it out. It's pretty highly selective, but with a degree from ACD, you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting in.
posted by dantekgeek at 12:59 AM on October 30, 2006
Speaking from a position of extreme bias, you can never go wrong taking a course in philosophy from a professor who is enthusiastic and interested in the subject they're teaching.
You should use ratemyprofessor.com and check out what people are saying. I'm not saying it's always accurate, trustworthy, etc - but it is certainly a useful tool (especially when you're reading a professor's 'profile' with tons of similar reviews).
Get your hands dirty and call the department of the subject you're interested in. You'll probably just get someone working as an intern, but ask to speak to the head of the department or a professor. Ask what courses or professors are popular, or what they would suggest. If it's going well with a professor, ask to see a copy of the syllabus if you're interested in taking the course.
Wiki has a good list of all the universities and colleges in Chicago. You have tons of options, possibilities - and that can be overwhelming! But this an amazing opportunity - don't let this pass by. Good luck!
posted by ifranzen at 1:13 AM on October 30, 2006
You should use ratemyprofessor.com and check out what people are saying. I'm not saying it's always accurate, trustworthy, etc - but it is certainly a useful tool (especially when you're reading a professor's 'profile' with tons of similar reviews).
Get your hands dirty and call the department of the subject you're interested in. You'll probably just get someone working as an intern, but ask to speak to the head of the department or a professor. Ask what courses or professors are popular, or what they would suggest. If it's going well with a professor, ask to see a copy of the syllabus if you're interested in taking the course.
Wiki has a good list of all the universities and colleges in Chicago. You have tons of options, possibilities - and that can be overwhelming! But this an amazing opportunity - don't let this pass by. Good luck!
posted by ifranzen at 1:13 AM on October 30, 2006
I agree with ifranzen about finding a good professor. The two non-mathy college courses I enjoyed most were in etymology and Haitian music, both because of great professors (who are unfortunately not in Chicago, though).
posted by equalpants at 1:22 AM on October 30, 2006
posted by equalpants at 1:22 AM on October 30, 2006
You might approach this from a different perspective: what have you always wondered about, or what would you like to be able to do?
For example, I'd always been puzzled when I read in the newspaper that "the Fed raised interest rates" or "economic indicators suggest a downturn." So I took macroeconomics and monetary policy and now I don't wonder anymore. Similarly, I'd always wanted to be able to go to art museums and understand why those particular paintings were significant, and to be able to say something competent about them. So I took art history and museology and now I can.
Maybe you don't "get" Jazz music, or maybe the Middle Eastern conflict just seems like a big blur. Now's your chance to figure these things out!
posted by chickletworks at 1:51 AM on October 30, 2006
For example, I'd always been puzzled when I read in the newspaper that "the Fed raised interest rates" or "economic indicators suggest a downturn." So I took macroeconomics and monetary policy and now I don't wonder anymore. Similarly, I'd always wanted to be able to go to art museums and understand why those particular paintings were significant, and to be able to say something competent about them. So I took art history and museology and now I can.
Maybe you don't "get" Jazz music, or maybe the Middle Eastern conflict just seems like a big blur. Now's your chance to figure these things out!
posted by chickletworks at 1:51 AM on October 30, 2006
I took a class about the psychology of art and artists. It related psychological ideas and theories to artistic processes. It was pretty interesting and seems like it would mix well with what you already know.
Also, a cartography class could be fun and useful. I never took a full course in it, but that portion of my geography class is one of the few things I still use in everyday life.
Aside from those, most of the classes I took that really stick in my head were the ones I had little to no interest taking in the first place. African American Images and Horror Films in particular. It's a risky route, but taking something that will force a new way of thinking into your head can be a smart move.
MOST IMPORTANT: Even more important than the course material is the instructor. Every class I've just mentioned, and every other one I remember anything from was memorable because it was lead by an instructor that I respected (i.e. knew what they were talking about and *liked* teaching it). Definitely try to research the prof, and maybe arrange a brief meeting prior to enrolling if possible.
Or just go with the interrogation class. That sounds pretty awesome.
posted by dogwalker at 2:32 AM on October 30, 2006
Also, a cartography class could be fun and useful. I never took a full course in it, but that portion of my geography class is one of the few things I still use in everyday life.
Aside from those, most of the classes I took that really stick in my head were the ones I had little to no interest taking in the first place. African American Images and Horror Films in particular. It's a risky route, but taking something that will force a new way of thinking into your head can be a smart move.
MOST IMPORTANT: Even more important than the course material is the instructor. Every class I've just mentioned, and every other one I remember anything from was memorable because it was lead by an instructor that I respected (i.e. knew what they were talking about and *liked* teaching it). Definitely try to research the prof, and maybe arrange a brief meeting prior to enrolling if possible.
Or just go with the interrogation class. That sounds pretty awesome.
posted by dogwalker at 2:32 AM on October 30, 2006
UIC doesn't have a very strong continuing studies program - it's geared more towards professionals in specific fields (mostly education and healthcare). I took a pre-calculus course there this summer, taught by Mark Ronan, which I enjoyed a lot. A physics course taught taught the previous summer featured a visiting professor with a strong accent and a lab-instructor who spoke no english..
Northwestern, on the other hand, has an excellent Continuing Studies department, with evening classes at both the Evanston and downtown Chicago campus. I'm taking Calculus there now, and took an Intro to Psychology course a couple years ago. The courses offered at the downtown campus tend to be business-oriented.
Columbia College might be the best fit for you. I've been looking at their science offerings, which are all geared towards non majors, as Columbia is primarily an Arts+Communications school - a class like "The Chemistry of Color" seems a more interesting way to explore that field than "O. Chem I".
If you don't want to stop hating numbers, and hard science isn't particularly appealing, I'd say pick something from Columbia's social sciences department.
posted by unmake at 3:41 AM on October 30, 2006
Northwestern, on the other hand, has an excellent Continuing Studies department, with evening classes at both the Evanston and downtown Chicago campus. I'm taking Calculus there now, and took an Intro to Psychology course a couple years ago. The courses offered at the downtown campus tend to be business-oriented.
Columbia College might be the best fit for you. I've been looking at their science offerings, which are all geared towards non majors, as Columbia is primarily an Arts+Communications school - a class like "The Chemistry of Color" seems a more interesting way to explore that field than "O. Chem I".
If you don't want to stop hating numbers, and hard science isn't particularly appealing, I'd say pick something from Columbia's social sciences department.
posted by unmake at 3:41 AM on October 30, 2006
I'm going to really challenge you on your math prohibition. Much of the deep beauty of the universe is best discovered and illustrated through math. Locking yourself out of that, just because you don't feel an affinity for the topic, is selling yourself short.
You don't have to take these classes, apparently. No one will care, or pay you less, or demote you, or reduce your social status, if you don't do well. Under what possibly freer or less restrictive conditions could you ever challenge yourself to do something that is intellectually difficult for you?
There are a lot of ways to hook yourself into a mathematics curriculum at the outset, other than just signing up for Algebra I & II. You might find history of science or mathematics classes, that give you some foundation in the development of mathematical thought, and a grounding in the biographies of the leading thinkers in the field. Issac Newton was an interesting guy, outside his endeavors in calculus and physics. Poincare said as much about the creative process, as he did about mathematics. Getting to know the men and women of math is a great way to catch their sparks for the topic.
Finally, topics such as topology and analytic geometry can seem more "natural" for people who think of themselves as "visual thinkers." They might be good places to start, if you can find intro courses without college algebra pre-requisites. But sooner or later, I hope you would want to tackle the dry subjects of number theory, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. There is a certian deep self-satisfaction that comes no other way than struggling for knowledge that doesn't come easily to you. It's like living in a house you built, versus one you bought.
Except that the house of mathematics has doors to all the rest of human thought and life, if you would just but try them, fairly, and with the intellectual honesty of an adult with a truly questing mind. You'll also be surprised the reactions you get from other people, who see you carrying around an Algebra II textbook, and who watch in awe as you factor polynomials by inspection.
posted by paulsc at 3:49 AM on October 30, 2006
You don't have to take these classes, apparently. No one will care, or pay you less, or demote you, or reduce your social status, if you don't do well. Under what possibly freer or less restrictive conditions could you ever challenge yourself to do something that is intellectually difficult for you?
There are a lot of ways to hook yourself into a mathematics curriculum at the outset, other than just signing up for Algebra I & II. You might find history of science or mathematics classes, that give you some foundation in the development of mathematical thought, and a grounding in the biographies of the leading thinkers in the field. Issac Newton was an interesting guy, outside his endeavors in calculus and physics. Poincare said as much about the creative process, as he did about mathematics. Getting to know the men and women of math is a great way to catch their sparks for the topic.
Finally, topics such as topology and analytic geometry can seem more "natural" for people who think of themselves as "visual thinkers." They might be good places to start, if you can find intro courses without college algebra pre-requisites. But sooner or later, I hope you would want to tackle the dry subjects of number theory, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. There is a certian deep self-satisfaction that comes no other way than struggling for knowledge that doesn't come easily to you. It's like living in a house you built, versus one you bought.
Except that the house of mathematics has doors to all the rest of human thought and life, if you would just but try them, fairly, and with the intellectual honesty of an adult with a truly questing mind. You'll also be surprised the reactions you get from other people, who see you carrying around an Algebra II textbook, and who watch in awe as you factor polynomials by inspection.
posted by paulsc at 3:49 AM on October 30, 2006
I'm an undergrad in electrical engineering, and I'm taking music theory next semester. It seems like something where a little bit of understanding goes a long way.
posted by phrontist at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2006
posted by phrontist at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2006
As a guy who is going to spend most of his day doing calc assignments, I have to agree with paulsc. Math conquers all. Artsy people who understand higher mathematics are a rare breed!
posted by phrontist at 4:59 AM on October 30, 2006
posted by phrontist at 4:59 AM on October 30, 2006
This may sound lame, but use LiveJournal and other communities where you can join specific groups. When I was at UGA, I was in such a group and found the best class I took in college that way by simply asking for a good discussion-based class. Make it as broad or specific as you want- people on those forums love sharing their knowledge.
posted by jmd82 at 5:44 AM on October 30, 2006
posted by jmd82 at 5:44 AM on October 30, 2006
Art history, if you haven't taken it. Ditto a comprehensive survey of English literature (one that's focused on the classics). Otherwise, here are suggestions for philosophy:
If you're interested in getting some of the benefits of a math course, without numbers, you could take an introductory logic course -- assuming you can get good reviews of the prof. Logic courses will have you doing proofs as homework, which if you can settle down to it puts you in a whole different frame of mind than arts and paper-writing courses do. (But if it's with a boring prof, it could be torture)
If you're interested in Heidegger, and you have some time, you could begin with Kant or Hegel (who come before him, and who inspire his work). If there's a survey of continental philosophy, that might also fit your interests.
You might look around and see if you can find a philosophy course on aesthetics. That would probably give you a taste of Heidegger without having to go whole-hog.
I would say, don't try to get into a graduate seminar in philosophy unless they also admit undergrads. Email the prof to ask about this, if you are unsure. (For example the U of C has a grad seminar on Heidegger, but it will probably presuppose a lot of background, and be way beyond what will be useful to you.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:19 AM on October 30, 2006
If you're interested in getting some of the benefits of a math course, without numbers, you could take an introductory logic course -- assuming you can get good reviews of the prof. Logic courses will have you doing proofs as homework, which if you can settle down to it puts you in a whole different frame of mind than arts and paper-writing courses do. (But if it's with a boring prof, it could be torture)
If you're interested in Heidegger, and you have some time, you could begin with Kant or Hegel (who come before him, and who inspire his work). If there's a survey of continental philosophy, that might also fit your interests.
You might look around and see if you can find a philosophy course on aesthetics. That would probably give you a taste of Heidegger without having to go whole-hog.
I would say, don't try to get into a graduate seminar in philosophy unless they also admit undergrads. Email the prof to ask about this, if you are unsure. (For example the U of C has a grad seminar on Heidegger, but it will probably presuppose a lot of background, and be way beyond what will be useful to you.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:19 AM on October 30, 2006
Oh! I didn't see this. U of C has an advanced undergrad course on aesthetics with Ted Cohen this winter. Here's the description:
31310. Aesthetics and Theory of Criticism Prerequisites: Undergraduates with consent of instructor.. This course is an introduction to problems in the philosophy of art with both traditional and contemporary texts. Topics include the definition of art, representation, expression, metaphor, and taste. (A) Ted Cohen. (I)
Sounds like it might be right up your alley. Ted Cohen wrote a book about the philosophy of jokes, and he's supposed to be a very fun lecturer.
You might also enjoy the course "Telling the truth: skepticism, relativism, and bullshit" in the spring. That stuff should be fun, accessible and immediately applicable to real life.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:26 AM on October 30, 2006
31310. Aesthetics and Theory of Criticism Prerequisites: Undergraduates with consent of instructor.. This course is an introduction to problems in the philosophy of art with both traditional and contemporary texts. Topics include the definition of art, representation, expression, metaphor, and taste. (A) Ted Cohen. (I)
Sounds like it might be right up your alley. Ted Cohen wrote a book about the philosophy of jokes, and he's supposed to be a very fun lecturer.
You might also enjoy the course "Telling the truth: skepticism, relativism, and bullshit" in the spring. That stuff should be fun, accessible and immediately applicable to real life.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:26 AM on October 30, 2006
You don't need to take the interrogation class-- just get the textbook that they use. I did. It's fucking fascinating, and it felt like it covered most of what a class would have taught me. (By the way "Good Cop / Bad Cop" is a real technique they teach, but it's really called "Friendly Interrogator / Unfriendly Interrogator.") Plus, if you read between the lines, you can figure out how best to conduct yourself if you ever find yourself in a situation where you're being interviewed or interrogated by law enforcement. (Step 1: GET A FUCKING LAWYER, NO MATTER HOW PERSUASIVE THEY ARE ABOUT YOUR NOT NEEDING ONE. There's a whole section of the book dedicated to legally convincing suspects to NOT get a lawyer...)
If there's a business school in the area that will allow you to take a course in Organizational Behavior, I'd strongly consider it. I've never taken a class in it, but the textbook that I read for the hell of it gave me some pretty interesting insights into a realm of study that I knew nothing about, and was also pretty useful from a dealing-with-crappy-office-politics standpoint.
Another fascinating area of study which you might not have considered because it is technically math in most university settings, but tends NOT to deal with actual numbers (true math isn't numbers, really, anyway) is Game Theory. Really, it's where math and economics and psychology intersect. Also lots of interesting stuff that you can apply to your "real" life...
posted by dersins at 12:14 PM on October 30, 2006
If there's a business school in the area that will allow you to take a course in Organizational Behavior, I'd strongly consider it. I've never taken a class in it, but the textbook that I read for the hell of it gave me some pretty interesting insights into a realm of study that I knew nothing about, and was also pretty useful from a dealing-with-crappy-office-politics standpoint.
Another fascinating area of study which you might not have considered because it is technically math in most university settings, but tends NOT to deal with actual numbers (true math isn't numbers, really, anyway) is Game Theory. Really, it's where math and economics and psychology intersect. Also lots of interesting stuff that you can apply to your "real" life...
posted by dersins at 12:14 PM on October 30, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fvox13 at 11:04 PM on October 29, 2006