For a lot of college students, they dread going to class; especially for those early morning classes. Finding the motivation to get out of bed in the morning to attend a snooze-worthy class seems tough. But, don’t fret. Florida State University has plenty of classes that Seminoles universally love.
Before you graduate, check out these classes, and find your love for learning again.
1. Industrial/Organizational Psychology
In this class, the course material blends business fundamentals and leadership techniques with psychology, giving students a unique perspective on the business world. “As a senior psychology student, I have taken so many classes at Florida State University, and Industrial Organizational Psychology is by far one of the most interesting,” said Florida State University junior Taylor Terraglio. “If you’ve ever wondered how someone can become an asset to whatever career path they choose, this is the course to take. Dr. Hansen teaches it, and he is amazing. He is one of the most knowledgeable professors at FSU.” From discussing workplace productivity to assessing employees’ mental health, this course serves as the perfect introduction into the psychology field.
2. Writing and Editing in Print and Online (WEPO)
In WEPO, students learn the principles of writing and editing across different forms of media. From the class, Seminoles will learn how to create read text differently and form new meanings and intentions behind what they create. “Even though it’s one of the prerequisite courses for English, I found it very cool because you explore a lot of genres and projects,” said Florida State University senior Maria Rodriguez. “We made an online portfolio, which is basically a website full of our own work, like a resume. We also did a group project where we had to find a local business and help them create a marketing plan. So, it let you do real life work while still in college, and it helped you build your resume while learning real skills all in class.” As a collaborative class, students work together to create a variety of print and digital media work to understand the different ways in which readers will engage with a variety of texts. If you want to get ahead of the game and create a portfolio/resume before your peers, this class will help.
3. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANT 2410 introduces students to the origin and development of different cultures with an emphasis on non-Western societies. “It’s a lecture-heavy class, but also very interactive,” said Florida State University junior Mageda Nader. “It goes into detail about how cultural anthropologists collect data while explaining their definition of culture. My favorite part of the class was looking into case studies and learning specifics about different cultures I would have never learned about unless I took this class.” To get a better understanding of various languages, religion, values, contemporary world problems and technology across different cultures and perspectives, this may be the class for you.
4. Social Media Campaigns
Dying to learn the inside and out of various social media platforms? Looking to go into social media marketing after graduation? Add Social Media Campaigns to your class schedule. Through this course, students learn the fundamentals of analytics, techniques of posting on different social networking platforms and how to build a campaign from the ground up. To utilize what they’ve learned, students work in groups to spend the semester building social advocacy campaigns based on different issues and launching them to analyze engagement and awareness. The tools and skills gained through this course can even help you step up your individual social media game entirely.
5. Introduction to Film
Within FSU’S award-winning film program that has produced prolific and successful filmmakers, you can find this engaging and interesting prerequisite course. “The coolest part is that speakers come in every week and talk about the theme is for that week, and most of them have worked on insanely huge movies, like Avataror Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” said Florida State University junior Taylor Siegel. “FSU has amazing film alums, so the film program is really interesting. As long as you’re willing to carve out the three-hour class time to watch the movie, it’s totally worth it. Plus, I came out having watched a ton of cool films that I would have never thought to watch while getting a better understanding of the industry and the work that goes on behind the scenes.” For those wanting an introduction to new films and filmmaking techniques while delving head-first into the industry, check out this course.
6. Public Speaking
If you know anything about FSU, then you know that Mark Zeigler holds the title for teaching the most beloved classes on campus. While public speaking can seem nerve-wracking, Zeigler breathes new life into the course to make it fun. “Zeigler gave us the freedom to do speeches on any topic we were passionate about, and made it so much more fun than you’d ever expect from a public speaking class,” said Florida State University senior Anneliese Muller. “It was really engaging, and after the first few days of meeting in class, you’re not intimidated at all to go up and give a speech. I also learned a lot about the other kids in my class and their passions, which you don’t really get in any other class.” This course serves as a requirement for most, if not all, majors – so why not make it enjoyable?
7. Introduction to Art Therapy
Through FSU’s College of Fine Art’s Art Education department, students can take Introduction to Art Therapy to hone their skills in art therapy techniques and applications. With this course, students will learn the power of visual arts and therapeutic relationships to promote personal wellness. “We did art directives an art therapist would do with a patient, such as crafting for a cancer patient, or making drawings for counseling children,” said recent Florida State University graduate Kyleigh Eaton. If you prioritize both art and societal change, this course will match your philosophy while giving you hands-on experience through the power of art.
8. Contemporary Human Communication
Shout out to Professor Mark Ziegler (again). While this course focuses on communication theory, Zeigler teaches it in a way that makes the course enjoyable and makes the material easy to understand. “Ziegler is a super engaging and compassionate teacher which always made his class so much easier to go to,” said Florida State University junior Alexandria Ablaya. “He also usually used relatable and funny personal anecdotes that helped us understand the content of the class in an immersive way.” For communication majors, you must take this class, as it covers the important aspects of group, interpersonal and performance communication.
9. Clinical Psychology
Recently, the Clinical Psychology Doctoral program won a prestigious award from one of the nation’s largest professional organizations for clinical psychologists, so you know this course will give you all the skills you need to succeed. Students learn the essentials of promoting behavioral therapy and understanding mental illness. “It’s so interesting to learn all the different mental disorders and be able to relate them to people in your life or yourself which helps you understand them/yourself better as a person,” said Florida State University sophomore Frankie Lowicz. Overall, this course should be at the top of the list for anyone interested in a career in psychology.
10. Principles of Advertising
You don’t have to sit at home all day just to watch commercials – you can do it in class, too. In Principles of Advertising, you’ll never look at television commercials and advertisements in the same manner, as this course alters and shapes the way people analyze brands and their media. During class, students watch various advertisements – both good and bad – to understand the full scope of promotion in relation to a brand economic growth and cultural influence. If you aim to have a career in business, marketing, advertising or communication, consider this essential course when you create your next schedule.
