When I was an undergrad, my friends who had recently entered “the real world” kept reminding me to take advantage of every opportunity college has to offer – sign up for cool electives, eat too much cotton candy at the campus fair, join an intramural league (and reenact Dodgeball).
Now I fully realize that my four years of waking up 15 minutes before my 10 a.m. “Intro to Rock Music History” class were truly more precious than gold.
Here are 10 cool, intriguing, or just plain fun courses offered by local colleges that I would take if I could turn back time…
👩🎓 PHL 265 – Philosophy and Hip-Hop | Furman University | Study hip-hop as a cultural movement, casting a philosopher’s eye on the musical genre and its connection to identity, social justice, and religion. If you’ve memorized Kendrick Lamar’s or Biggie’s entire music library, here’s your chance to boost that GPA.
👩🎓 LS 1250 – Budget Travel | Clemson University | What we all wish we knew during college – how to track down cheap flights, pick a wallet-friendly-but-still-exciting destination, and adjust to suddenly being in a brand-new city (and the culture shock that comes with).
👩🎓 GEOL 104 – Natural Disasters | USC Upstate | Learn the how and why behind natural disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, and study their impacts + how they can be mitigated. You’ll be able to explain the science behind Hurricane Flo to everyone.
👩🎓BUS 110 – Entrepreneurship | Greenville Technical College | Get your hustle on with lessons in starting a small business, including forms of ownership and management.
👩🎓 ODEL 2340 – Outdoor Camping Skills | North Greenville University | Take advantage of going to college 20 min. from Paris Mountain State Park. Master everything you need to know to thrive in the wild, from cooking to pitching a tent.
👩🎓 CA 125 – Desserts & Pastries | Bob Jones University | Get your baking skills to Great British Baking Show level with this course in cake decorating, classical pastry production, and wedding cake design. Lab included – come with a sweet tooth.
👩🎓 MUE 526 – Psychology of Music | Anderson University | Ever wonder why you shed a tear listening to the Titanic theme song? Get the background on how social, developmental + cognitive psychology affect our perception of music, and the latest on “neuromusical research.”
👩🎓 FINA 151 – Financial Wellness | Lander University | A practical class with skills that you will actually use post-grad. Start saving early, second-guess spending on that credit card, and ask questions about investing.
👩🎓 THEA 212 – The Art of Acting | Wofford College | Find your inner Meryl Streep in this course in acting for the stage, including acting games + physical exercises, the basics of character analysis, and practice in monologues and scene work. Remember us when you’re on Broadway.
👩🎓 POL 101 – Introduction to American Government | Converse College | We took government in high school, but are we the only ones who mostly texted through it? Here’s everything you need to know to engage in the news: policymaking, institutions, and controversial issues in our government.
As for classes us adults can actually take, Furman’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers courses for seniors in everything from hiking to Photoshop and investing basics. 📝 And adding a few classes at the YMCA into your schedule can teach you something new *and* help you hit those New Years goals.
Here’s to learning something every day. ✌️
