Seven Fun Non-Major Electives

By Amanda Brown

Your major is serious business, but in many colleges it’s required that you take a certain amount of non-major electives. While you’re focused on the courses you have to take, it can be difficult to adequately research the entirety of courses that are available to you; luckily for you, I’ve done a lot of research in order to deliver a broad spectrum of courses available to everyone. While you have the option to choose, make sure you pick a course that caters to your interests! Which fun out of major elective best suits you? (Disclaimer: The course titles that I’ve mentioned in this article are specific to University of Florida and may be slightly different at other colleges.)

1. Film Analysis

Many colleges offer different versions of this type of course: Film Analysis & Criticism, Film Theory & Analysis, etc. If you find that you pay a lot of attention to obscure details in movies or can predict the plot before your friends have a chance to, this may be a good course for you! Film connoisseurs and movie buffs alike will appreciate this course and at the very least learn how to criticize films in a sophisticated manner.

2. Interior Design

Interior design, or design innovation can be relevant regardless of what major you are! This brief overview of the profession of interior design can help you gain insight on how to most efficiently use space. That’s undoubtedly a useful skill as long as you live in a dorm or studio apartment! A better understanding of concepts such as Feng Shui and Le Corbusier’s Modulor will not only further your interior design skills, it has the potential to impress other art dabblers.

3. Communications Courses

The College of Communications has some very interesting and fun courses that can help enhance your resume! This past semester, I took a Nonverbal Communications course and loved it so much that I picked up a Communications minor. Various Colleges of Communications offer courses that aid in everyday interactions and situations such as: Interpersonal Communications, Intro to Public Speaking, and Health Communications. Many of these are applicable in daily life, and can make you stand out to potential employers!

4. Biological Studies

Depending on whether you’re strong in sciences, biological studies may be an interesting candidate for elective courses! Outside of biology, there are many interesting courses to be found in the biological sciences area. Some colleges offer specialized courses such as local flora & fauna, and nutrition courses that feature specific topics such as vegetables, or meats. Botany and horticultural classes can be a viable alternative if you’d rather get your hands dirty.

5. Women’s Studies

If you’d like to become better versed in Feminist Theory, courses from the Women’s Study major can offer you some unique opportunities. From general courses such as Humanities Perspective on Gender and Sexuality to much more specific courses such as Ecofeminism, you are offered the chance to inspect theories you may already know about through a different lens of perspective.

6. Theatre

Introduction to Theatre or Theatre Appreciation courses immerse you into the world of theatre, allowing students to learn important terminology of the theatre and read key texts. At the University of Florida, students in the Theatre Appreciation course receive free tickets to three plays at various playhouses. These performances are later referred to in assignments and term papers. Overall, these courses are engaging and give a bird’s eye view of theatre in a historical, and physical context.

7. Anthropology

Anthropology is simply defined as the study of humans, past and present. This includes the studies of the four subcodes of Anthropology: sociocultural, biological, linguistic and archaeology. Classes in this field includes subjects such as Introduction to World Archaeology, Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents, Human Sexuality and Culture, and The African Experience. For anyone who has wanted to be an archaeologist through the influence of Indiana Jones or The Land Before Time, this is an opportunity to get a taste of the adventurous subject.

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