With midterm season coming to a close, the time has come for students to think about courses for next semester. Here are some course recommendations to mitigate the stress of crafting the perfect schedule.

POLSCI 3512 – The Supreme Court, Law, and Public Policy

Professor Waterbury’s course provides an exciting exploration of the United States’ highest court perfect for future attorneys. You’ll be doing your best Elle Woods impression with consistent exposure to relevant and groundbreaking opinions as course readings that will set you up well for Harvard Law. This class will have you asking “what, like it’s hard” by the time you’ve finished your fifth policy brief, the three-page general audience writing assignments spaced throughout the semester that make up almost all of your grade. “Ohmigod you guys,” the debate-focused nature and engaging lectures make this an easy and fun recommendation!

– Jake Isenberg, Scene Editor

GLOBAL 3750 – Topics in Russian Literature and Culture

Russian novels can seem like intimidating behemoths of literature, but these global studies courses with Professor Svobodny are a great introductory foray into more well-known literary giants, as well as Russian literature as a whole and its engagement with a political climate and culture so rich with history. All readings are in translation, so no language or prior knowledge is required. I always found the discussions to be incredibly engaging, and as someone who has inadvertently taken three writing intensives, this class paces essays well, and peer reviews are truly helpful. Plus, three of my classmates in my 13-person seminar (~23%) were engaged or married (not to each other). So maybe if you take this class, you’ll find true love. And if you don’t, you’ll at least be able to find commiseration in the great Russian novel. 

– Laurel Wang, Editor-in-Chief

AMCS 3128-01 – Dad Culture Studies

As someone who is not a humanities major, this course was super accessible and one of the most interesting classes I’ve taken at WashU. Maciak is really friendly and passionate about the topic — he actually just finished an entire book on the subject of Dad Culture. The workload isn’t bad and I found the material engaging but not dense. The class is exactly what it sounds like: you learn about the evolution of fatherhood in the US. But Maciak invites long discussions and tangents, so we talked about everything from “Bluey” to DILFs. 

– Bea Augustine, Design Editor

WRITING 2002 – The Sentence in English

The Sentence in English is an entire semester of learning how to diagram sentences in the Reed–Kellogg system. While we all learn basic grammar in elementary school, it is only after taking this class that I feel actually confident about how my sentences work. I would recommend this class to anyone studying English, a language, or anyone who is interested in patterns or logic. I am studying math and German, and find this class to be applicable and interesting for both of these disciplines.

– Amelia Spencer, Special Issues Editor

SOC 3000 – Social Theory

Most of my class, myself included, started off frightened by the prospect of a semester full of dense theoretical texts. A couple years later, I’ve cited these texts abroad in French, English, and political science classes (even abroad in Paris!) — they have become integral to my understanding of the world both in and outside of academia. Professor Coenders leads the class with dry wit and a genuine curiosity for student interpretation. Whether your interests lie in the role of the state, the American construction of race, or the functioning of the economy, I can assure you that at least one reading will make something major click or shift your worldview in a thrilling way.

– River Alsalihi, Forum Editor

ELIT.4224.01 – American Literature: Reconceiving the Harlem Renaissance

Reconceiving the Harlem Renaissance isn’t just a semester-long overview of the New Negro Movement. As the title of the course suggests, it’s also a reframing of this movement that was largely influential to Black American art. Professor William Maxwell is quite an engaging teacher and character in general — I don’t believe I’ve ever left a class apathetic toward what we learned — and he has a lot of great knowledge to offer. This course also counts toward the Global or Minority Literature and 400-level elective requirements in the English major, so you’ll be knocking out some key credits while learning pivotal history. Even if you aren’t an English major, I encourage any student interested in American history and literature to take this class as soon as they can. 

– Dion Hines, Managing Forum Editor

LING 4062 – Second-Language Acquisition

This course is perfect for the casual linguist, passionate language learner, or anyone who has found themselves wondering about how we acquire new languages at different stages of life. The wide variety of linguistic theories we discussed in this class sparked countless thought-provoking discussions between my friends, and I still find myself applying the things I learned fairly often in my day-to-day life. While a little background information in linguistics might help you understand some concepts better, there are no prerequisites for this 4000-level course. It also only meets once a week, so you have plenty of time to prepare and complete assignments. If you’re looking for an interesting deep dive into a compelling topic, then I highly recommend taking Second-Language Acquisition.

– Julie Kassin, Chief of Copy

DESIGN.1210.03 – Digital Studio

If you’re thinking about taking Digital Studio in the spring, take it with the Josh Azzarella. Let’s just say critique with Josh Azzarella is a canon event every Sam Fox student should indulge in. Girl dad of girl dads, oh Josh, how I could never form a solid opinion on you… I’m just Josh-ing around. He’s pretty nice if you sit right up next to him during class. Also super accessible to people outside of Sam Fox! 

– Marceline Lee, Illustration Editor

SOC 3180.01 – Philanthropy Lab

Philanthropy Lab taught by Barbara Levin is an interesting class where you learn about philanthropy through readings, guest lectures, and by actually doing it yourself. The class gets $50,000 to split into 5 groups, each formed with a specific philanthropic mission. Throughout the course of the semester you research and meet with organizations in St. Louis to whom you will donate the $10,000; it’s a difficult process and teaches you to think critically about what philanthropy can and can’t do. In a world divided by socioeconomic status and a country where many rely on the non-profit ecosystem, becoming a philanthropist for a semester places the student squarely in the middle of these complex discussions.

– Kate Theerman Rodriguez, Forum Editor

HISTORY 3138 – 20th-Century Russian History

If you are interested in modern history at all, this is the class for you. 20th-Century Russian History, taught by Professor Laas, provides critical insight not only into Eastern Europe and Central Asia, but also into the entire post-Cold War world. In this course, you will learn about the unprecedented rise of the Soviet Union, its even more spectacular fall, and everything in between. The many, many failures of the Soviet communist regime are as fascinating as they are humiliating, and Dr. Laas teaches them in a very engaging fashion. No prior knowledge of Russian history is required.

– Alex Dering, Photo Editor