With Fall Break’s slow arrival and swift retreat, the midpoint of the semester is quickly approaching. This means it is also another time of year — course registration! Alongside the handy-dandy resources like PlanIt and Rate My Professor, the StudLife editors have got you covered.

Here are some of our favorite courses listed for Spring 2025:

L98 AMCS 3060: Current Affairs and Critical Issues in American Culture

Breaking news: Newspaper staff recommends class about media literacy. “Current Affairs and Critical Issues in American Culture” is a phenomenal course that constantly reshapes throughout the semester to keep up with the news of the week. In this course, you will study contemporary world issues from a variety of sources with biases in all directions. As a class, you will piece together what is really happening by studying a variety of media outlets and the historical precedents to modern events. The course teaches you to be a more critical consumer of news and media, how to consider different audiences, to consider media access, and to better contextualize contemporary issues through a historical lens. Anyone who is interested in news, communications, elections, world events, bias, journalism, American history, or is generally bombarded with New York Times notifications will love this course.

— Alice Gottesman, Managing Scene Editor

L12 Writing 352: Introduction to Screenwriting

If you’re a creative writer, an aspiring movie producer, or just interested in how screenplays are made (and how movie ideas are born), this is the class for you. By the end of this course, you will have a stronger understanding of how to tell a story. You will learn about the “beats” — the important plot points — of a feature-length film. You will pick up on Hollywood lingo and get a good sense of what goes on in the writer’s room: the brainstorming, writing, and formatting of screenplays. You will finish the class with the first act complete of your own screenplay. And, if nothing else, you will be sure to enjoy the many stories Professor Chapman will have to share. 

— Jordan Spector, Senior Forum Editor

L33 315: Introduction to Social Psychology

Whether you’re looking to fulfill a social-science credit or just want to try something new and easygoing, I’d go for Intro to Social Psychology. Although I can’t speak for the professor teaching this upcoming semester, I can vouch for the material of the class — it’ll get you thinking more about how psychology manifests in everyday life. It covers everything from persuasion to bias and how we see ourselves based on the people around us. You don’t have to be a Psych Major to enjoy it — one of the best parts of the class is how applicable it is to everyday life. There is a good chance one of the topics will stick with you, and you’ll learn something valuable from it. 

— Sophia Hellman, Junior Scene Editor

L24 Math 233: Calculus III

I know higher-level math isn’t usually the go-to when you’re scrolling WebSTAC for an extra elective, but Calc 3 with Professor Schaefer is truly one of the most well-taught and engaging courses available at WashU. I’m personally biased as a Math Major, but this class was the deciding factor that made me confident and passionate enough about math to declare my major. Building on the previous two calculus classes (equivalent to AP Calc AB and BC), multivariable calculus covers topics on vectors, gradients, optimization, double and triple integrals, and surface integrals. No need to fear the big words, though — there’s a reason Professor Schaefer has 4.8 stars on Rate My Professor. He makes complicated concepts clear, provides so many resources (including recorded lectures!), and really takes the extra time to make class fun (cat pics!). As the reviews say: “Live laugh love Schaefer.”

— Lore Wang, Junior Scene Editor

L32 Pol Sci 3300: Terrorism and Counterterrorism

In this class, students learn about how, when, and why political actors resort to terrorism, and the psychology and strategy behind terrorist groups and individuals. In her lectures, Professor Wayne is engaging and informative, giving an in-depth look into the theory and debates around terrorism through analysis of historical examples abroad and in the United States. She also encourages students to grapple with the dilemmas of counterterrorism policy, delving into the ethical and practical considerations governments must make in dealing with terrorism. Whether you’re a Political Science Major or the topics just pique your curiosity, this class is a great option for anyone interested in politics and policy.

— Riley Herron, Managing Sports Editor

L84 Lw St 131F: Present Moral Problems

This class is amazing in that it prompts you to think critically about contemporary societal issues, with topics such as abortion, euthanasia, and animal rights. Whether you dabble in (or quite enjoy!) philosophy, or are just looking for a humanities credit, this is a great option for you! Though this class is reading-heavy, the readings are engaging and relevant to modern life today, making them easier to get through! This class also places a great emphasis on class discussion, which often makes the time fly by. I would highly recommend taking this class with Professor Baril. She is great at facilitating discussions to suit the interests of students, and possesses a deep passion and enthusiasm for all the topics she teaches on!

— Olivia Lee, Junior Scene Editor

L15 Drama 2401: Fundamentals of Acting

If you are bored of sitting in big lecture halls and want to get out of your shell for 90 minutes, this class is for you. This class is engaging and gets you on your feet, warmed up to learn the methods and exercises actors use. While this class is not big, you get the chance to get to know classmates from different schools/majors and break out of your “major bubble.” No acting experience is required — the course takes people from any level and teaches them the basics of how to act. The basis of the class is not about being flamboyant or becoming someone you aren’t. It is about being true to yourself and to the moment. So if you are feeling adventurous and want to recite “Grip Top Sock” or mystically walk around Studio II in the Women’s Building, sign up!

— Sydney Tran, Head of Design

L77 WGSS 3561: Law, Gender, and Justice

There are no required classes for pre-law students, but if there were, this would be one of them. Every semester, “Law, Gender, and Justice” is taught by law students once a week (it’s three hours, so bring snacks). You learn about feminist jurisprudence (a fancy word for legal theories and philosophies) and various issues of law and policy, especially related to civil rights. In my class, we read a mix of court cases, scholarly and journal articles, and sometimes more creative pieces. This class goes beyond just gender and the law, and also looks at race, class, sexuality, and other social constructions and how they interact with legal and social issues. I remember some of my favorite units being Reproductive Justice; Race, Law, and Justice; and Criminal Justice. I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the fundamentals of how justice, advocacy, and the law intersect.

— Sylvie Richards, Managing Forum Editor

L14 E Lit 2152 03: Literature in English: Modern Texts and Contexts

This is a required course for English majors and with good reason! As its name suggests, this class delves into modern pieces of literature and their historical significance and situation. I have loved studying with Dr. Erin Finneran. Her passion for literature — and words in general — is very evident in every sentence. She never fails to keep students engaged, mostly because this is a seminar course. As of now, my favorite unit has been Romanticism. It’s the absolute first unit, and it’s a good introduction to the course as a whole. Dr. Finneran encourages students to build their own interpretations of the text rather than assigning a universal message, so your readings of the poems will be very personalized — though you do still have to actually understand the poem just a little bit.

— Dion Hines, Junior Forum Editor

L14 E Lit 3539: Jews, Jersey, and America: Philip Roth Reconsidered

Philip Roth is one of the most prolific writers of the 20th centuries and I would argue has one of the weirdest minds ever. Getting to take a class where you focus on one author and can track how they change over time was fascinating. The reading list is a little on the longer side, but these books… let’s just say, don’t listen to the audiobook versions with your family around. The class discussions were also a blast because of the material, but it was really Professor Shipe who made that class come alive. Every day, I could tell that Roth was part of what got this guy out of bed in the morning (so do the Alabama Crimson Tide and his family, don’t worry). I learned a ton about Roth himself and how to write a high-level argumentative paper (Pre-Law homies please stand up). I cannot recommend this class enough to English Majors, or people just trying to fill their Writing Intensive requirement, or anyone who happens to self-identify as a Roth head (let’s find a time to talk about “Portnoy’s Complaint”…). 

— Avi Holzman, Co-Editor-in-Chief

L13 Writing 327: Creative Nonfiction: Personal Essay and Memoir

Most of us have probably experienced what it’s like to write in a journal or hastily jot down thoughts in the Notes app on our phones. Perhaps many of us have also taken intro-level creative-nonfiction courses and dipped our toes into the genre. But what does it mean to take one’s writing from the fleeting and sometimes haphazardly-slapping-words-on-a-page level to the more careful, craft-focused level? If you’ve taken Creative Nonfiction 1 and you enjoyed the Personal Essay half of the course more than the Literary Journalism half (or if you loved both halves equally!), this class may be the one for you. You’ll do deep-dives on carefully chosen readings and apply what you learn from class discussions and professor feedback in your own writing. This class is cathartic, eye-opening, and challenging at times — on several levels. And this class is fun. I implore you: Take it. As a former nonfiction hater who now passionately claims creative nonfiction as her favorite genre, I can tell you this: It will absolutely be worth it. 

— Cathay Pan Poulsen, Managing Chief of Copy

L32 Pol Sci 102B: Introduction to Comparative Politics

For students who think they might be interested in majoring (or minoring) in political science, this is a great class to help make that decision. The course provides students with the tools to analyze different systems of government, how they operate, and how the different systems interact with each other. It also provides a good introduction to game theory and the analytical side of political science. Professor Rosas is an engaging lecturer who is very approachable and explains topics well. If you think you want to study political science in any capacity, I would encourage you to take this class.

— Lewis Rand, Junior Sports Editor

L64 PNP 3531: Biological Psychology 

Biology may not sound like the most interesting topic for a budding psych student. However, biological psychology is a class anyone will find fascinating. Class content begins with an in-depth look at the neuron before blooming into an array of diverse and relevant topics. Expect to study sleep, psychodynamic drugs, hunger, emotion, and more. Professor Bergstrom is a talented lecturer who makes time for his students, and if nothing else has convinced you yet, you might even get your hands on a real human brain. Students looking to get out of their social-science comfort zone (or just students in general) will be in for a treat with Biological Psychology. 

— David Ciorba, Junior Forum Editor

B55 MKT 377: Consumer Behavior

Even if you aren’t a marketing major or in Olin, consumer behavior is such an interesting class to take. The course teaches you all about customer habits, decision-making, persuasion, memory, and so much more. The class really goes beyond just marketing applications and explains how to use all of these strategies in your everyday life. Every lesson is built on real-world examples so you are really able to understand everything that is being taught. The workload of this course is extremely manageable, and the readings are actually interesting. This is probably my favorite Olin class, and it is one of the only ones that held my attention throughout the 80-minute lectures. 

— Bri Nitsberg, Managing Photo Editor

L90 AFAS 255: Introduction to Africana Studies

Whether you’re an AFAS major and this course is required, or you’re literally anyone else looking to broaden your exposure to diasporic Black history, this course is a must-take. I took this class when it was taught by Professor Shearer, but I’ve also enjoyed many classes with Professor Manditch-Prottas (and if you’re interested in more AFAS classes, he’s also teaching “Black Masculinities,” which I can’t recommend enough). The class starts with a reading of the Black Manifesto, written by WashU’s Association of Black Collegians in 1968, which led to the creation of what is now the AFAS department! In addition to gems like this that students aren’t likely to be exposed to elsewhere, course readings are both captivating and manageable, and classes are always lively.

— Jasmine Stone, Senior Forum Editor