It’s time to register for classes once more, so we at Student Life have compiled a list of our favorite options offered for the fall of 2016. Pray that you have a good time slot lest you be stuck with Management 100.

Computer Science I

Before coming to Washington University, I thought all computer scientists were nerds. After being strongly encouraged to try it out, I took Computer Science I (CSE 131) in the fall of my sophomore year. Update: I’m now a second major in Computer Science. This course teaches you some basic Java coding skills, and while it may not fulfill any of your graduation requirements, basic coding skills are going to be essential in our futures as our world is becoming increasingly digital and technological.

—Noa Yadidi, Editor-in-Chief

American Democracy, from Tocqueville to Trump

As we all well know, two presidential candidates will be coming to our lovely campus on a hill this fall—unless of course one candidate who shall not be named decides to just not. With questions swirling around this entirely atypical election cycle, no one quite knows where the future of this country is heading. Is American democracy still the ideal form of government? Was it ever? Take this intro to American Culture Studies class to fully understand the State of the Union.

—Wesley Jenkins, Associate Editor

Rhetoric and Power

Do you think the name sounds sexy? Well that’s what this class is all about. Well…not about being sexy—it’s about using the written word to communicate and to influence. For those who swore they’d never take a college writing class after Writing 1, this recommendation probably won’t make you reconsider, but for everyone else who’s on the edge, Rhetoric and Power will make you think hard about the way sentence and paragraph structure interact—with grammar serving as the glue holding it all together. In my opinion, that sounds pretty sexy.

—Aaron Brezel, Senior Sports Editor

Management Communication

They say that in business, you learn 95 percent of what you need for the job on the job. If I could pinpoint the class where I’ve learned the other 5 percent, it’s Management Communication. Taught by Staci Thomas, a former marketer in the biotech industry, the class is fun, engaging and always a good time. The class includes a project with a local client (my class did Hollywood Casino St. Louis this semester) and you come away with experiences you will be able to apply to interviews and internships.

—Peter Dissinger, Forum Editor

History of the English Language

I never thought I could write a 15-plus-page paper on a single word, but History of English proved me wrong. That may sound dull, but it’s anything but. Professor Arch is probably one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic professors I have had in any department, and you’re guaranteed to walk out of this class with way more information than you know what to do with (in a good way).

—Sarah Hands, Senior Forum Editor

The Theory and Practice of Justice: The American Historical Experience

Theory and Practice, unlike some history classes, strikes the right balance between lecture, readings and discussion. It also provides a great perspective on some of the major justice battles in America, as well as the gaps between our nation’s founding ideologies and the practice of their implementation.

—Noah Jodice, Director of Special Projects

The New Inequality

Don’t let the fact that the sociology department is brand new scare you from taking this course. Taught by professor Jake Rosenfeld, this upper-level seminar is an intriguing course about the causes and effects of economic inequality, one of the most pressing political issues of our time. While the three essays can be challenging, the course fills the writing-intensive requirement and the readings aren’t too heavy, so you’ll be able to get a good grade if you put in the effort.

—Nick Kauzlarich, Senior Scene Editor

Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology

To infinity and beyond! Or so I thought, until taking Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology. Now, I know that infinity—or the edge of the visible universe—is more like 13.8 billion light-years away. While intended as a “general survey for the non-science major,” this course appeals to any student—even a science nerd like myself. Professor Henric Krawczynski, described as “the most adorable man in the entire world” by an enthusiastic RateMyProfessors.com fan, makes topics like black holes, neutron stars and supernovae accessible and engaging. To top it off, this course can also be applied to fulfill a College of Arts & Sciences math requirement.

—Aidan Strassmann, Copy Chief

Microeconomics (MEC 290)

I took Arts & Sciences Intro to Microeconomics last semester, and I thought about swearing off economics (and maybe even business) altogether. But this semester, when I took the business school version (which is open to anyone!), instead of sitting in the back of lectures halfheartedly scrolling through BuzzFeed, I found myself engaged in a class that will have real world application. Can you say postgraduate employment? Well, you’ll be able to after this class.

—Lindsay Tracy, Senior Cadenza Editor

Applications in GIS

I love a good map. Applications in GIS will teach you how to use cutting-edge, disturbingly powerful software to make maps until you’re blue in the face. These are not your mother’s maps, either. These are maps packed with data—everything from cities and roads to animal populations to temperatures and air pressure. Very baller stuff. Go forth and grow your mind.

—Maddie Wilson, Managing Editor