Mini-courses offer chance to explore creative classes

Students who want to escape the confines of the library can spend a few hours each week indulging their creative side by taking part in academic and non-academic mini-courses.

The University Activities Center is offering 11 non-academic mini-courses, including bartending, swing dancing and sign language.

LSA junior Teja Shah, the coordinator of the courses, said he expects swing dancing and bartending to be popular this semester.

"I think there is a swing craze going on in the nation right now," Shah said. "The traditional classes: bartending, ballroom dancing, yoga have been around for awhile and will sell out."

The courses are popular because students are able to select an area they have are interested in but do not have to worry about homework or grades in the course, Shah said.

"The aim is to expand students' interest and to explore the non-academic side of students," Shah said.

Shah said many of the courses run for six weeks. Registration will continue through Feb. 12 and classes begin Feb. 15. He added that the classes "represent courses that students like."

LSA junior Abby Wald said she is considering enrolling in one of the courses, adding that a class like swing dancing would be a great stress reliever.

"I think it's a good opportunity to meet new people," Wald said. "They offer things not offered normally."

But students interested in taking a one credit course in an academic area can also select from several mini-courses.

Robert Wallin, director of academic information for the College of Literature, Science and the Arts Robert Wallin said there are a number of courses available in academic disciplines such as physics and astronomy.

"The courses are pretty regularized and are taught mostly by regular professors," Wallin said.

Wallin said he is amazed at how many students choose to take a one credit class.

Mini-courses "have grown in the science department; a large number of students are looking for a one credit topic," Wallin said. "A large number of students do not want to take any more than seven credits for their science distribution."

Wallin said students sometimes choose to elect a one credit course because after they drop other classes that cause them to fall below 12 credits. In these cases, the mini-courses can compensate for the lost credits and raise the student to full-time status.

Wallin said the courses focus on topics that may become a part of a larger class and often surprise students with the amount of work they demand.

"It gives professors the opportunity to get together with students and work on a self-contained topic," Wallin said.

Mini-courses "serve a useful purpose and help students out."

Students can still register for courses that are scheduled to begin after spring break.

02-03-99