I have class.

I know there probably aren't a lot of CLU students who read my blog, but I thought it might be fun to share with you guys some of my favorite classes I've taken here. As you may or may not know, I'm a psychology major with an emphasis in Family and Child Development and a minor in sociology. However, since CLU is a liberal arts school, I've had to take my share of general ed courses. While it is sometimes frustrating to be stuck in classes that have nothing to do with your major or your life, it can also be really liberating. So, here are some classes (Major/Minor related and unrelated) that I've really enjoyed taking here.

1. General Psychology: This class was what made me switch my major from English to Psych. Our professor really made what could have been a boring and textbook-type class into an entertaining and interactive experience, dabbling in cognitive, social, gestalt, and all other different types of psychology. He always had fun experiments and demonstrations to show us that kept the class fresh and exciting.
2. Abnormal Psychology: I took this with an amazing professor. She has so much field experience and had so many stories that helped cement the concepts into my brain. Plus, the subject matter is just the most amazing stuff in the world. I cannot understand how anyone could not want to be a psychology major! The human mind is the best. This class made me fall even more in love with Psychology than I already was. 
3. Postmodernism: As ridiculousy confusing, heavy, and frustrating all that philosophy business was, I absolutely loved this class. Postmodernism is... weird to say the least, and I will never be a philosopher, but I loved the films we had to watch for this class (Zorba the Greek, Eraserhead, Blade Runner, and many more...) and the oddball discussions we had in our small groups. On the first day of class we broke into groups of six and chose one day a week to meet, which was really nice. He always had fun projects for us to do to help apply postmodernism to our daily lives. The professor is really a character; a freakishly smart, eloquent, easy-going surfer dude with a Mario mustache. 
4. Jesus in Film and History: This was easily my favorite class I've taken at CLU. It was so challenging, informative, and honestly revolutionary in my life and faith. I loved every second of it. I took it because I thought it would be an easy course to fill my upper division religion requirement (Doesn't it just sound like a breeze?), but it ended up being far from easy. The reading was really thick and scholarly, and we had to write a ton, but I learned so much from it. I was exposed to so many films that I wouldn't have watched otherwise, something that I really enjoyed, because in another life, I would have loved to major in film studies. I love analyzing films, and that's what this class was all about. My personal favorites: Jesus Christ, Superstar, The Last Temptation of Christ, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. Also, the professor is a former Lutheran pastor who has tons of stories and insights to share with the class.
5. The Oceans: To be totally honest, I complained about this class the whole time I was in it. It's a science course comprised of two parts, geology and biology. I hated the geology part; it bored me to tears. It makes me sad to say because, #1, I love rocks; #2, My grandpa used to teach geology at our local community college. But man, that stuff about plates and tectonics just went right over my head. The biology, I loved. The ocean is completely fascinating to me, and I could learn about ocean creatures all day long! And, in retrospect, I retained a lot of stuff from that class that has actually related to my life and made me feel a lot smarter. 
6. Child and Adolescent Development: I'm in this class right now, and it has totally brainwashed me. Every time I see a kid I'm trying to guess his/her age by studying gross motor skills, language and cognitive development. I LOVE IT. Anyone who wants to be a parent, teacher, child psychologist, or work with children at all should have to take this. It's so fun to find out why kids do the funny things they do, and what part brain development plays in all of it.
7. Physics For Liberal Studies Majors: I'm also taking this right now, and it is so wonderful. I didn't think I would ever like physics, but since this is physics for dummies and virtually sans math, I LOVE IT. Physics is the coolest. I feel like I'm learning about the world in a whole new way. Our professor is really fired up about everything and it adds a lot of energy to the class. He's also committed to being the best teacher he can be, and spends a lot of time talking to people in the education department and going to conferences to learn about the best ways to teach physics. It really pays off, apparently, because I'm actually getting a lot out of the class. And I hate science. Just saying.
   
   And that is why I love my school. I can't wait to take even more awesome classes in the future! If you're ever by chance attending CLU, take these courses.