I’m sure we’ve all heard the, while funny, very true joke that gen-eds seem to assign more work than all of your major-related classes combined. While it can be entertaining to trauma-bond with other students in a particularly brutal elective course, most of us want classes we can rely on to be an easy A. After all, these are supposed to be our “filler” classes.
I have taken my fair share of electives, some tougher than others, but I have worked to compile a list of classes that balance manageable work with course topics you’ll actually find interesting.
- Ent 216N – Plagues Through the Ages
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This course explores the history of major diseases and pandemics and how they have shaped human societies, politics and culture over time. It connects historical outbreaks to modern public health issues and the ways societies respond to widespread illness.
The course itself has a relatively low course load, with only a few take-home quizzes and a final project making up the entirety of the grade.
- CMLIT 143 – Human Rights and World Literature
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This class examines literature from around the world through the lens of human rights. It is heavily discussion-based, giving students the opportunity to engage deeply with themes of justice, identity and resistance across different cultural and historical contexts.
The course includes a range of amazing novels, such as my personal favorite, Isabel Allende’s “The House of the Spirits,” among others that explore how individuals and communities navigate oppression and social change.
If you enjoy reading novels and are looking to expand your own bookshelf, I would absolutely recommend looking into this course.
- PUBPL 120N – State, Society, and Public Policy
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This course introduces how governments and public institutions shape society through policy-making. It focuses on how laws and policies are developed and implemented, and their impact on issues like inequality, education and healthcare.
While the content can sometimes feel overly straightforward or repetitive, the course is generally approachable and easy to engage with. The majority of the grade comes from written papers, which allow students to apply concepts to real-world policy issues.
- FR 138N – French Culture Through Film
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This class explores French culture, history and society through film. Students analyze French-language movies to understand cultural themes, social issues and historical contexts, while also building cultural literacy.
The bulk of the coursework involves watching films at home and then coming to class to discuss them in depth. Although the films are in French, the course is taught in English, and students use subtitles, making it accessible while still offering an immersive look into French cinema and culture.
- GLIS 101N – Globalization
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This course introduces the concept of globalization and its effects on economics and communication worldwide. It examines how global connections shape daily life and influence inequalities and opportunities across countries.
The grade is primarily based on a few take-home exams, infographic assignments created using tools like Canva and class participation.
Overall, it is a strong introductory course that helps students become more familiar with global affairs, especially for those pursuing a major in GLIS.
Overall, these are courses in which I have been able to earn an A, and I would recommend them to anyone looking to fulfill credit requirements through engaging, interesting classes that are manageable without being overly demanding!