If you’re a new student, you’re probably wondering what kind of classes are offered at Conn. If you’re a returning student, class registration is just around the corner, and you may want to shake things up and try something new. Choosing your four courses can be overwhelming, but we’re here to offer some recommendations on our favorite classes that we’ve taken so far at Connecticut College.
Classes can be a fun way to explore topics completely foreign to you, which is why Jewish Philosophy has been my favorite class at Conn! While I’m a Philosophy major, I had little prior knowledge of Judaism, but chose to take this course as it’s taught by my wonderful advisor. Engaging with a new topic through a lens I’ve spent my college years developing is a test of my philosophical inquiry skills, and I’ve been able to learn so much new information while strengthening my thinking skills.
– Kendall Foley ‘24
As an American Studies major, I’ve been able to take classes in many different disciplines and meet lots of professors and new people. One of my favorites has been US Culture and Politics in the U.S. from 1945-Present. It was a really engaging history course that went more in depth on the American experience throughout the past decades, and our professor brought in lots of interesting readings, led great discussions, and helped us analyze films. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to take a history course that relies on more than a textbook and try a class in the American Studies department!
– Maria Sell ‘23
I am an American Studies major, so it will likely come as no surprise that my favorite class so far has been Introduction to American Studies with Professor Neely. I took this class my spring semester freshman year and it is the reason I decided to be an American Studies major. The course materials for the class are all amazing and led to interesting class discussions. At times, our class almost felt like a slightly more academically rigorous book club. Some of the books we read were: Severance by Ling Ma, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans, and Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. If any of these titles sounds interesting, and if you are a fan of English and History, I highly recommend trying out American Studies by taking the introductory course!
– Sarah Hennig ‘24
Are you interested in the natural sciences? Of course, you’ll want to take your Intro Biology and General Chemistry classes. But, did you know that there is another introductory biology course? Environmental Biology is a course taught by Professor Spicer, the head of the Botany Department. She takes the class through the basics of biological processes, but through the lens of different, real-world case studies. Instead of the usual textbook-based learning, we studied biology by looking at the COVID-19 pandemic, the malaria epidemic, coral bleaching, harmful algal blooms, and several other environmental and biological events. The accompanying lab is the perfect way to get hands-on experience with the material, and my view of the sciences were broadened considerably. I would highly recommend taking Environmental Biology the next time it is offered!
– Lara Beckius ‘24