It’s almost that time of year again when everyone is stressing about course selection, and we all start plotting out how we’ll live our lives week-by-week for the next year. Filling up all of your time with heavy classes can be rough, especially when midterm and exam season rolls around. It’s important to have a decent balance between light and heavy courses, even if that means just having one lighter course in each semester.
If you’ve got some free credits you need to fill up with electives, or if you’re just looking for an easy class to lighten your workload and maybe boost your GPA, these classes are here to help!
- Acting for Non-Majors (FA THEA 1520)
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This class is great when it comes to lightening your workload. 40 percent of your grade is based on participation, so all you have to show up and try your best to get a good grade. The midterm and final exam are both a performance of the same simple two minute monologue! That’s just 200–350 words you need to memorize.
This class is also great to help with nerves when it comes to public speaking and oral presentations. If you’re prone to stage fright, this class may be a good way to ease yourself out of your fear. Learn how to be unafraid of embarrassing yourself.
- Fundamentals of Editing (AP PRWR 2006)
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This class is decently lightweight in terms of homework and take-home projects. If you struggle with general grammar and syntax in your essays, this may be a good class to take to help you improve. Or, if you’re a bit of a grammar nut, this class will be a breeze. The main focus is on grammar and sentence formatting, and how to follow a style guide. If you’re interested in any form of writing, or if it’s something you struggle with, this is a great class to take.
- Sex, Drugs and Theatre (FA THEA 1900)
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This online class is as simple as they come. Weekly online participation, a couple of 1000 word essays, and lectures. They assign a few plays for readings, but you only need to read two or three of them for the sake of your essays. The midterm and exam are online and multiple choice. Participation takes less than five minutes.
- The Fairy Tale (AP GER 1791)
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This is a six-credit course that focuses on the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales and the surrounding lore. If you’re a big Disney fan, this is the class for you. A large portion of the class focuses on the original tales of the classic Disney movies, and even has the majority of these movies as homework throughout the year.
The midterm and exam are multiple choice. There are online participation requirements (alternating between a quiz and a discussion forum) every week. The final project, which is worth a good chunk of your grade, is either a 2000 word essay or a “creative project of your choice.” That’s right. A creative project. That means literally anything so long as it is approved by the prof. You can even do this final project with partners. - Comedy (AP HUMA 3013)
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This is a great course to take if you are a lover of theater, plays or simple readings. This class focuses on five plays throughout the semester and each one is less than 100 pages. The readings alternate from week to week, so that’s one reading of less than 100 pages every two weeks.
The grades for this class are based on two essays, a midterm, a final exam and tutorial participation.
Regardless of how you put your course schedule together for next year, just remember to keep self-care in mind. An overly heavy workload is how nightmare midterm and exam seasons are born. Don’t put yourself in such a high position of stress. Give yourself one bird course that will lighten your workload and give you time to breathe.