Your leg is bouncing with anticipation as you refresh Self Service Carolina and prepare
to take on the registration gauntlet once more. Your Stanley jingles with fresh iced
coffee from Gamecock Park and your headphones are in, blaring your favorite hype playlist.
You've got a schedule packed full of required classes, but you need something else.
Something that is fun, engaging, piques your interest and fulfills your elective gap.
Don't worry, because we're back again for another year and another round of some of
the coolest classes you can take for Fall 2024. For this list, we've brought back
fan favorites and added some new classes that are sure to make you say, "I want to
take that!"
Remember, the list is by no means exhaustive. There are a ton of unique learning experiences
waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re into sports, true crime, dancing, cooking
or even something a little otherworldly, South Carolina has you covered.
Introduction to Jewelry Making ARTS 255
Are you creative and fashionable? Like to work with your hands and make amazing things?
Always wanted to use a blowtorch? If you answered yes to any of the above questions,
then Introduction to Jewelry Making might be the class for you.
Intro to Jewelry Making gives students the opportunity to get those creative juices
flowing through a unique medium that utilizes tools not so easily accessed on the
day-to-day. This course has three sections, one of which is taught by Thomas Bosse,
who describes his coursework as “a studio art class in which students learn a variety
of jewelry techniques including soldering, torchwork, stone setting, fabrication,
forging/forming, casting, and more. Students approach contemporary art concepts from
a perspective of jewelry and adornment as they create unique designs of their own.”
Be warned that this class does have a lab fee and if you want to work on creating
silver jewelry, you will have to provide that material yourself. No matter what you
decide to create, students will leave the semester with an understanding of jewelry
design, their own striking jewelry pieces and the technical skills needed to create
them.
Anthropology of Magic and Religion ANTH 206/RELG 360
If you’re a Palmetto College student searching for an elective, look no further. This
fall you can take a deep dive into cultures across the globe through the inner workings
of their beliefs, traditions and myths. This online course takes students on a journey
through a number of topics, from the religious concepts of Hinduism and Buddisim,
to Native American myth and lore, to Voodoo and Hoodoo, all the way to supernatural
assaults from hags and haints. Whether you’re an up-and-coming writer looking to find
inspiration, a folklore enthusiast or just interested in learning more about the core
cultural aspect that is religion, Anthropology of Magic and Religion is here to help.
Scuba PEDU 146
Here in the heart of Columbia, you can reach new depths ... in the Blatt pool. Regardless
of being just shy of coastline, students have the opportunity to hone their scuba
skills and even get certified. As a scuba student, you’ll participate in lectures
to prepare you for your “in water” training at the Blatt P.E. Center. At the end of
the course, you can choose whether or not you want to get certified in scuba diving
by making your way to a “body of water,” either in-state or out-of-state (think Florida
coast).
This course does have a $225 lab fee and students choosing to get their certification
out-of-state are responsible for those fees. Certification is not required for your
final grade.
Introduction to Comics Studies FAMS 350
Harrowing tales of Earth's mightiest heroes. A caped crusader thwarting evil under
the cover of darkness. Supernatural powers and love stories for the ages. In Introduction
to Comics Studies, you'll weave through the panels of some of the world's most iconic
comics, graphic novels, manga and more to explore the many facets of the comic universe.
This course is a deep dive into the world of graphic literature that discusses the
various types of comics, key moments and the different genres that make up its rich
history in the United States and beyond. Students will also learn to analyze the art
of the comics themselves and the strategies and purposes behind them. If you're the
person that has Disney+ just for the Marvel content, this class is a must take.
Ready, set, serve! You can join in on the nationwide phenomenon and see why this paddle
sport has taken the world by storm. Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton
and ping-pong to create a workout that you'll look forward to (and get class credit
for!) every week. In this course, you'll learn the rules of pickleball and techniques
necessary to best any opponent, all while getting active and having a blast.
Canine Fitness Connection PEDU 100
School can be stressful, but in Canine Fitness Connection, you’ll get more than your
daily dose of serotonin. In this course, students head to local shelter, Final Victory,
to make a difference in their community by walking dogs, doing laundry, administering
medications and more. Who knows? You might even meet your new furry best friend along
the way. Past students have fostered and even adopted the animals they’ve cared for
during the course. But, if you’re not ready for that kind of commitment, you can still
decompress, give back and play with pups for course credit.
Note that this class does have a $10 fee and will require access to transportation,
as Final Victory is located in West Columbia.
The Summer Olympic Games SPTE 330
With the Paris Summer Olympics mere months away, there’s no better time to take a
course that immerses you in the who, what and why of the most epic series of sporting
events known to man. In this class, you’ll learn about the games, the economic and
the geo-political impact on their host cities and more. The best part? Students will
travel around the world via 360 virtual reality “road trips” that will allow them
to experience first-hand the stories and sports that make the world’s largest global,
sport tourism mega-event go round. If you’re looking to get the inside scoop on the
Olympic Games and get as close as you can to feeling like an Olympic athlete, this
is the class for you.
This course is open to all majors but does give preference to SPTE majors and is conducted
on a 15-week schedule.
Coffee, Tea and Non-Alcoholic Beverages HRTM 373
Calling all beverage goblins! Are you the person who shows up to class with a piping
hot coffee, a tumbler filled with water and a protein smoothie? Or maybe you’ve spent
so many hours soaking in the elite vibes of Cool Beans that you’ve started to wonder
what it would be like to own your own beverage hotspot? If you answered yes to any
or all of the above, Coffee, Tea and Non-Alcoholic Beverages is the perfect elective
for you. This course is open to all majors and takes students through the history,
culture and origins of various beverages as well as different production, distribution
and consumption methods. Students can expect a hands-on learning experience that allows
them to learn the basics of developing a non-alcoholic beverage program, including
everything from profit planning to delicious sensory analyses of your favorite beverage
types, all from the comfort of HRSM’s new Beverage Lab. If you still want to learn
more after all those days of taste-testing and learning about a successful beverage
program, do we have good news for you. You can sign up for the newly offered Minor
in Beverage Management and continue your drink journey.
FYI: This course does require a $50 fee in order to provide class tastings and if
you miss out this fall, this class is taught in the spring as well.
Introduction to Painting ARTS 210
Picture this: you, an easel, paintbrushes covered in a rainbow of colors and your
headphones humming with the sound of your favorite playlist or audiobook. If you’re
looking for a calm course that allows you to stretch those creative muscles, Introduction
to Painting is the right elective for you. Students taking this class will work on
a number of projects using water-based mediums, such as acrylic and tempera paints,
that will build on color, composition and other skills. If you’re thinking, “I haven’t
painted since grade school. I can’t take a painting class.” Never fear. This class
does not require you to be an art major and no prior skills are necessary.
Want to create portraits like the old masters? We suggest checking out ARTS 211, Beginning
Painting II, instead. In this course, students work at a slower pace using oil-based
supplies to create portraitures, while also building on their skills of color and
composition.
Wedding Planning HRTM 362
If you’ve had a Pinterest board for your wedding day since you were in middle school,
we’ve got the class for you. In Wedding Planning with instructor Roxanne Price, you’ll
explore the intricacies of the big day by examining socio-cultural, political, economic,
religious and legal influences on wedding planning. You will also learn business strategies
that will help you serve and consult an array of clients. In addition to becoming
a wedding-planning rockstar, you’ll partake in a number of hands-on experiences relating
to the little moments that make a wedding special, such as cake tastings, menu planning,
floral arranging and even calligraphy. Guest lectures from industry professionals
will make you even more prepared to take on the challenge of a client’s “I do.”
At South Carolina, the possibilities and learning opportunities are endless and as
a Gamecock, all you have to do is reach for them. So, take that random class just
for fun. Make new friends, develop new skills and create experiences you'll never
forget.
