By ALLISON NAVON and RANDALL SMITH, District TV News Editors
Still wondering what liberal arts elective to take? Well, here are six great courses that are unheard of by the majority of the student body. Like all the unique courses offered at SCAD, these courses call upon the creative talents of the students and truly allow them to grow as artists. These six courses have been a part of the curriculum at SCAD for some time, but have been overshadowed, and now it’s time for them to shine.
Dr. Carolyn Babcock, chairwoman of the liberal arts department at SCAD, identifies these courses as the “six great liberal arts courses you never knew existed.” These courses include principles of archeology, interpersonal communication, Greek and Roman drama, literary films, golden ratio (math for artists), and creative thinking theories and processes. We interviewed most of the professors who will be teaching these courses in the fall.
Principles of archeology, taught by Dr. Susan Falls, is a beneficial class for historic preservation and architectural history majors. According to Dr. Babcock, the course looks “at the archeological setting for the buildings that you’re restoring or the buildings that you’re documenting.” This gives the students a better understanding of the archaeological process.
Interpersonal communication, taught by Dr. Linda Harned, is a course that explores the relationships between family, friends and coworkers. This provides students with the useful skills they will need in life after college. The course discusses the theories of interpersonal communication and then allows the students to test these theories in real life situations. Overall, it prepares the students for interaction with others in their day-to-day lives.
According to Dr. Dennis Randall, who teaches Greek and Roman drama, the course takes students “back to the origins of all drama.” This course would be beneficial to students who are interested in storytelling and the narrative. The course examines tragedies, comedies and the culture that surrounds them. It gives students a better understanding of the main elements of the literature and allows them to truly grasp the story.
Literary films is a course that “examines the relationships between novels, short stories and films,” states Dr. Kate Newell, a professor of the class. Some of the works that will be discussed include “Frankenstein,” “Washington Square,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “A Christmas Carol.” These all have been adapted multiple times into different media and, because of this, the course addresses multiple majors.
Golden ratio (math for artists), taught by Dr. Karim Ladha, focuses on the golden ratio formula and its appearance in all aspects of life. The course relates the formula to students’ intended majors and allows them to view math from a different perspective. The course is not a typical math class, but a theoretical study of art and nature and how math relates to both.
Dr. Mary Lou Davis teaches creative thinking theories and processes, a course that she says is a way for “ students to learn about their own creative process and the creative process of others.” Students get to incorporate aspects of their major and apply them to this course. For example, one of the projects is a process book that allows students to show the stages of creating their artwork. Overall, the course helps students become more aware of their creative process and allows them to grow as artists.
With registration right around the corner, students need to start thinking of the courses they will sign up for. These courses will be offered during the fall semester and will complement any major. As for prerequisites, the only course that requires one is golden ratio (math for artists). For more information on these courses, please email Dr. Babcock at cbabcock@scad.edu.
