As you move into your dorms and prepare for the first semester of your college career, I’m sure the last thing you’re thinking about is registering for next semester. Honestly, it’s perfectly understandable. However, registration sneaks up on you faster than you think.
Also, once you finish taking your required classes at Longwood, it gets harder to get approximately 12 to 15 credit hours. So here’s a quick list of classes you should take before graduation—it may come in handy at some point:
Sociology 101: Principles of Sociology is one of the first classes you should take before you graduate. “I liked Sociology 101 because it changed the way I looked at the world (in a good way),” said junior Claire Dryden. The class tries to teach in a way so that you can understand how an individual interacts with their social structure, using examples of media and other points in our culture.
Psychology 101: “I've found [this class] useful, not just in my major, but in life in general,” said senior Brian Klingenfus. “Learning about how and why people think and act the way they do is crucial to life both inside and out of college.” This class gives an overview of the theories of psychology and also shows how to apply these theories to contemporary issues.
Public Speaking: Also known as Comm 101, it is required for Communication Studies majors and minors. However, learning how to speak in public is a skill you will never regret learning. “Although it is required for [Communication Studies majors], it is a should take [class] for everyone, regardless of their major,” said Klingenfus. This class allows students to prepare for any scenario in which they would have to present something to a large audience. It also teaches students how to analyze an audience beforehand, allowing students to know how to avoid offending someone in the audience.
World Music: Introduction to World Music is just what it sounds like. This class teaches you about different types of music from around the world while also teaching the relationship between world music with the history and culture of the country it originates from. “I liked World Music because I find other cultures fascinating,” said Dryden. “Music is a passion of mine, having played piano for nearly a decade, myself.”
Fitness Classes: While technically this includes more than one class, they are still classes that should be taken. Despite the fact that PHED 101 is required to fulfill Goal 11, there are still other courses that are recommended and allow for enjoyment in what might be a heavy course load. “I took Jogging when it was still available, but I've heard Tennis and Weight Lifting are both amazing classes,” said junior Nick Conigliaro. Also, Golf is offered at Longwood, so if you like taking some time off from your studies to spend it on the Longwood Golf Course, you might want to sign up for that class.
As you make your way though Longwood and experience what the university has to offer, you may find out about different classes you may be interested in. Take them. But don’t forget about this list when it comes time for registration around your junior year.
