Tips for Picking University Courses
Part 2 of the University Series
It can be both an exciting and dreadful experience to pick university courses. This article will discuss four things to keep in mind when planning your path through undergrad.
1. Pick professors, not courses
The biggest mistake undergraduate students make when selecting courses is they pick ones they think they are interested in. Why a big mistake, you ask? You don’t know why you are at university in the first place. University is mainly about learning how to think. Therefore you need to surround yourself with one or two professors who can teach you this skill, and stick with them. If you are a freshman, talk with friends who have gone to the university and know professors in your department. Or search out alumni and ask them – they are usually happy to tell you who their favourites were and why.
What you are looking for is a professional relationship. You want to find a person whom you can learn from and who is exceptional in his field. Take as many courses as you can with this person, regardless of the topic. The Prof. who knows your work will be able to give you specific help over a long period. This is much better than trying to get to know two or three new professors every year, and it prepares you for the period at the end of your degree, when you are trying to make new contacts and thinking about graduate work.
2. Take courses with small class sizes
Depending on what program and school you choose to go to, this may be difficult. My experience has shown me that there is a strong correlation between class size and quality of work – particularly in the Arts. When there are four people in an upper year English seminar, it is extremely obvious whether or not you came prepared to the session. You simply cannot avoid speaking without it being reflected in your mark.
Many students opt to take the least number of “Research Seminar” courses possible to avoid this very problem. However, this will only stunt your growth, because your whole academic career is building toward these intimate settings. It is in these seminars that most people find their voice and express their ideas. Additionally, the lack of bodies to hide behind will force you to come to classes prepared to speak, which in turn develops your thinking skills.
Smaller seminars are also where Professors get to know students, and when they start to speak into students’ lives. The key to getting into a graduate program often comes as a result of recommendations made by the Professor you got to know in a small class.
Finally, smaller courses increase the depth of your writing ability. The focus is usually tighter, forcing your critical thinking skills to be at their best. More initiative is placed on students to generate discussion and speak in class.
3. Don’t specialize too early in your degree
This is the flip side of point number two. It is not always a good idea to race toward small research seminars and avoid broader “reading” courses. Most departments make it mandatory for students to take intermediate courses involving a lot of reading from a large pool of literature, before specializing in smaller research seminars. This usually takes the form of set periods of literature (Ancient and Modern Philosophy) or major topics (Micro and Macro Economics). The reading may be overwhelming, but the breadth of knowledge will ground you so that you are shaped like a Pyramid rather than a bean-pole.
Some might ask, “why not focus on what I want to study and forget about the rest?” The answer is the same as before: You don’t know why you are at university. To learn how to think. Depth without breadth will turn you into a clone because you haven’t interacted with enough people to challenge your own thoughts and assumptions.
4. Take courses from multiple disciplines
Generally, it is a great idea to take courses from one or two other disciplines during your career. If you overdo it, you may be unprepared in your own discipline, but the benefits of interacting in other disciplines are, in my opinion, substantial.
Think about it in terms of a palette of colours. Adding Philosophy courses to an English degree will give you new colours for your painting – it will teach you new ways to think. This might mean learning the mechanics of thinking (Philosophy), or modes of expression (Languages). It may simply broaden your knowledge base and your ability to connect with diverse groups of people.
Taking courses from other disciplines will also enhance your overall university experience by exposing you to different formats of learning. Some programs are based heavily on verbal presentation, others on lectures and tests, and still others on writing papers. Experience in each will prepare you for multiple job types and develop your ability to be flexible.
Course selection can be daunting. The best approach is to communicate early and often with a variety of people who know your department. Having a plan like the one outlined in these points will keep you focused during the selection process, and ultimately prepare you to be a better thinker.
