cool classes for fall

S t o ry by Kylin Mcke a n

The University of Sioux Falls offers a range of classes for many majors, however there are some classes that students may want to take no matter their major. Professors around campus are looking for ways to make required classes more intriguing as well as offering classes that are just for fun. From English classes to Media classes, here are some classes that one might consider for an upcoming semester!

ENG366 Evolving Canons

Evolving Canons is a three credit class offered by Professor Jenny Bangsund. Because this is an upper-level class, there is a prerequisite of a 200-level English class. Professor Bangsund shares with us her mission for this class: “Evolving Canons is an upper-level literature class that addresses how literature and our society are continually changing; we read and discuss contemporary literature (usually literature published within the past decade) from a range of cultural perspectives. Each time I teach the course, I select a new set of readings around a common theme. Past themes have included Contemporary Native American Literature, History and Intertextuality, African American Literature, Family Histories, and The Jazz Novel. This coming fall (2021), I am planning for the theme to be Complicated Histories, Complicated Forms, with texts chosen from ultra-contemporary works (published since 2017, with most published within the past year) from Native American and African American writers. We’ll read fiction, poetry, and memoir in order to engage issues of history, violence, identity, family, economics, and sexuality.”

ART281 Digital Photography II

Digital photography II is a three credit class offered by Professor Nick Poppens. Professor Poppens describes the class as such: “Students with a passion for photography will continue their exploration of the art form while working in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Projects include a focus on convergence of photography and video, as well as mobile photography applications. The semester culminates in the production of a student art show where they are able to display their work in a gallery locally or on campus.”

There is a prerequisite for this class and that is ART181 Digital Photography.

ENG200: Literature and the Critical Imagination

While ENG200 is a class in the liberal arts core, it has recently undergone a name change that makes it stand out. The course has changed from Introduction to Literature to Literature and the Critical Imagination. This is a three credit course offered by Professor Kevin Cole. The English department has been finding many ways to make the attainment of an English credit more fun. Professor Bangsund shares what courses they are offering as well as why they decided to change the name of ENG200: “The English Department has been exploring new ways of approaching the literature requirement in the liberal arts core for a few years, including the development of coursework such as ENG236: Up, Up, and Away! The Superhero in Literature with Dr. Dyer and Dr. Cole’s outdoor sections of ENG200. The name change allows us to call attention more clearly to what we believe the course is doing, in helping to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and imagination as fundamental skills for all students.”

Peterson Wildlife Management Area in Lyon County, IA

Students hike through the tall grasses A gate at Gitchie Manitou State Preserve