Choosing courses can be tricky. I know what it’s like to want electives that won’t tank your GPA. However, the best classes are often the ones that challenge us, make us curious, and leave us thinking long after the final exam. I believe a good course doesn’t have to be easy; it just has to make you curious and keep you engaged.
The Chapman Learning Commons Peer Advisors have put together a list of courses that stood out, not because they were simple, but because we actually enjoyed taking them. Whether you’re looking to explore new ideas, build practical skills, or just see things from a fresh perspective, these courses offer something unique worth checking out.
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ASIA 308 – Myths of India
An intriguing journey through Vedic and Indo-European mythologies. Our CLCA explored epics like the Mahabharata and saw how these stories reflect spiritual and cultural shifts. The course offers a laid-back but meaningful look at the myths that shaped South Asian thought and religion.
Why we love it: A chance to dive into epic stories while exploring how myths shaped entire cultures.
ASTR 310 – Survey of the Solar System
A must-take if you’ve ever stared up at the night sky in awe. This course explores recent planetary discoveries, the Sun, and the search for life, no advanced math required.
Why we love it: A science course that’s fascinating, accessible, and literally out of this world.
ARCL 235 – Taming the Wild: Animals, Alcohol, and Agriculture
A fascinating course about how humans domesticated plants and animals over thousands of years. Expect some challenging memorization, but the rich content from early agriculture to brewing keeps it engaging.
Why we love it: You’ll never look at farming, food, or fermentation the same way again.
APSC 367 / POLI 371 – Humanitarian Engineering: Politics and Practice
A collaborative experience uniting engineering, political science, and IR students. Teams work with NGOs on real-world problems, like water purification for underserved communities.
Why we love it: Hands-on, impactful learning that connects engineering to global change.
CPSC 103 – Introduction to Systematic Program Design
A friendly introduction to coding for complete beginners. Students gain core computational and logical thinking skills without the intimidation.
Why we love it: Makes coding approachable and surprisingly even enjoyable for people who never thought they’d code.
CRWR 200 – Introduction to Creative Writing
A joyful, confidence-building course that celebrates creativity in every form, from poetry to screenplays to children’s fiction. Professor Taylor Evans’s fun teaching style and interactive slides make each class a highlight of the week. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.
Why we love it: Known as both a GPA and an inspiration booster; wildly fun and freeing.
CRWR 203 – Writing for Children
An engaging and hands-on introduction to children’s literature. The instructor encourages creativity through interactive assignments and discussions on character-building, pacing, and storytelling across age groups.
Why we love it: Imaginative, playful, and perfect if you want a creative outlet.
FRST 303 – Into the Woods: An Introduction to Forest Science
An unexpectedly refreshing course for students curious about nature. It covers topics such as tree biology, forest ecology, and environmental issues, including wildfires and fungi.
Why we love it: Blends science with creativity; the tree-tracking assignment makes you see nature in a totally new, personal way.
NURS 180 – Stress and Resilience
A refreshing change of pace from heavy academic loads, this course focuses on resilience, stress, and self-care. It offers practical strategies for maintaining mental, emotional, and physical well-being, perfect for anyone looking to navigate student life more calmly and confidently.
Why we love it: Teaches real-life self-care skills every student wishes they had learned sooner.
PHIL 220 – Symbolic Logic
This course covers sentential and predicate logic, including techniques for translating natural language statements into formal logical expressions. It also explores truth tables and systems of natural deduction.
Why we love it: Sharpens your thinking and gives you reasoning superpowers you’ll use everywhere.
POLI 378 – The Politics of Terrorism
A really eye-opening look at terrorism as both a political strategy and a social idea. The readings and discussions delve into the motives, origins, and various ways people attempt to counter it, making the whole topic feel much more layered and understandable.
Why we love it: Intellectually gripping and taught in a way that keeps every class lively.
The right course can surprise you, challenge you, and even make you excited to show up on a Monday morning. From exploring the solar system to crafting children’s stories, these electives prove that learning can be fun, memorable, and meaningful. Whether you’re looking to boost your creativity, sharpen your reasoning, or dive into something completely new, these CLCA-recommended courses are great places to start.
Have you tried any of them? Do you have a course that deserves a shout-out? Drop your recommendations below.
Great article! As a student, I’m always on the lookout for electives that are actually worth the tuition and time. Getting firsthand recommendations from the CLCA team makes choosing courses feel like way less of a gamble. Thanks for sharing your favorites—definitely bookmarking this for course registration!