Most of the classes offered during the spring semester are typical college courses in math, biology, English and other subjects, but there are some classes on the list that stand out as unique.
One of these classes is “Scuba and Skin: Open Water,” where students can learn how to scuba dive and also skin dive, using a snorkel to breathe while underwater instead of an air tank, through the classroom and pool work. Kenneth Charpie, who will teach the class next semester, talked more about what the class entails.
“The class involves learning about the physics of breathing compressed air at depth, the physiological effects that has or can have on your body and how to safely manage the dive time and amount of time spent on the surface between dives,” Charpie said.
After students complete the class, they will have the opportunity to obtain a scuba certification from the National Association of Underwater Instructors. The class is open to all majors and anyone who is interested in scuba diving. Charpie also explained though, that the class is useful for some specific careers.
“The experience can be useful in a number of career fields,” Charpie said. “Marine biologists are well-served to be divers. Other career fields include paleontology, marine archeology, police and fire fighters.”
Another class that is unique this upcoming semester is “Social Media and Brand,” a communications course on social media offered to juniors and seniors of all majors.
In the class, students learn about a variety of social media information such as blogging, marketing and social media analytics for their personal and business brand. They also will have the opportunity to create a social media campaign. It is probably one of the only courses that encourages being on social media during class time. Ike Brunner, who co-teaches the course with Russ Shirley, said social media posting is a major part of the course.
“Posting is a big part of the class,” Brunner said. “We have a hashtag for the course, which is #DDWSU. We generate hundreds of posts a week. The class helps students learn to use social media in a more productive way, which is one of the main points of the course.”
“Zombies and Gender in Pop Culture” also sticks out from other courses. The women’s studies course will focus on how zombie TV shows and films explore gender and other topics.
“We will be exploring how zombie tales in television and film are participating in social discourses of gender, race, class, sexual orientation and nationality,” said Andrea Harris, the course instructor.
Some of the works students will watch in the class are the TV show the “Walking Dead,” and the films “Resident Evil” and “Night of the Living Dead.”
