With the recent release of the fall 2021 class schedule on March 22, students are once again faced with the question, “What classes should I take?”
While degree and general education requirements can be limiting, students can choose some of their classes. To help others make the most of these opportunities, Milligan seniors have recommended worthwhile, lesser-known classes that don’t have as much fame–or infamy–as humanities.
1. Jesus, Paul and Women- BIBL 328
Jesus, Paul and Women explores biblical texts about women, especially Paul’s letters and the Gospels, with an emphasis on context, interpretations and modern applications.
The class is three credit hours and is offered every other spring semester. It is taught by Professor of Bible Jeff Miller.
Senior social work major Cara Blanton took Jesus, Paul and Women, or “J-PAW” as it is commonly known, in the spring of 2019. She especially enjoyed diving into various New Testament verses that are sometimes used to “keep women out of the pulpit.”
“I learned how to protect and honor the sacredness of the Gospel, while using God’s word in a way that honors women and allows them to fulfill their calling in pastoral roles,” Blanton said.
She appreciated Miller’s approach to these passages. He closely examined their contexts and explained how translation from Greek to English can change the meaning of words.
Blanton thinks this course is a great option for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of faith through Scripture.
“It’s a great setting to consider a perspective that may be different than what you grew up believing,” Blanton said.
2. Basic Photography- ART 237
Basic Photography is an introduction to photography through traditional black-and-white methods. Students learn composition, exposure, camera operation and darkroom developing techniques.
The class is three credit hours and is offered every semester. It is currently co-taught by adjunct instructor Michael Kaal and recent Milligan graduate Adam Trabold.
Senior graphic design major Seth Hice took Basic Photography from adjunct instructor Will Major in the fall of 2019. This was one of Hice’s favorite elective courses ever.
“I thought the class was going to be a simple introduction to using a camera, something most people can do nowadays, but it was much more than that,” Hice said. “It allowed me to learn more about photography as an art while experiencing the interesting process of using film.”
Hice learned to appreciate black-and-white photography in this class. He found it satisfying to complete the entire process of taking a photo, developing the film and creating prints in the darkroom on his own.
Hice recommends this class to students of all majors.
“Even if your major doesn’t require Basic Photography, I think it would be beneficial for anyone in a creative field or someone who just wants to learn something fun,” Hice said. “Photography doesn’t have to be your career for it to be something you enjoy.”
3. Plants and Society- GNSC 130
Plants and Society covers basic principles of botany and emphasizes the cultural, historical, economic and practical impact of plants on the modern world.
This course is a lab science that is four credit hours and offered in the fall semester of even years. It is taught by Associate Professor of Biology Brian Eisenback.
Senior English major Elizabeth Williams took Plants and Society in the fall of 2020. She believes it is the most unique general science class at Milligan.
“The class will give you a much deeper appreciation for nature and introduce you to a few of the many hiking spots in this area,” Williams said. “Plus, Eisenback will provide you with lots of plant-related fun facts to impress your friends.”
The weekly hiking labs and coinciding tree identifications earn the most praise from students. Williams said the lab portion is the highlight of the course. Her classmate, senior intercultural studies major Ellie Cachiaras, echoed this sentiment.
“This class has genuinely transformed the way I experience the natural world, especially in terms of my attentiveness to plants and trees,” Cachiaras said. “I am more observant, curious and appreciative of the natural world because of it.”
Plants and Society fulfills part of the general education requirement for science credit at Milligan.
4. Race and Ethnic Relations- SOCL 314
This course is a study on racial and cultural conflicts, including prejudice, discrimination, minority groups and minority problems.
It is three credit hours and offered every other fall semester. It fulfills the ethnic studies requirement of Milligan’s general education curriculum, and it is taught by Professor of Sociology and Missions Susan Higgins.
Senior social work major Hannah Brokaw took this course in the fall of 2018. She credits it as the most influential class she has taken during her time at Milligan.
“I learned to think critically about issues relating to race and ethnicity,” Brokaw said. “Maybe more importantly, I learned to apply what I learned in class to my understanding and analysis of current events.”
This class enables students to look at issues regarding race and ethnicity from a Christian viewpoint. Brokaw says she learned how to honor every person’s experiences, especially in relation to racism.
Given the current climate around race in the United States, Brokaw thinks this class is more worthwhile than ever before.
“Race is an important topic in our country, as we can all see after the unjust killings and protests of 2020,” Brokaw said. “This class is a great opportunity to learn, discuss and listen. Plus, Dr. Higgins is lovely!”
5. From Page to Screen: The Art of Adaptation- ENGL 374
This course examines the adaptation of literature into film. Students study books in relation to their corresponding film adaptations and propose a hypothetical adaptation of their favorite book.
Page to Screen is three credit hours and offered every other fall semester. It is taught by Associate Professor of English and Humanities Michael Blouin.
Senior English major Kaylee Mulkins took this class in the fall of 2020 and enjoyed seeing how stories are told differently through various media. She learned that a good movie adaptation does not actually follow all the rules of the novel.
Mulkins thinks this class would appeal to fans of popular culture and the entertainment industry.
“If you’re the kind of person who likes to brag about how the book was better than the movie or fancy yourself an amateur film critic, then you’ll probably love this class,” Mulkins said.
“Any class with Dr. Blouin is worth taking,” she added.
If students would like to take any of these classes but there is no room in their schedules, there is another option.
Auditing is a great opportunity for students to gain experience in a subject without completing all of the course requirements. Students do not earn academic credit by auditing a course.
Students may audit a class with permission from their instructor, who determines the course requirements, according to Registrar Stacy Dahlman. For more information, see page 42 of the Milligan catalog.
Headline photo: Brian Eisenback explains different leaf sizes to his Plants and Society class during one of the weekly labs.