Desks are NOT for Sleeping - Find out why you should consider these electives

by Sara Goodman | photos by Summer Nelson

The requirements needed to graduate from this celebrated University constantly loom over our heads. With a core curriculum that seems never ending, students often find themselves wondering what it would be like to take a course that truly interests them. Sure, BIOL 1103-Basic Concepts in Biology had its high points, but frankly not many students can recall a fascinating or useful moment in ECON 2106-Principles of Microeconomics. Though not widely known, electives at the University of Georgia exist that might actually be worth waking up to attend.

One of these courses, the musically infused AFST/MUSI 2860-African Music Ensemble is worth getting out of bed before 11 a.m. Only in its second semester of existence, the course aims to teach students all types of music performed on the African continent, including both vocal and instrumental aspects.

Throughout the semester, the class learns and performs music from the different cultures and regions of Africa. AFST 2860 met last semester on a Monday/Wednesday schedule, with Monday deemed drumming and dancing day. On Wednesdays, the ensemble morphed into a chorus, with the focus on learning and singing traditional African songs.

"I just really enjoy the drumming, dancing, and singing. The class is really an experience," said Natalie Webb, an alumna public relations major from Marietta, Ga.

Additionally, the course provides the ensemble an opportunity to perform twice per semester, unless there's a special performance, to demonstrate the dancing and musical skills learned in the classroom.

Dr. Jean Kidula taught the class in spring 2008 to offer a chance for all students to find their own rhythm, as there are no prerequisites needed in order to take AFST 2860. If you are worried about your off-key voice, fear not-no musical ability is needed to join the ensemble. In fact, the majority of students enrolled have no formal musical training, explains Kidula.

Furthermore, the course is presently the only non-western performance class taught by a non-western perspective. The one drawback: attendance is mandatory, except for the two unexcused absences allowed. UGA offers the class every spring semester.

For students looking for an elective involving murders, unsolved mysteries and perhaps even Sherlock Holmes, CMLT 3170-Detective Fiction can take care of your needs. The course dedicates itself to the literary works of detective fiction. Professor Joel Black takes the class a step further by involving a multi-media aspect and requiring students to view three detective-based films throughout the semester.

"I really enjoyed actually doing the work- I read every book, with no exception," says Drew Lichtenstein a fourth-year comparative literature major from Marietta, Ga.

The course focuses on how detective fictions can act as a "game" between the detective and criminal, as well as between the author and reader.

Well-known authors of detective fiction such as Edgar Allen Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie compose the mystery-filled required readings.

"This course is for students who are interested in thinking outside the box like detectives and the better literature and film critics," says Black.

The spring 2008 CMLT 3170 syllabus listed two papers and a final as the majority of the work. Although the class lists an average 2.62 GPA for 2007 on the UGAKey, the enjoyment of the course material itself seems to outweigh the prospect of an easy grade. UGA offers the course every semester, making it an intriguing way to fulfill upper-level elective requirements.

As Jamie Fenton, a fourth-year comparative literature major from Fayetteville, Ga. puts it, "Who wouldn't want to get a degree reading about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes?"

Entertaining Electives

MUSI/AFAM 2960 -African American Percussive Music: From Africa to the Americas Students
-Offered every fall and spring, the class lets students beat to their own drum- literally.

ALDR 3900 -Agricultural Leadership
-Students experience leadership in the local community. Offered fall semester every year.

SPCM 2520 -Intro to Interviewing
-Learn invaluable skills that will help you ace any interview. Offered every year.

ENGL 3800 - Creative Writing
-Offered every year.

DRAM 3020 -Intro to Dramatic Writing
-Offered fall and spring semesters every year.

GEOL 3220 -Water Issues in Georgia
-Discussion includes water problems in Georgia, including discussion on the drought and possible solutions. Offered fall semester every year

HIST 3433 -History of Medicine
-Offered every year.

HIST(CLAS) 3321 -History of Women in the Ancient World
-Offered every year.