With a new quarter just begun, Stanford students from every major are still exploring their options through the university’s shopping period. Due to the ability to add and drop classes without penalty, undergraduates still have two more weeks before their choices start to feel binding. But throughout my own careful perusing of ExploreCourses, I have noticed several glaring absences in this quarter’s offerings. With that in mind, I submit to you the following eight classes for addition to the well-rounded intellectual vitality of a Stanford education.
CS 106C: Buzz Words in Computer Science (LINGUIST 106C)
Who’s Karel? What’s big data? Ever wonder what those CS kids are talking about? This relatively low-stakes class allows all class years to learn the popular key terms thrown around in the computer science department without the pressure of deeply understanding the concepts. The midterm and final will rely simply on rote memorization of each term’s definition, preparing students for easy recitation in everyday conversation.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr | Units: 5-6 | Repeatable for credit | Grading: Satisfactory/No Credit
ME 104X: Designing Your Life After Dead Week
Prerequisites: ME 104S: Designing Your Stanford and ME104B: Designing Your Life
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr | Units: 2 | Grading: Satisfactory/No Credit
SYMSYS 101: But Seriously, What Does Symbolic Systems Mean?
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr | Units: 4 | UG Reqs: WAY-FR | Grading: Letter or Satisfactory/No Credit
URBANST 73Q: Sophomore Seminar: Choosing People’s Sexiest Man Alive
In this exclusive winter quarter offering, Stanford sophomores have the rare opportunity to contribute to People magazine’s 2017 edition of the annual “Sexiest Man Alive” feature. Students will hone critical analysis and debate skills throughout the 10-week course before offering their official nomination for the prestigious Sexiest Man Alive title. Exceptional students may be offered a TA position for the spring quarter class: URBANST 74Q: Sophomore Seminar: Choosing Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive.
Terms: Win | Units: 4 | UG Reqs: WAY-SI | Grading: Letter or Satisfactory/No Credit
LINGUIST 133: Acronyms at Stanford
CoHo? FloMo? RoHo? FroSoCo? HoHo? ProFro? FoShoFro?
Terms: Aut, Win | Units: 2 | Repeatable for credit | Grading: Satisfactory/No Credit
POLISCI 57: JOEBAMA and Other Queer Readings of Politics
An analytical look at one of the most powerful bromances of the 21st century, as well as other ambiguous relationships in modern international politics.
Terms: Win | Units: 4 | UG Reqs: WAY-ED | Grading: Letter or Satisfactory/No Credit
TIBETLNG 100: They Teach Tibetan Here?
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr | Units: 1 | Repeatable for credit | Grading: Satisfactory/No Credit
PWR 2DJT: The Rhetoric of Donald Trump’s Tweets
How one man’s 140-character thoughts turn into national policies.
Terms: Win, Spr | Units: 4 | UG Reqs: Writing 2 | Grading: Letter (ABCD/NP)
Contact Georgina Grant with more classy class ideas at gagrant’at’stanford.edu.