Get Out of Your Concentration: Top Ten Courses to Try

I get it. Your pre-med track pretty much has your schedule filled from freshman year all the way to graduation. You're swamped with requirements and requisites, mandatory internships and research etc. Essentially, your life sucks. But what about that one semester you have ~gasp~ room for a non-concentration class? Instead of resigning yourself to more engineering or neuroscience or whatever concentration has stolen your soul, consider these alternatives for a fun and fascinating addition to your schedule.1. Writers on Writing SeminarWriters on Writing Seminar is a course focused on showing students writers' perspectives on reading. Students typically have to read a book a week, but then get the chance to meet the author and hear them read in the following class.2. The Making of the Modern Middle EastThis course aims to provide students with an intensive background to the Middle East. The course begins in the 19th century moving toward the modern forces that created the Middle East as we now know it. For any student looking to better understand our modern political climate, this class is a must.3. How Poems SeeThe title alone makes this class an interesting choice. It raises questions about the interconnections of word and image and attempts to understand why both create such powerful sensory reaction.4. The Meaning of LifeThis one is something we're all searching for. Consider this class your head start towards mentally being able to tackle the post-college world.5. Sports in American SocietyTake your out-of-class love of sports into this course! In this class, you'll get the chance to explore sports as one of the most significant institutions in American life. On and off the field, it's valuable to know just how impactful sports are recreationally and beyond.6. Political Ecology: Power, Difference, and KnowledgeThis course tackles climate change with a political focus, allowing students to see how intertangled the issues are. If you're wondering why governments have been so slow to fight global warming, look into this class to untangle the picture.7. Anthropology of HomelessnessHomelessness is prevalent across the United States and beyond. Let this class show you the intricacy behind this ubiquitous problem. Additionally, this class has required volunteering hours which makes it a great way into local engagement and activism.8.Postcolonial Horror: Political Specters in Western Literature and FilmTake a closer look at the elements of horror in modern film. and literature This course requires students to question these elements of art and debate if they are merely objectification of human suffering. For horror movie geeks, this class may provide a new perspective on the genre.9. TV/Not TV: Theory and ProductionTV is a vein running through all of modern life. If you've never stopped to think about the implications of its rapid spread, take this course to reevaluate TV's success. It also makes room to counter TV's narrative with class projects on the subject.10. Fieldwork in the Urban CommunityThis course provides another chance to get off campus and make a difference. Students partner with a government agency, nonprofit, or a planning firm and embark on projects while learning fieldwork methodology in the process.Getting outside of your comfort zone can be scary, but consider these classes as an introduction into all that Brown has to offer. We all signed up for this open curriculum for a reason. Be sure to make the most of it, engaging with what you're passionate about as well as what you don't yet know anything about. Image via