Who says you cant benefit from your classes in more than one

way? After all, these are supposed to be the greatest four years of
our lives, so why not try to grow as individuals while
simultaneously earning some credits? Check out these five classes
offered at Penn State that are good for the soul!
1. PSYCH 243 Introduction to Well-Being and Positive Psychology
The name of this course is pretty self-explanatory but to give you a
brief description courtesy of the Penn State University Bulletin
website: the overall focus of the course is the study of the
psychological process of adapting to, coping with, and managing
the problems, challenges, and demands of modern life.
That may sound a bit science-y, but to boil it down, this class is
about how to live your life the best way possible. For instance, one
assignment for the class involves tracking what you do every hour
for an entire day. Turns out, time management, especially in
college, is key. You also learn about how to eat right, how to
exercise according to your BMI, how to manage stress, and how to
sleep well so youre ready and roaring every morning.
2. SOC 119 Race and Ethnic Relations
Yes, we have all heard of the infamous SOC 119. This classs three
main objectives are: (1) [to] think critically about issues related to
race and ethnicity in American society, (2) to foster a dialogue
between you and other students about racist and ethnocentric
attitudes and actions, and (3) to encourage you to explore your
own racial and ethnic identity and to understand how this identity
reflects and shapes your life experiences.
But what this class really offers goes far beyond these three main
objectives. In a class of 700+ people, its hard to truly digest all the

intense information youre being exposed to, and this is where the
handy-dandy discussion groups come in.
When was the last time you actually sat down and truly said how
you felt about something you learned in class? Were asked to learn
facts and regurgitate them for exams, but were never asked how
we feel about the content in the classroom and how it affects us
personally. Thats one thing this class can offer you than not many
other classes at Penn State can.
3. BI SCI 003 Environmental Science
This class is for those who are looking to do some soul-searching.
Sure, this class is technically classified as a GN, but the beakers
and formulas are replaced with lectures about where we come from
as people and where we are destined to go as individuals. This class
focuses on who we are and what our presence in this environment
is rather than what we are, like most other science classes.
As the Penn State University Bulletin website explains it, as a
citizen of both local and global communities, some environmental
issues will impact their lives. This is an important notion in terms
of knowing where you stand in the bigger picture. Youll never
know who you are until you know what your purpose is.
4. ENGL 181 A, B, C, and D Adventure Literature
Weve all had the wanderlust blues, which can get especially bad
when youre stuck in State College with temperamental weather
and no place to go. If youre feeling cramped and could stand to do
some venturing, inwardly and outwardly, let Valley be your guide.
The Adventure Literature series is run by the Department of
English and is actually as great as it sounds. The classes have a

normal class curriculum with a dash of something special thrown

in. And by a dash of something special, we mean actual trips to the
places you read about in the classroom. Destinations include Cape
Cod, the Chesapeake Bay, and Dolly Sods National Park, West
Virginia.
Traveling, especially as a young adult, can be extremely beneficial
to your psyche and your view on the world. In fact, its scientifically
proven that travel makes you a happier person.
5. SCI ED 140 / RPTM 140 Outdoor School
This class is probably the most unconventional on our list. While
you receive two credits either as Sci Ed 140 or RPTM 140, you
dont spend any time in a class room. In fact, you dont even spend
any time on campus. For five whole days, you live in natures belly
(very nice cabins in the middle of the woods) teaching 5th and 6th
grade kids about the environment.
The greatest part about this class isnt missing a week of regular
classes, or even the delicious homemade food you get to eat every
day at camp. The best part is knowing that youre offering
something to someone else. Being able to teach someone and see
their face light up with wonder and understanding is one of the
most rewarding feelings you can have in this life.
There you have it, folks. If youre looking to spice up your spring
semester or are just looking to do some soul searching, drop by
your advisors office and get these classes scheduled. You wont
regret it!