A Glimpse into My Favorite Tufts Classes
At Tufts, you have the freedom to explore your interests beyond your major! I'm sharing some of my top picks in this article – classes I never thought I'd be into!
During my first semester, I stumbled upon my dream course – “Disney Studios Meets Studio Ghibli,” taught by the renowned Professor Susan Napier. This class delved into the magic of both animation giants, Disney and Studio Ghibli, from old-school classics to the latest hits. What made it truly special were the engaging discussions that brought these films to life which made me see the world through a different cultural lens.
Another fascinating ExCollege class I took is called “Self-Help in American Culture: Historical and Critical Perspectives.” The instructor was a visiting PhD student from Harvard, specializing in the history of work and science. While many ExCollege courses at Tufts are typically taught by fellow undergrads, usually with a Pass/Fail grading option, this one was letter-graded. What really stood out to me, though, was the flexibility in the course content and the chance to connect with visiting lecturers, which added a really cool dimension. It was during this class that I came to understand the immense value of cross-disciplinary learning.
Fast forward to last semester, I took “Social Identity, Stigma & Coping,” taught by Professor Jessica Remedios. This class was an upper-level seminar class offered by the Psychology department. Through dissecting the literature around psychological theories about intersectional identities, I was not only able to learn about my position and the importance of inclusive research design in empirical settings. Our final assignment was to pitch a hypothetical research study – which was a really cool thought experiment.
As a senior graduating this semester, I feel really grateful for these classes that I took “just for fun.” Little did I know, these turned out to be some of the most impactful learning experiences! As you embark on your college journey, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to explore classes that ignite your curiosity and passion. Tufts offers a diverse array of courses, each with its unique charm.