When I was a first-year student, I was so excited to begin my biomedical engineering curriculum at Stevens. The idea of planning my own schedule and taking many medically specialized courses excited me. I remember looking at what courses I needed to take and wondering what a humanity course was exactly. Then, humanities turned into arguably the most valuable classes among all majors.
If you are a first-year, you most likely don’t have the opportunity to pick them just yet; whereas, the rest of the undergrads do. Most undergrads fight for the ones that they hear are “easy” or don’t require tests. I’ve done it. I picked a course just because I heard that my friend had an easy time. That’s what most STEM students want in a humanities course, a lessened workload course that brings peace to a time of onslaughts from complicated and stressful math/science courses.
Students sometimes receive this desired “relaxed course,” but most students get heavy courses that (to them) mean nothing to their major. However, these courses might not be what they seem. Although the workload may be taxing, it can become a utopia for students exhausted from the constant equations and critical thinking.
Instead of taking the class your friend of a friend of a friend said was easy without any exams, you should choose the course that you are actually or even minorly interested in. This will expand your daily experience. Each STEM student has almost daily lectures about code or mechanics of objects, but occasional lectures about history or philosophical questions can help relax the mind.
I’ve taken multiple humanities that feel like a whole new world. After spending hours day and night agonizing over the latest math challenge or report, I’ve experienced different escapes, such as ethical dilemmas and screenwriting. Each one of them I was half interested in each when registering, but in each class, I saw the need to “relax” with one of these courses.
I took a science writing course that explored various ethical challenges of the modern day and it challenged my ability to explore the news. Simultaneously, I could explore topics, such as artificial intelligence (AI) takeover or the future with the effect of climate change. Each topic or discussion left my mind to relax from the nitty-gritty STEM ideals.
Additionally, I took a course that was labeled “Special Topics in Literature.” I thought I was going to get an experience with lots of reading/book study. However, the professor provided a warning over the summer that the course was transitioning into a screenwriting course, and we could drop it if that’s not what we wanted. I was minorly enticed by the idea of screenwriting, and I ended up thrilled and enjoyed the course as the professor provided the students the freedom to create their own short scripts. It was an enormous respite from the organic chemistry that I stressed and struggled with 24/7.
These humanity courses are meant to pique your interest, not just be an easy way out. They help provide a new way of thinking in a time when STEM can be the only thing on your mind. So, as you continue your Stevens journey, follow your passions and the opportunities in front of you.
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