Serial killers. Sex, love and romance. The Beatles.
These are just some of the 'cool' classes ASU is offering to students who want to escape from the summer's scorching heat.
MCO 473: Sex, love and romance in the mass media, taught by Mary-Lou Galician, examines unrealistic portrayals of romance in the mass media, such as the concept of "love at first sight."
"We need to be disillusioned from these stereotypes," Galician said. "Everyone should be required to take a class like this."
Galician, the self-proclaimed "Dr. Fun," said her class is entertaining because of the in-class discussions and viewing of examples from television, music and magazines.
Justice studies junior Jordan Flynn currently is taking Galician's class.
"It's really easy," Flynn said. "She gives two tests and a paper, and she gives extra credit. You don't really need to study."
On the other end of the spectrum, this summer the School of Justice Studies is offering JUS 200: Serial Killers.
Students study homicide, mass murder and spree killing as well as analyze various types of killing.
Flynn, who also took the serial killers class in the fall, said it was interesting but not difficult.
"It was a lot of watching videos, and it was fun," said Flynn, who added that he received a B in the course. "We got to watch 'Natural Born Killers.'"
Students also can get a required humanities credit this summer by studying the Beatles.
"It was like watching 'Behind the Music' on VH1, but it was way longer and more in-depth about the music," said interdisciplinary studies sophomore Jana Bertucci, who took the class in the fall.
MUS 354: Popular Music examines the lives of the Beatles, their music and their impact.
"We go over a couple of songs a day, album by album," Bertucci said. "We learn about the instruments, who sang what and how. It's so easy."
Bertucci said she received an A in the course.
Students can register for classes online at www.asu.edu/interactive or by calling SunDial at 480-350-1500.
Fascinated by the courses? Hate them? Post your opinion in the forum below.
Reach the reporter at sarah.muench@asu.edu.
