I need about 20-30 hours of various electives to graduate. I am thinking of a microbiology minor but i’m also thinking of just various courses in skills I can use through life.
What are some good life skill courses? Cooking, personal finance (debt, budgeting, credit building, etc), interpersonal communication, job hunting classes (if there is such a class), and things like that. What classes should I look at?
I figure there are more subjects that a person should know to get through life, does anyone have any ideas? My brother took a cooking course and thought it was a waste of time, all he did was learn to bake a pie. But maybe these courses are different, who knows.
Excellent question. I’ve actually suggested a course in some threads recently that I found really useful in life,… journalism. I took it to fulfill some writing requirements and found it to be profoundly useful. If taught correctly, it will sharpen your analytical skills. You will never read a newspaper or watch a news show again the same way.
In addition to that, an entry-level course in office computer skills is a must if you’re not a business major (you’ll HAVE to take it as a business major). You should be able to construct a spreadsheet, use a database, or construct a presentation with PowerPoint.
After that I would suggest a course in web design. It brings together many aspects of a presentation.
To round things off (and have some fun), a course in digital photography. Imagine a work presentation with panoramic shots or a home hobby making stereo images. These are things I do for fun and are very rewarding.
The college class that had the most practical value for me was typing. You can also take classes in things like tennis, billiards, horseback riding, etc.
I took a jogging class that I enjoyed. It forced me to exercise at a time when I lacked the discipline to do it on my own.
Basic Accounting or Finance - and as many computer and English (i.e. writing) classes as you can get in. Employers look for communication skills above all, so a Creative Writing class could help you further develop your skills in that area. Good luck!
Skip the history, music and ethics classes. Oh, how I hated those…
If you don’t know your way around a kitchen, definitely take a cooking class. Two reasons:
Cost. I have a friend who eats out three meals a day. He wonders why he’s broke all the time. (When I cooked a bunch of snacks and appetizers for his Super Bowl party at his house, he told me it was the first time in the three or so years since he bought his house that his oven had been turned on).
Nutrition. I’ve lived off convenience foods like Hamburger Helper and frozen pizza for decades, and I’ve been fighting a losing battle with my weight for most of my adult life. Now that I’m learning how to prepare foods using fresh meats & produce, I’m sure I’m cutting down on calories and adding more vitamins & whatnot to my diet.
I regret that your brother’s experience was a negatvie one. Hopefully yours will be better.
Basic car maintenance. My uni offers a course like this and if I weren’t so busy at the moment I would definitely take it. It’s stuff like how to do basic maintenance/repairs, and seems like it could come in pretty handy.
I’m currently taking basic accounting. This is financial, not managerial, though I’m not quite sure what the difference is. In any case, while I’m sure the class will be helpful, I’m currently bored out of my mind because the class is moving far too slowly.
Some colleges have classes on investment planning. Other than that, check to see if there’s something entry level that your college is particularly known for. UC Davis has a wine tasting class, for instance, that has a waiting list.
Check off-campus, too. I took certification classes in studio and field television production from our local cable company. I’ve been running cameras for a couple of community cable shows for years, now.
Taking a class that’s relaxing and fun doesn’t hurt either, if your schedule is packed. There’s golf - poetry - sailboating - educational uses of art - lots of stuff with a heavy unwind factor.
Basic Statistical Literacy - some sort of basic stats course is invaluable in business - even if everyone else makes fun of you when you ask what the confidence interval on that data is. (Brainiac4 tells good stories about spooking his coworkers with questions like this).
Accounting - no matter what job you get, at some level they all are about money. You can’t help the homeless without money. You can’t cure cancer without money. And certainly, money is the motivator in business transactions.
Both also apply to life skills.
My college wasn’t big on life skills sort of courses - personal finance, cooking, etc. I think those are better taken from community ed. I did take self defense for my phyed requirement.
Take things that interest you and entertain - a World Religions class I took has been endless fun at parties. Likewise, intro to Political Science and Art History.
