BY DEVONNE EDORA
PRIDE STAFF WRITER

As registration for the next semester slowly approaches, freshman to seniors alike are going through the process of selecting classes that fulfill their major requirements. Students have the chance to complete their required credits as well as stepping outside of the typical lecture note taking classes. CSUSM has gone to great lengths encouraging diverse university activities and also diverse academic offerings. Students have the opportunity to create a more colorful schedule, with courses such as Women’s Studies 300(8), Music 395, Literature & Writing 336A, and ID 340.
Try not to let the standard course titles deter you. WMST 300(8): Twilight: The Texts and the Fandom, originated from Dr. Natalie Wilson’s forthcoming book, Seduced by Twilight. Dr. Wilson, believes her course is an “essential part of university learning, encouraging students to analyze media texts from a critical perspective.”
The course surveys vampire legends, religious contexts, race and privilege, and not forgetting to mention the core romance between a girl and her undead boyfriend, which was the catalyst for Twilight’s cultural phenomenon. Students will benefit from a course like this as it “allows us to keep the curriculum current, lively, and relevant,” states Dr. Wilson.
Still not convinced? How about learning how to play in a Javanese Gamelan Ensemble? MUSC 395 offers just that.
Meryl Goldberg from the Visual Performing Arts Department (VPA) encourages students of all majors to give this course a chance. Goldberg states that learning in a Gamelan Ensemble can teach students a “new system of notation, because you are learning how to play through numbers not by notes.” Randall Griswold the course’s instructor states, “All students have the opportunity to learn [how] to play the instruments of the ensemble.” The Gamelan ensemble itself is comprised of several instruments such as the gong and xylophone. “At the end of the semester, students in the course perform in a concert,” adds Griswold. MUSC 395 goes further than just being a music class. It gives students the opportunity to learn about the cultural and musical traditions of Indonesian and Javanese culture.
For something closer to home, ID 340 approaches the topic of diversity and discrimination in the United States. Students will touch on topics about ethnicity, race, and gender while analyzing the cultural effects and influences it places on American society.
There is also a class based on Alfred Hitchcock’s horror films. Kenneth Mendoza teaches the course, LTWR 336A: “Hitchcock Master of Suspense.” The course title alone sounds intriguing enough. LTWR 336A focuses on Hitchcock’s various genres and themes and applies them to other arts or texts.
Take advantage of being able to register for such fun classes. Just registering for one or two of these classes will definitely guarantee a unique and entertaining experience in the upcoming semester.