Do not skip out on classes outside your comfort zone. Many majors at Piedmont University offer elective classes or minors that may pique your interest.
Many students have already registered for the upcoming semester. Still, it is not too late to look into the electives offered by several departments that are not a part of your major. Drop/add for the spring semester ends Jan. 14.
Piedmont offers a range of opportunities for students in any major through elective classes, a minor or a student organization. These opportunities benefit students by giving them a slight nudge toward learning additional skill sets they may not have realized were possible.
But it is not just elective classes and minors that open these doors to new ideas and skills; general education classes can be taken by anyone, regardless of major. They offer just as many possibilities.
“I would encourage students not to take the low-hanging fruit, not to take the easy path,” says Steve Jacobs, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Having skills that come from gen-eds, if you look at our outcomes—critical thinking, ethical reasoning and being able to communicate and interact with people from different social backgrounds.”
Students are encouraged to take classes outside their major and to take advantage of what is offered at Piedmont University. General education classes are required for a reason, and students are exposed to knowledge that can be developed into additional skills.
Picking up a minor is also impactful. Students can learn a new subject or deepen their knowledge of a topic of interest. This can also be added to a resume, showing future employers the range of skills one may have gained from a minor.
“It provides the opportunity to cultivate additional sets of skills and learn other bodies of knowledge, aside from the major,” Jacobs said.
As a liberal arts school, Piedmont offers broad perspectives that foster the possibilities that help students become the best versions of themselves. Students should not only talk to their advisors about courses, but also ask professors and fellow students what may be beneficial and what intrigues them most about specific courses.
