It's safe to say that most Jumbos have wondered, at one point or another, how they were going to fulfill all the requirements in the core curriculum. But how often do students ask themselves what would be the most interesting way to rack up all those credits? Often forgotten are the Ex College, the Phys. Ed. Department, and all those listings we can barely spell - let alone enroll in.
Throughout the two and a half decades that Robyn Gittleman has been directing the Experimental College (Ex College), she has overseen some unusual courses. Thinking back on the most unique academic opportunities offered at Tufts, Gittleman first recalls a class on Gothic architecture in which students were divided into several guilds, as was the custom of tradesmen in medieval Europe. They studied the practical application of each craft and built a miniature cathedral with stained glass and moving parts.
And Gittleman could hardly forget a 1987 course called "Pornography in American Culture." The class focused on censorship and the most noteworthy legal precedents set regarding pornography up to that date. Much like the construction of the miniature cathedral, students were given the option of experiencing pornographic cinema hands-on by watching the cult-classic Deep Throat. (This class has been extinct for quite some time.)
This semester, students continue to enroll in courses with titles that are sure to add flavor to anyone's resume. One such course, "Hindu Yoga and Buddhist Meditation," is currently offered by the Ex College. Last January Mike Polak, a sophomore studying comparative religion, managed to land a seat in the class.
Polak, who spent a semester in Nepal, said that he particularly enjoyed the contrasting perspectives of his teachers. The two instructors meet with students once a week to discuss and practice the ancient arts after which the course is titled. According to Polak, the dynamic between his two professors is one of the course highlights.
"They kind of pitch their religions a little bit," Polak said.
The juxtaposition of theological rhetoric and physical practice sets the class's serene, yet dynamic, tone. Participation in meditation and yoga has successfully brought Polak's perception of these traditionally Eastern customs closer to his own life and experiences. Learning the traditions of these religions firsthand has been a unique academic opportunity, he says, but a single course does little more than scratch the surface of a long theological tradition.
"We're talking about Enlightenment, and none of us can sit still for ten minutes," Polak said. "You have to sit still for 50 years to attain Enlightenment."
Gittleman places particular emphasis on the Ex College's faith in the merits of untraditional pedagogy and personalized teaching styles. She cites introducing "new subject matter" and thinking "beyond regular books and papers" among the Ex College's fundamental objectives.
A number of Arts and Sciences courses - now integral to a complete course listing - have their foundations in the Ex College. Among these are American Sign Language, photography, jazz, Women's Studies, and a number of film courses.
New courses are also added by traditional academic departments each year. The Physical Education Department, for example, offers dozens of instructional classes ranging from tennis to weight training to step aerobics. Skiing and Snowboarding, which departs for Nashoea Valley every Monday afternoon for six weeks, is another untraditional way to earn credit. Sophomore Kate Harris can hardly believe that she is earning course credit (half a credit, pass/fail) for learning how to snowboard.
"I wish the mountain were bigger," Harris said. "But, it's really about getting off campus and being outside."
The students are given free time on the slopes until lessons begin at 7:30 p.m. These skiers and snowboarders generally begin their return trip to campus by 9:30 p.m., allotting them five full ours of practice each week. Harris, who has made a number of friends in her small (eight-person) lesson group, says that she would "definitely recommend" the class.
Senior Jodie Moreau found that in January she still had one requirement yet to fulfill - a social science. Moreau, a biochemistry major, admits that as someone invested in the natural sciences she was somewhat skeptical of the validity of "any 'ology' other than bio." But eager to take a risk, she enrolled in Medical Anthropology, unsure at the time of what anthropology entailed. The first day of class Moreau viewed a documentary about shamans in rural Korea. She hesitated to comment on the film.
"I think 'strange' is sort of an understatement," Moreau said. "I'm learning that anthropology is a lot about turning off your own cultural heritage and exposing yourself to another one."
Whether a class falls short of your expectations or it knocks your socks off, you are bound to at least get credit for it, as long as you pass. Moreau still has not lost sight of her initial inspiration for investigating anthropology. When asked, "What are you hoping to gain from this course?" she candidly replied, "Graduation."
