FAS 120: Fashion Skills and Techniques I

If you’re like Tan France, then you like clothes. And what better way to showcase your fashion sense than making your own clothing?

FAS 120: Fashion Skills and Techniques I in the Fashion Design Program is a studio-based class, in which students are introduced to sewing equipment and the construction of clothing, said Jeffrey Mayer, professor and program coordinator for the Fashion Design Program.

The class, he said, is open to non-majors and only meets once a week – on Fridays – for four hours. Class time is used to work on projects and assignments for the course, he said. FAS 120 is a required core class to fulfill the minor for fashion design, which was recently approved by the university.

REL 255: Psychology, Spirituality, Love and Ethics

Tan France proves that building confidence can be the key to happiness. If you’re looking to think more deeply about yourself in that way, this class might be the one for you.

REL 255: Psychology, Spirituality, Love and Ethics discusses psychoanalysis, spirituality and ethics. The course encourages students to think deeply about themselves and what they value, said Ernest Wallwork, professor of religion. Part of the class, he said, requires students to participate in dream interpretation, where they analyze their own dreams.

Students are also encouraged to talk about personal conflicts and how their lives and dreams relate to the readings from class. Among the topics discussed throughout the course, which is open to all majors, are different kinds of personalities, narcissism, love and relationships.

DTS 200 Selected Topics: Foundations of Salsa Dance

Of all the “Queer Eye” coaches, Jonathan Van Ness can bust a move like no other. He can whip his hair, follow an eight-count and steal the show. Taking this introductory salsa class can help students find their own rhythm and groove this fall.

Instructor Roberto Perez said students are joined in pairs to learn the dance moves. While the class may be more intense than a regular Zumba class, Perez said the pace is slow enough for new students to gradually build their skills. The class is kept at a capacity of 25 students and begins Oct. 15.

In previous semesters teaching the class, Perez said students were able to show off what they learned by performing their own choreography in a dance club. He hopes next semester students are willing to perform, adding that it’s the “best experience” students have throughout the course.

DRA 105:  Intro Acting/Non-Majors

If dancing isn’t your thing, embracing Jonathan’s intuition for the arts is still on the table.

DRA 105: Intro Acting/Non-Majors is an acting class for non-drama majors. Joseph Whelan, who has taught it for more than 10 years, said instructors who teach the course can vary differently depending on their specific training. He said his class will learn the Meisner technique that is based on exercises and improvisation.

The class is capped at 14 people which makes it more intimate, Whelan said, giving people the outlet to be more comfortable while learning more about themselves.

ANT 357: Health, Healing, and Culture

As the culture expert of the Fab Five, Karamo Brown helps people heal from whatever challenges they may be facing.

ANT 357: Health, Healing, and Culture explores the ways human health, illness and healing is shaped by cultural values. Robert Rubinstein, distinguished professor of anthropology, said this is a gateway for students interested in medical anthropology, but the course is open to students of all majors. Taking an introductory anthropology course before can help, he said, but it’s not necessary.

The course culminates in a final paper worth 30% of students’ grades. Rubinstein said past student papers have discussed the stigma surrounding chronic illnesses and privilege in the medical world, among other things. The curriculum dives into how money and power influence global health perspectives.

SOC 422: Work and Family in the 21st Century

Not only does each Fab Five makeover transform an individual’s life, but their families’ lives as well. Karamo works to strengthen bonds within each family he meets.

In SOC 422: Work and Family in the 21st Century, students will learn about how the economy influences family life around the world. The course explores salary disparities among genders, the government’s role in shaping family life, working-class family dynamics and how economic forces affect people’s quality of life.

Kamala Ramadoss, associate professor in the department of human development and family science, said the class is typically 30-40 students. The course includes class activities, group discussions and final projects, which students can tailor to their individual interests. Ramadoss noted that since the course is cross-listed with WGS and HFS, this course topic lends itself to many disciplines. She encourages students to relate the concepts discussed in class to their personal lives and career aspirations.

FST 201: Professional Baking

For Antoni Porowski, food, at its best, is an opportunity to nourish both your body and your soul. To tap into your savory side this fall, look no further than FST 201: Professional Baking. The class, open to both major and non-major students alike, is taught by Chris Uyehara, a culinary specialist in the nutrition and food studies program in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

Uyehara said he has taught the course for 13 years and one of his favorite aspects of the course is its availability to students from a wide variety of culinary experiences. The professional baking class, which he referred to as “a life skill,” is an opportunity for students to further explore their creative roots and create a final product that satisfies their sweet tooth, one class at a time.

NSD 225: Nutrition in Health

To properly fuel your body — and your graduation requirements — NSD 225: Nutrition in Health is your best bet.

Sudha Raj, a teaching professor of nutrition science & dietetics at Falk College, will teach NSD 225 to students in the major this fall. But Raj said the class, which is open for both major and non-major enrollment, offers insight into the world of food and nutrition. One of the common misconceptions about NSD 225, she added, is that it’s a culinary arts course and not one of the biological sciences.

Food is about more than the quick grab-and-go meals students have during their busy college days, Raj said. Through this course, she hopes students will learn about the long-term effects nutrition has on personal health and well-being so they can learn to make more mindful choices moving forward in life.

CRS 339: Communication, Space and Design

Whether it’s integrating old family heirlooms into a new living room or upping the style of an already existent “man cave,” Bobbery Berk always makes sure to include a little flair when he redesigns a home. After all, there’s a big difference between a house and a home, and what really makes a space feel like one’s own.

This fall, CRS 339: Communication, Space and Design will explore these exact questions and more. Rachel Hall, associate professor in the department of communication and rhetorical studies, said the course will explore the “spatial politics of everyday life,” and how people move through the spaces we inhabit.

Hall added the course material will incorporate examples of architecture, interior design, cinema and advertising to show the importance of spatial design. Though the class (usually made up of around 20 students, Hall said) is open to majors first and foremost, non-majors are also welcome.

CRS 333: Small Group Communication

While Bobby’s knack for interior design is one-of-a-kind, the final makeover just wouldn’t be the same without the rest of the Fab Five. By working together in their different roles, Bobby and the rest of the crew do wonders on their muses.

In CRS 333: Small Group Communication, you’ll learn all about how to work together. Anne Jakowenko, an instructor in the department of communication and rhetorical studies, will focus on enhancing students’ skills as group communicators. The course includes two hands-on projects, with one focused on a local volunteer organization and another focused on creating and presenting a persuasive argument.

Furthermore, for anyone worried about a class that’s all group work, Jakowenko implements a special Student Empowerment Technique to help handle when group members aren’t pulling their weight. With all these techniques combined, you’ll be well on your way to collaborating as successfully as the Fab Five do themselves.

Illustrations by Sarah Allam | Illustration Editor
Graphics by Anna Henderson | Digital Design Editor