The Columbia College Student Experience: If there is ONE class you would recommend to other students, it would be …

I'm an AEMM music business major; my favorite class as a Freshman was Art & Business of Recording with Bob DiFazio & Regina (sorry I am blanking on last name right now!). If incoming students can read this - TAKE THIS CLASS your first semester! It offers a great overview of what's to come in your upcoming semesters and other classes.

My favorite LAS course was The Vietnam War in History, Liturature, & the Arts. There's a decent amount of outside reading - some textbook style but mostly lit - which I found interesting, as well as some in-class movies and discussion about music from the 60s/70s as it relates to the war. But the best part is the in-class discussions. The teachers (Dominic Pacyga and Tom Nawrocki) are incredibly intelligent, engaging, open to new ideas, and love to discuss and teach. I learned so much from the other students during the discussions and was able to express my own thoughts and have them countered, thus expanding my own way of thinking. There was one paper (which was a cool prompt and interesting to research/write) and I think 3 tests including the final. If you have any interest in this period in American and/or Vietnamese history it's a fantastic class to take.

I would HIGHLY recommend taking "Music Supervision" with Kate McCombs and Chuck Bein. Such a great class for any of you fellow aspiring music supervisors out there!

Also "Music Publishing" with Ajay Gosain and Shawn Murphy is a great class as well. Very informative, and taught well.

Joe Keefe. He'll teach you everything. you need to know about writing. If you're serious about becoming a writer. His class is a must. Seriously. He's a gold-mine of information.

I took Story in Film and Fiction this semester with Julia Borcherts, half-expecting it to be a blowoff class and half-expecting it to be a grueling, nose-to-the-grindstone nightmare. However, it was neither. The class does revolve almost exclusively around movies, but there were some great stories we read that keyed in nicely with the movies we watched in class. The teacher was really passionate about the subject matter, which made it easier to pay attention. I was thinking about falling asleep in class one day while we were supposed to be watching "Dog Day Afternoon," but the discussion kept me awake and I found it a lot easier to write the paper afterwards. Hooray!

New Millennium Studies is absolutely pointless. Intro to Cultural Studies should be the requirement.

Take Human Rights with June Terpstra. It's not a recommendation. It's a demand. This course will make a superhero out of you.

Take a class with Louis Silverstein!
He is an amazing teacher and I always leave his class feeling motivated and inspired in some new way I never thought possible.

For film students I also recommend Don Smith. I am not even sure what he is teaching these days, but he is great.

Take anything taught by Bill Hayashi.

He teaches Philosophy of Love, Mystical Consciousness, and Spirituality & Empowerment.

While all of these classes have different subject matter, the main goal of each of the courses is to discover yourself, and the bonds between you, Bill, and your classmates will astonish you.

They each count as a humanities course and a writing intensive.

I highly recommend these classes. I remember someone in my Mystical Consciousness class saying "if everyone took this class, the world would be a better place."

:o)

Film and AVM Majors

-Location Sound with Tony Sipusich is worth taking. It teaches you the importance of good sound during filming and how to achieve it with Mic placement. The class is effective for both new comers to Sound and veterans.

-AVM1 with Michael Coyle. You learn most of the basics to syncing audio to picture. This includes time-codes and codecs. Its ideal to have a basic knowledge of ProTools prior to taking this class and once in it, you dive right into projects that Coyle has actually worked on. We did All State Insurance, Bennigans, GE, and Monster.com commercials, a Trailer for Ironman and a scene from Transformers. Also an INTERNSHIP opportunity if you get an A, which is a great opportunity at CRC (Chicago Recording Company) where Coyle is a senior engineer.

I would deff, have to recommend taking New Millennium Studies with James Falzone. He is such an amazing teacher, he will inspire and embrace the person you truly are. He WANTS you to think outside the box and deal with your raw emotions, In his class you are free to say anything that is on your mind, no mater how far out or even biased it may be, its your opinion. Your opinion counts in the class. We really try to dig deep and find out who we are as people through projects, movies, even how we may feel about artwork. Its a lot of fun and it is a requirement for freshman:)

if you're the slightest bit interested in improv (or are a theatre student who needs to take it) I recommend you take it with Brian Posen. He is an amazing teacher who really cares about teaching and I learned SO MUCH in his class. It was so much fun and I looked forward to going every week!

For writers, the most important class is The Writer's Portfolio, taught by Marcia Brenner. Marcia practices tough love. If you rise to her challenges, you will come out improved, prepared, and confident in yourself. Her course in facing the real world post-graduation and how to maneuver it best is something that I feel should be a requirement for writers to graduate. The class covers what feels like every hurtle a writer will face, from the submission process, the legal details, to the emotions that come with choosing this career path. With Marcia, her very real desire for you to succeed is apparent, and so is her love. This is a common theme with the professors in the Fiction Writing department.

I love my school.

If you need to get Writing and Rhetoric II out of the way, I would recommend taking it with Corrine Calice. She is the most inspiring English teacher I have ever had. Her class requires a lot of extensive work, but it is worth it in the end, because the assignments really help boost your skills as a writer and perfect your writing style. She challenges all of her students to analyze the depths of any subject and narrow their focus to become better writers. I learned more in her class than I have in any class I have ever had.

I would recommend The 1960s taught by Professor Arnoldt. He's an amazing teacher. It's a lot of work, but he really is amazing. He also teaches History of Chicago (counts as History and writing intensive).

I would recommend the History of the Holocaust class taught by Robert Hogg! It was an absolutely great class! You learn so much about a tragic, but great event in not the not-so-long-ago past. Prof. Hogg is so knowledgeable about that historical time in German history! The documentaries are wonderful and I promise you will learn so much! He's so passionate about what he teaches that you don't want to stop listening to take notes, and you really learn how it relates to modern society! Take it!

I would recommend Story in Fiction and Film, which is co-taught by Mica Racine and Andrew Micheli. It's a Friday class, but it's worth it. It's great for both Fiction Writing and Film majors. We read passages and watched a movie each week, and we had to write some sort of story each week, focusing on a specific style or technique that we learned that week. It's a fun class and the two teachers were also really funny. Don't be scared away by the fact that it's a Friday class. You'll be glad you signed up for it!

I would have to recommend the Psychology of Women with Maya Shewnarain. First off, anyone can take the course and it's covers a SS requirement as well US Pluralism and 2000 Level or High course. Maya is, hands down, one of the best professors I've had at Columbia. Maya is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and opinionated but more than anything, she really encourages that you think deeply about yourself, society, and your interactions based on gender.

She's always pushing her students to think about the things they say and do and most importantly, believe. I've never had a class or a professor who made me challenge and question my own personal beliefs the Maya did. I almost always recommend this course to anyone who asks what's a good class to take at Columbia.

Psychology of Women is probably one of the best classes you can take here.

History of Video & Digital Art
Teacher: Laurie Jo Reynolds

We watched some of the most mind blowing Video Art that spanned from the early 60's into the late 80's. The class centered around the importance of 1969 and new ways of imagining and defining what art can be. It was by far one of the most interesting and inspirational classes I have taken at Columbia so far. Plus it counts as film credit. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CLASS for anyone that desires to think outside of the box, even just a little. TAKE THIS CLASS PEOPLE!

If you are in the Theater Department I would recommend taking Text Analysis with Kimberly Baker (or Senior-- one is her maiden name and one is her married name). She is phenomenal. I learned a lot in her class and she has a great teaching style-- very hands on group projects and she instigates great class discussions.

For anyone else in Columbia I would recommend taking Feldenkrais-- an awareness method that reprograms your nuerological system to let your muscles re-learn what they are capable of, rather than the limits of what they have been doing for years in your body. Suzzanne is the only person who teaches it. This class is listed under the Theater department but anyone can take it and I highly recommend it. It has changed the way I live in my body.

In your senior year, you should definitely take Professional Portfolio Development with Isabelle McGuire. At such a critical time, she is the perfect teacher to whip you into shape. She doesn't provide any bullshit, and instead gives you the hard facts you need to know. If you cry during a bad critique of your work, don't take this class. But if you can handle her constructive criticism (it's not always nice), you'll absolutely evolve into a much better designer, and have a great portfolio at the end of the semester.

The most worthwhile and engaging class I've taken at Columbia was "Sign, Symbol, Image" with Jim Williams. I believe Jim is an extraordinary teacher who deserves great merit!

He created an engaging class atmosphere that encouraged participation and productivity. I thought his teaching style was well-timed, very informative, fun, and quite inspirational. I found myself always wanting to do my best, and I felt that every project and assignment from his class was useful in some way. I've referred to my class materials a number of times since I completed the class.

Jim is also great at getting back to people quickly and providing valuable feedback.

I would recommend Intro to Lit, with Michael Robins.
It was a great class that counts for HL. It was probably my best class last semester.

Biology of AIDS: The Life of a Virus. You will be grateful having Lynette Foss in your life.

That is all.

I know that I am going to be a repeat post on here. But i do have to agree that Kathy Kinsella is one of the greatest teachers that I have had at Columbia. Intro to Marketing Research is an interesting class and having Kathy, whom has so much knowledge of the field teaching the class, makes it 100 times better! she is awesome! Always there to offer help! As long as you pay attention and you try, you will succeed in her class!

To Marketing students or anyone who has to take Market Research, Kathy Kinsella is phenomenal. You may be intimidated at first as it seems overwhelming,however Mrs. Kinsella is a great teacher, and even when the workload seems like a lot, she is always there to help and she really takes the time to help you to fully understand and perfect what you are working on. I felt I had truly learned and retained the material at the end of the semester. If you do the work and ask for help when you need it you will walk away with great skills and an awesome grade!

Everyone should take Philosophy of Love! It's a great break from life and your crazy classes.

Bill is a wonderful man who truly cares about each and every one of his students. The class focus on you as an individual. You won't be memorizing nonsense.

I remember walking in the first day thinking 'this class is going to be a joke' but it turned out to be an experience I won't forget.
Plus you get your Writing intensive credit for it. It's a win/win situation.

Writing for Managers - online. I believe it's a writing intensive (for those who need it). I took it with Nicole Leinbach. She was easy to communicate with (which can be hard to find in an online class) and clear with every single assignment. The class was a breeze, I learned enough to honestly say it was worth my time, and it's online so as long as you can remember to turn in the assignments by the due date you're golden.

Well, most people need a speech/oral class, which can be hell. But Im taking it with Mary Lou Wade, and she is amazing. I was dreading that class, but she is very upbeat and makes giving speeches not so scary. As for Photo, I would recommend Elizabeth Ernst. I had her for a food workshop. She is a tough cookie, but she knows what she's talking about, and is VERY helpful and really expects alot out of you. Definately not an easy professor, but she is incredible.

I highly recommend the AIM and Janell Baxter - very good teacher and really informative class! Everything you need to know to start designing HTML web pages is there!

I took a screenwriting I class taught by Jon Rangel 5 years ago there before I left and returned this year. It was amazing and influential he really broke down story structure like nobodies business and helped you look at you story from a billion of different angels. So by the end of the class it was a part of your being!
Im not sure if he still teaches there but if he dose I HIGHLY recommend talking his class if you a film student and a story freak!

My favorite class so far has been Intro to Theory. If your in to music and don't really know the ins and outs it's good stuff to know.

Women's Health Care Issues taught by Sharon Powell. She's so enthusiastic and the information taught in this class is incredibly useful for both men and women.
Also, any class taught by Brendan Riley. It'll be hard, I promise you, but his classes are fun and he makes the material really interesting. He's also one of the few teachers I've ever had who expresses his genuine desire to see all his students pass, and offers help to anyone struggling with the material.

Well this is only my second semester here, but one class I took last semester was called "Color Strategies" taught by Anna Kunz. I think it's a really underrated class that a lot of people don't even know about as an option. For photography majors, it's an alternative to a couple other classes, like Drawing I, I think. It's such a useful class for anyone going into ANY visual arts field. Painting, photography, advertising, graphic design, etc. Everyone can learn something valuable about colors, how they work together, and what effects they have on the viewer. And Anna Kunz is hysterical and a great teacher.

carmelo esterrich > revolution in cuba! this is a great thing because we sit on the floor and look at picture books full of nice, big posters with good colors. sometimes carmelo brings in cookies after thanksgiving. but, really, it's tough and not for kids who don't care about latin american history. don't bring your slacking pants. you should be sure to bring your comfortable pants, but that goes for most classes. in fact, maybe you should wear a skirt. skirts are more fun than pants, and definitely more comfortable (except long ones, in the summer...they keep in the heat!). another good part of this class is listening to silvio rodriguez, a man with a very good spanish and a nighttime voice. posters + guitars + history = hooray!

I HIGHLY recommend Scott Lee to anyone taking Audio Production 1 or 2. He's really upbeat and fun, and he teaches the things that you really need to know! He doesn't waste time any time on the impractical. I promise you will come out of his class with a much better understanding of audio.

One of the most formative classes I have had at Columbia was Twentieth Century Art Theory and Criticism with Professor Amy Mooney. The coursework, reading, and discussion are intense, but well worth the effort. Dr. Amy Mooney is a remarkable addition to Columbia's Art and Design and Art History Departments. She brings incredible knowledge and experience to her classroom. Dr. Mooney encourages "peer-teaching" in her class and provides ample opportunity for student participation and feedback. I highly recommend her course to any Fine Art or Art History Major - it will change the way you think about art and its history.

Pattie MacKenzie for Topics: Organizational Behavior: Human Relations Workshop!!!

She is one of the most inspirational teachers I've ever had. Besides from the baked goods she brings in every week, she is amazing beyond belief. After having her as your teacher you will wish that she could teach all of your classes throughout your time at Columbia.

You learn so much about yourself and learn that not everyone learns like you. You learn what kind of learner you are, if you are more introverted or extroverted, and any other key areas of your personality. You first learn all this by taking the Meyers-Briggs survey and the class builds upon your answers. When you learn in depth these characteristics you start to have so many "a-ha!" moments in this class.

I would recommend Joe Merideth's Drawing for Animation 1.
It's hard to pick out one class but Merideth's class was recommended to me, and I'm glad I took it!

Oh this is an easy question.

Business of the Legal Arts over in AEMM. Even though I am a film student I had to take this class as part of my producing concentration. This actually should be a required class across all departments. Why?
Well that's easy. If you are an artist of any type you need to know how to read contracts because you don't want to get screwed do you?
Or what do you do if you found out someone stole your work?
What do you do to prevent your work getting stolen?
(Oh and guess what? The "poor man's copyright" by mailing yourself something is a myth).

And what's even more awesome about it is that all the cases that are spoken about in the class come out of music, film, video games, fashion etc industries.

TAKE IT AND SAVE YOURSELF ALOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE!!!!!!!

Seriously :)

I would recommend Alaric Dirmeyer to anyone. He teaches multiple classes in the Film/Video dept. From History of Cinema to Hong Kong Action Cinema, he's super nice, really informative and knowledgeable of the subject matter and his classes are fun, so take one.

I feel that a class that is definitely worth the time and energy is Script Analysis. If you are in film, especially, it comes in very handy. It allows you an in depth look at what goes into making a film via the script from every single aspect. If you aren't sure on what your concentration should be, or want to see how your decisions will affect everyone else's decisions, then this class is definitely a must!

I recommend Prexy Nesbitt (whose real name is Rozell Nesbitt). He teaches Topics in History and a class on Nelson Mandela.

Unfortunately, for those who wish to take my advice, his classes fill up quickly (particularly his Nelson Mandela & the Anti-Apartheid Movement class), and students take his classes a 2nd time or more because they want to experience his wisdom and passion for humanity again and again.

Prexy is the real thing. He fought for African-American civil rights in America. He gave advice to MLK Jr. once when MLK Jr. wanted to know about Tanzania. He was part of the U.S. Anti-Apartheid Movement. He knew something about HOPE and CHANGE before African-Americans could vote for HOPE or CHANGE.

After taking his class in the Fall of '06, I went on a trip to South Africa with Prexy. That was a life-changing experience.

Prexy ensures students do not just learn in the classroom but broaden their horizons and learn every minute that we walk upon this hot, flat, and crowded Earth.

I stepped outside of my shell for Prexy. I would not be a successful college student if I had not taken Prexy's class (indeed, my adviser suggested I not take Prexy's class on African history in my freshman year and save it for later in my college career; I ignored the adviser and I'm so happy I did).

While I would absolutely without a doubt agree with K. Wright (who's in my class btw) about John White. He's an incredibly professor and pulitzer prize winning photojournalist who we are privileged to have teaching at our school, and he has produced a large amount of working photojournalists who have gone on to win prizes of their own. But while that is a photography class intended for photo majors mainly, I would also have to say that a class that everyone could take regardless of major is Carrie Beecham's Gender and Culture class.

Carrie is a really wonderful professor, very energetic and explains things very well. The goal of the class is to understand how there are different gender roles in different cultures, and how from a sociological perspective we really can't judge other cultures without examining our own. I've taken so much of what I've learned in Carrie's class and used it in my approach to my art and the decisions I make.

The class fills up fast because it's amazing, but if you ever have the opportunity to take it, it's a global awareness credit and I believe a humanities as well.

Take it, and keep an open mind to everything. Don't pass judgement until you really think about it.

I truly recommend figure drawing to all students, especially in art and design. The human form is probably one of the hardest and most beautiful subjects to capture and draw. This class taught me patience and to gather emotion and gestures through my drawings. This class was not a pre-req for any of the classes in my fashion design curriculum but has provided me further knowledge of the human form.

Ivan Brunetti is the best instructor I have had in college. He combines his experience, knowledge, humor and talent to the classroom. I recommend taking Editorial Illustration and Drawing the Graphic Novel with him.

I think it is a combination of all of these things, but the instructor of the class definately sets the mood or vibe of how the whole class is going to be. If the instructor is happy and postive and teaches well, the students will respond well. Also, if an instructor is negative, grumpy and impatient, students are going to be negative, grumpy and impatient with her/him and also the classwork in general.

I'd recommend Philosophy I with Steven Asma. This class requires more cognitive attention than any other class I've taken, but it pays off in so many ways. I think through everything completely differently since taking this class, and I've really learned a lot about myself as both an artist and as an individual. This is Columbia, that's why we're here, right?

I think everyone should take Media Theory and Design I. I took the class with N O'Brien and I really enjoyed the class. The class helps you understand how people see media of all kinds and helps you create more meaningful media and more profound media.

Take "Topics in Documentary: The Music Documentary". It's a very cool class. Instructor Ben Steger is challenging, but understanding. There's a lot of work, but it is all relevant and I feel like I have learned a ton. You also get to watch cool documentaries about music, of course!

I would definitely recommend Animal Behavior with Dr. Molumby. He is an amazing teacher, the class is so thought provoking and it's always interesting. I think it's very important to have a professor with a sense of humor, because that always keeps it interesting. The class is challenging, but it's not unbearably hard. The assignments always pertain to what's being taught and there isn't any "busy work". It counts as a science without a lab class, so it's more than just an elective.

Web Design with David Noffs (5 week class)

I'm not really into the whole web design thing but needed some guidance in building an online portfolio for myself. David is an excellent teacher and is willing to help everyone at anytime. He's always open for students to visit him in his office and willing to come in before or stay after class.

The class itself was awesome as well. I learned the basics of building a website and came out of the class with a website that I can put on my resume for industry professionals to view.

Peace Studies with Louis Silverstein.

He is a teacher full of knowledge and you learn about yourself, nature, love, and just being happy.

Would definitely recommend the Presenting Live Performances AEMM class! Arnold Breman has been in the entertainment industry for decades, has so many wonderful stories about his experiences and really knows how to communicate to students about the real world in the arts. I'm getting a lot out of the class and crave more information each week :)

For Film:
I would recommend Matt Sauro for Post Production Audio I. He's incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely wants to help his students learn it.

For General LAS:
Any history class with Keith Green. He's funny and keeps history interesting.

Gay and Lesbian Studies with Victoria Shannon. I have learned so much in the class and there is never a dull moment. There is always something exciting going on and the guest speakers... I won't forget the guest speakers. Victoria makes everything interesting and it's actually a lot of fun.

Two classes that will change your life, and the outcome of your portfolio... one is The Philosophy of Love with Bill Hayashi. The second is Intermediate Type with Craig Jobson. You get out of it what you put into it, but they are two of the best teachers I've ever met, which is saying a lot because I've been in school a long time.

There are so many great opportunities for classes here at Columbia. I almost dread when its time to register for the new semester because there's almost too many courses to pick from. I found myself extremely lucky last semester, however.
I'm sure you've all heard of the classes that are not offered at just any other university. Zombies in Media, The Simpsons, etc. It just so happened that I wanted to add a class as soon as someone dropped it, and landed in Fantasy Literature: Harry Potter.

Seriously, I think I've learned more in that class than I have in my major courses! Susen James is thus far, my favorite professor. She really challenges your thinking and exposes you to new ideas. I had no idea about the intricacies of J.K. Rowling's writing, and how much she took history, philosophy and mythology to inject into her work. This class was phenomenal and I looked forward to it every time I went. It's the rare class where you actually are excited to complete your homework, ready for the next class' discussion session.

5 Stars out of 5, grab this class when you can!

When it comes down to it, it's all about the teacher and how they decide to present the material. You could have the most boring class in the world but have the most interesting, fun curiculum in which the teacher makes it fun and easy to learn.

As far as classes go, I would highly recommend Robin Whatleys, Natural Disasters Class which is considered a science credit, Shanita Akintonde's, Special Events and Promotions class (marketing), for PR I highly recommend Mr. Perlman, for English, Thomas Mowe, for Psychology, Ailsa Neilson and for speech, Joseph Fedorko. All extremely talented teachers who make the subjects that much more enjoyable! Extremely wonderful, caring, fun and exciting teachers/classes!

I would definitely recommend Design Culture Now. It really gives you the opportunity to look at all aspects of design and get an interdisciplinary understanding of how art and design influences the world. Oh, and there are some pretty cool field trips involved.

I would recommend taking a web class like Authoring Interactive Media. It is a great starting point for students who want to dive into the web design/development field. AIM teaches you the basics about web design and gives students a chance to develop online material. These days an online presence is very important especially in terms of displaying your body of work so basic knowledge of websites is a must.

Photojournalism with John H. White
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H_White_(photojournalist) )
John is by far the best teacher I have had a Columbia. I'm not interested in pursuing a career as a photojournalist but I had heard so many people rave about him that I decided I needed to take this class.
John is someone who truly, truly cares & gives each class 100%- he loves photojournalism, photography, and above all life. This class goes beyond just photography, it is a course on life & living life as well.
I sincerely do not understand how John can live each and every day with so much passion and intensity- I deeply admire his spirt and contagious passion for life and the pursuit of excellence.
John also has extensive knowledge in his field & an excellent eye for images & capturing moments. He is always pushing us to be our best, and then to better our best.
Everyone at columbia, photo major or not, should have the opportunity to take a class with John because he will change your life and open your eyes in so many ways.
I feel so grateful that I have had the opportunity to be his student.

PJ LOVE!

I'd recommend taking a portfolio class of any kind before graduation. I took one in the Fiction Writing department this semester (because that's my major) and it has really helped me to create a body of artistic work, brand myself as an artist, evaluate my skill set for employment, create a working resume that's better than my old crummy one used to be, and work with my classmates to improve my already solid work.

My class particularly (taught by Marcia Brenner), has had six guest speakers (including Jonathan Messenger) who have spoken on everything from copy writing your work to creating a better blog. We have taken several visits to the Portfolio Center where we've created an online portfolio, had business cards printed and taken headshots. We exchange work every week that we later evaluate for sending out to publishers.

If that's not enough goodness, we've also had to interview 4 professionals as part of our coursework. One of these has to be an in-person interview, and one has to be a job shadow. From this, I've already been offered two jobs, and really taken a good look at what I'd like to do after college versus what I THOUGHT I wanted to do.

Marcia is also an amazing teacher who has read all of our work carefully, and given positive and constructive feedback. She's worked hard on our resumes, our contacts, and on getting us our speakers. She's offered to read our work for years to come, and is bringing us cake on the last day of class.

Honestly, the best money I ever spent in my Columbia career.

Culture, Race, and Media taught by Beau Beaudoin.
A dynamic professor who inspires students to go deeper with the class material, challenging and insightful.

"Contemporary European Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict"

Yes, it was a Saturday class when I took it...

BUT
-it counts as global awareness and history.
-It's taught by an Irish professor with an amazing accent
-It's all the wars you never learned about in high school/ knew existed
-He understands if you miss a couple classes because it is... Saturday... at 9am

I definitely recommend it!