The spring semester begins soon, but sometimes finding the *perfect* schedule takes you ... right up to the add/drop deadline. But never fear! Nutshell is here to help you put the finishing touches on your spring 2025 course schedule ... or give you some inspo for future semesters! 

The below courses are open to all undergraduate students—yes, even the Honors courses—AND, last time we checked, still have seats available!* You may not know this, but most Honors classes, especially the Special Topics sections, are open to anyone who wishes to take them under the Honors Program’s commitment to “challenge by choice.” This means that these classes and the added challenge that comes with them are available to anyone up to the task—all you need to do is fill out this form. 

The rest of the courses listed here are General Education courses (otherwise known as GenEds) or part of the core curriculum that all Temple students must complete, meaning they’re open to everyone ... ESPECIALLY those who still need to fulfill their requirements! 

*as of Jan. 9, 2025 

Fighting the power on film 
No prior film experience is necessary! Explore how ideas of resistance, rebellion and change are expressed on the big screen, and how lessons from these films can be applied across disciplines. This class combines screenings with readings and a hands-on approach, plus a final project and plenty of collaboration.  
Course: Honors Topics: Cinema of Resistance (FMA 4940) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

Sinisterly speaking 
If your Roman Empire is public speaking, you’re in luck! Public speech was the main tool of communication in the ancient world. Tackle ancient questions like: What is the relationship between persuasion and the truth? What happens when speakers use their skills for evil?  Is it possible to ensure that people use their speaking power only for good?   
Course: Honors Topics: The Dark Arts of Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Rome (GRC 2900) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

Incarceration, power and America 
Perceptions of race and the law have shaped each other immensely over time—this course answers the question, “How?” You’ll hear and read the words and works of those who are criminalized, policed and imprisoned as well as from social movements of the last several decades. 
Course: Honors Topics in American History—History of the Carceral State (History 2900) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

GOOOOOOOOAL! 
Calling all soccer fans! Over the semester, you’ll consider what the game illuminates about our society in general and Northeast Philadelphia in particular, addressing everything from imperialism and nationalism to gender, racism, exoticism and eroticism.  
Course: Honors Special Topics: Global Soccer Comes to Philly! (History 2910) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

We shall overcome 
Back in the day, protest music acted a lot like social media does now: It was one of the main methods to communicate an alternative message to the powers-that-be. The course will not only show you how music shaped social movements, but also teach you about the legacies that continue to influence people today. 
Course: Honors Special Topics I: Protest Music (History 2900) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

The classical code 
Many people may initially have reservations about classical music—that it’s too complex and lengthy for the average person to understand. However, this course takes an interactive approach to exploring musicology and will enhance your appreciation of classical music from Bach to Bernstein.  
Course: Honors Special Topics: Too Many Notes? Decoding Classical Music (Music Studies 3900) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3 

Freedom to learn 
What happens when students choose to fight; except they aren’t fighting each other, but rather a school system meant to educate them? What happens when teachers join them as allies and vice versa? This course will examine these questions by exploring historical and contemporary case studies of student and teacher activism at the local and global level.  
Course: Honors Special Topics: Freedom Dreaming: Activism in Schools, Philadelphia and Beyond (Urban Education 3990) 
Fulfills: Honors elective 
Credits: 3  

GenEds: 

All the world’s a stage 
Learn how a theatrical play progresses from an idea to a full production. You’ll discover the secrets behind set, light, costume and sound design as well as script writing and directing, and come to understand the work behind the theater, film and television you love! 
Course: From Page to Stage (Theater 0813) 
Fulfills: Arts GenEd 
Credits: 3 

Make a difference 
What methods do guerilla artists and activists, reformers and humanitarians use to make the world a better place? This course will give you a multidisciplinary view into these unorthodox strategies, culminating in your final project: a small-scale humanitarian intervention within Temple's surrounding communities.  
Course: Guerilla Altruism (Architecture 0835) 
Fulfills: Human Behavior GenEd 
Credits: 3 

Use your noodle 
One of the last frontiers in science is right between your shoulders. We know a lot about the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, but there’s something about a system made up of 100 billion components using tens of trillions of connections that can be difficult to fully understand. Unlock the mysteries of the brain and join one of the fastest growing domains in all of science! 
Course: Brain Matters (Psychology 0817) 
Fulfills: Science and Technology GenEd 
Credits: 3 

War games 
Weapons of mass destruction and genocide are not recent inventions; instead, wars, soldiers and their strategies are all rooted in their social and political context. In this course, you will learn how technology, propaganda and more have changed how humans have fought and made peace since ancient times.  
Course: War and Peace (Political Science 0864) 
Fulfills: World Society GenEd 
Credits: 3 

Game on 
To what extent does the way we play or spectate sports, the way we plan or experience leisure time, reflect American values? As you trace a brief history of the United States through the lens of sport and leisure, you will observe how our concepts of freedom, democracy and equality are tested over time. 
Course: Sports & Leisure in American Society (Africology/African American Studies 0857) 
Fulfills: U.S. Society Gen Ed 
Credits: 3 

Historic bops 
Often called "the birthplace of the United States," Philly’s musical history is nothing short of iconic. For hundreds of years, Philadelphia has cultivated unique acts and genres that are as varied as the city's population itself. The course will explore the history of music in Philadelphia and its connections to race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity and identity. 
Course: The Sounds of Philadelphia (Music Studies 0808) 
Fulfills: Race and Diversity GenEd 
Credits: 3