Academic Electives

Hey Everyone!

So I thought it would be a good idea to talk about academics this week, regarding what I have been learning in school so far! I’m currently taking five courses, which is the equivalent of taking four classes at Harvard so that I have the appropriate transfer credits when I go back!

My core course, as I discussed in my last post, is Positive Psychology. I absolutely love this course because it is all about maximizing one’s well-being and happiness in life. This field of education has been significantly misunderstood and underestimated; however, it is extremely important to study because it can result in many personal benefits. Since I discussed a little bit about what we learn in positive psychology in my last post, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about my electives so prospective students can get an inside look 🙂

My first elective that I am taking is called the Psychology of Loneliness. Lets be honest, all people in life have experienced feelings of loneliness at some time or another, but no one ever really talks about it. This class is an amazing opportunity to learn about this concept because it is something that is applicable to everyone’s life. If you are curious to learn a little more about the loneliness “epidemic” in general, and coping strategies with how to overcome those feelings of loneliness, then this is the class for you!

The second elective I am taking is called Human Trafficking. I have been studying criminal psychology my entire undergraduate experience, give or take a few classes. When I saw Human Trafficking was an option to choose from, I was immediately intrigued. This crime is a multi-billion dollar industry that results in over 150 billion U.S. dollars in illegal profit per year. It is a very complex issue that is prevalent across the globe. I am now learning in class that there are many different forms of human trafficking, and some of these forms include labor trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced begging, forced criminalization, and many more. It is a very intense subject; however, if you are interested in crime like I am, this is certainly the class for you.

The third elective I am taking is called Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism. Once again, this course involves crime so I was very excited to get started. I have learned so much more about terrorist organizations, the 9/11 attacks, as well as other terrorist attacks in general. I am currently writing a paper on Anders Breivik and Timothy McVeigh, two of the most well-known terrorists in the world. If I had not taken this course, I would not have learned so much about how terrorism still greatly exists in today’s society. Like I stated above about human trafficking, terrorism is a very heavy topic, but its something that is very applicable in today’s world. So I am grateful to be getting the opportunity to study the content.

The fourth and last elective I am taking is called Glued to the Screen, which is a TV Film studies course. When I first got to Stockholm, I was under the impression that I would not be taking this course, simply because it is unlike any course I have taken in college. However, I decided to take it because I found some aspects of it very interesting. And now, I absolutely love the course. We have learned about how TV has developed over time, and what challenges may have staggered its development throughout history. This class is certainly out of my element; however, I have truly enjoyed learning something new!

I would highly recommend taking courses that you know you will enjoy, but also take a course that is outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself, because you might be very surprised with how you feel towards the class! I felt the same way about my TV Film Studies course and was nervous to get started in the class simply because it is so unfamiliar to me; however, it is now one of my favorite courses!

Well, I hope now that you’ve read my blog, you have a better sense of some of the course options here at DIS Stockholm. There is a variety of options to choose from which is what makes it fun 🤗 I do recommend choosing classes far in advance so that you ensure you have a spot! Don’t wait last minute!!

Thats it for this week 🙂

Bye for now,

Valerie