Written by Katrina Scalise Designed by Sophie Jurion Photo by Katey Cooney
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Our Wacky Yet Fun Academic Opportunities
Any
student at Boston University may find their required courses a bit mundane at times. So, why not mix up your schedule with one of BU’s many unique classes? Delphine Cohen (CAS ‘25), who is taking CAS PY 107 “Physics of Food/ Cooking,” said that she was drawn to signing up for the niche course because “[her] mom has always been a really good cook, which got [her] interested in food.” Cohen also explained the nature of the class.
“It explains the inner workings of different cuisines. For example, [it discusses] what the freezing and melting points are in the process of ice cream making, or how to cook chicken perfectly, or how to make a crème brûlée.” According to the College of Arts and Sciences website, the course also discusses molecular gastronomy methods of cooking desserts, cheese, and emulsions. On a darker note, BU offers conceptual classes that grapple with religion and death, such as CAS RN 106, titled “Death and Immortality.” “Right now, we’re learning about how the corpse of the dead, the soul of the dead, and the mourners go through different phases and how they’re all interconnected,” said Agnes Tan (Questrom ‘25), a student enrolled in the course.
She added that the class has unique and personal assignments, including designing your own pet’s funeral. Tan said that she appreciates the class’s ability to deal with taboo subjects. “We are able to discuss somewhat uncomfortable topics like death in a comfortable, safe way.” If those courses don’t suit you, BU also offers CAS AS 107 “Life Beyond Earth,” CAS EC 385 “Economics of Sports,” and SHA HF 329 “Intro to Fine Wines.” These intriguing options explore extraterrestrials, microeconomic applications to sports, and winemaking respectively, according to the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Hospitality Administration websites. At BU, there is a niche class sure to pique everyone’s interest.
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