Course shopping is one of my favorite aspects of picking classes at HGSE. For two days during the week before the spring semester began, all professors teaching a spring course held half-hour “course preview” sessions. This is a time where professors can introduce the course, walk through the syllabus, explain course requirements and assignments, and students can ask questions about the course. It is such an awesome opportunity! Sometimes it is difficult to really have a thorough understanding of what you will get out of a course based on the online course description and course website. Shopping courses is a great way to get a better understanding of what each course has to offer and help you evaluate which courses to select.
I found it helpful to be somewhat intentional about the classes I attended during course previews. All of the classes sound so interesting, and if time allowed, I’d love to take them all! So, before shopping began, I made a list of classes that I was seriously considering taking and wanted to the course shopping period to help me decide which to take. I also made a list of classes that I knew I was not going to take, but the classes seemed really interesting and I went to the shopping preview for fun! It’s a great way to hear from professors that you haven’t had an opportunity to hear speak before, or to socialize with classmates from other cohorts who you have not taken classes with before. Sometimes course shopping can be a bit overwhelming, since it is hard to narrow down your course schedule from so many amazing course options, but it is really an incredible opportunity to get to make an informed decision on the classes you take. And it’s really interesting and fun!
Blog post written by Ellie Hoban. Photo provided by HGSE Admissions
My name is Ellie Hoban and I am in the Technology, Innovation, and Education Ed.M. program at HGSE. I am originally from outside of Seattle, WA and I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad, where I majored in Science Business and minored in Poverty Studies. Prior to HGSE, I was working at Deloitte in Chicago as a technology consultant. My primary interests are early childhood development and improving access to quality learning environments for all children regardless of their families’ socioeconomic status.
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