There are several courses offered next semester in many different departments. These courses include History of American Music (MU 236) in the Music and Theatre department, Happiness (PR 222) in the Philosophy and Religion department and Introduction to Agricultural Business (AG 120) in the business department.
History of American Music: Rock and Roll will start with early blues and then ease into early 2000s music. Adjunct professor Dr. Travis Lewis will teach this three-hour course which does satisfy a general education fine arts requirement. Lewis said in an e-mail that he “thought it would be beneficial to have music classes that deal specifically with American music.” He teaches a rock history course at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri, and he said: “it has become one of the most popular courses at that school.” This course will be taught with mainly lectures and listening to rock music. This course will only be taught in the spring and the genre of American music will change every year.
The Happiness course will help students navigate what their definition of happiness is to them
Philosophy and Religion Department Chair Dr. Carter Aikin is introducing Happiness. He was inspired to create this course when two students from his Being Human class asked him if he could make a “chapter two” to Being Human. Aikin said it took him a couple of years to think of what would follow up well with Being Human, but Happiness will now be offered every spring. He pulled from ancient and modern scientific, religious and philosophical sources of happiness to create this course. Aikin explained, “They’ll learn what happiness means to them personally, what it’s made up of, what it’s for and how they can do it.” This class is available for any student in their sophomore year or higher. “The last week of class,” Aikin added, “I’m thinking about having them write their own personal recipe for happiness.”
The new Agriculture Business class will introduce a new aspect to campus that hasn’t been explored before
The Introduction to Agriculture Business course will be taught by Biology Chair Dr. James Bray. The course is for anyone interested in agriculture business and is just the beginning of a new major at Blackburn College. “It acts as a survey course,” said Bray, “and covers all topics regarding agriculture business.” It can also serve as an elective for the business degree. Bray explained that the three-credit course will mainly consist of lectures and readings. He also hopes to bring in local professionals and give more insight into what students can do with this general knowledge. This class will be taught every fall, if there is a high enough demand for it, and will be offered next spring semester due to the current demand for it. This course will be the first one introduced at Blackburn regarding the topic of agriculture business, but the rest of the courses needed for the major will be introduced in the following semesters.