Each semester, Brown offers over 1,000 classes that allow students to explore academic interests, confront intellectual challenges and meet concentration requirements. The Herald interviewed four students who discussed their favorite classes at Brown.
Jintao Yue ’26 said his passion for theater led him to greatly enjoy TAPS 0030: “Introduction to Acting and Directing,” taught by Connie Crawford, adjunct lecturer in theatre arts and performance studies.
“It was an introductory class, so there were people with different levels of experience in acting,” he said.“But (Crawford) encouraged us to inspire each other, and there were a lot of exercises that helped actors to gain insights and skills into performing,”
Cecile Schreidah ’24, who is pursuing an independent concentration in immunology, told The Herald that her favorite course at Brown has been BIOL 0530: “Principles of Immunology,” which was “the focus of her independent concentration” and “what affirmed (her) interest in infectious diseases.”
The class “taught me a lot about the immune system and provided new insights into medicine and the entire pre-med track,” she said.
Matthew Rauschenbach ’23, an international and public affairs concentrator, enjoyed RELS 0750: “Law and Religion,” taught by Professor of International Affairs, Law and Modern Culture and Religious Studies Nathaniel Berman, because of his interest in constitutional law.
“The course covered the legal framework and precedents from the Supreme Court,” Rauschenbach said. “But we also looked at some Circuit and District Court opinions that surround the intersection of the legal sphere and questions of religion and government.”
Javier Niño-Sears ’25, a computer science and international and public affairs concentrator, said that IAPA 1203: “History of American Intervention” helped him to develop a critical evaluation of the presence of the United States in other regions.
“It pushed me to look at particular eras of American history from a critical manner that we don’t get taught in public school education,” he said. “American foreign policy has impacted my family members in Colombia, and in some ways contributed to my mom ultimately moving into this country many years ago and me being here in the US.”
He noted that the course’s instructor, Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs Stephen Kinzer, was “unbelievable” and taught the “best lecture” he had so far. “He was like a father or grandfather telling stories by the fireplace.”
“For those interested in the course, it’s good to know that this class will fundamentally reshape the way you look at the country,” Niño-Sears added.
Harry is a staff writer for The Brown Daily Herald. Harry is a sophomore from Beijing, China majoring in ceramics at RISD.
