Eight Reasons to Re-register

We surveyed experienced Columbia students far and wide to come up with a list of classes worth their weight in textbooks. We suggest you take as many as you can-you won't be disappointed.

Gandhi's India
A quick glance over professor Janaki Bakhle's CULPA reviews makes it easy to see why this class is at the top of our list. Bakhle has a cult following of students who have taken every one of her classes-and they say this is one of her best. The topic is modern and relevant and the lectures are fascinating. You won't even mind the intense reading.

Quantitative Political Research
This class may sound boring, but we promise it isn't. Taught by esteemed statistician Bob Shapiro (you've probably seen him on TV talking about election returns), this course will teach you what those Gallup polls actually mean. Plus, Shapiro is about as nice as they come.

History of the City of New York
The all-night biking tour of New York alone makes this class worth it. The professor, Kenneth Jackson, can be an uneven lecturer, but the topic is so interesting and the workload so manageable (homework is going on walking tours) that it would be a shame to miss.

ReActing to the Past
Classes don't get much more fun than this Barnard course. In class, you do most of the talking-your primary assignment is to act out actual historical debates. One day you might be playing Socrates, another you may be a Chinese emperor. And the funny thing is, it really helps you understand historical events.

Freedom of Speech and Press
Anybody who's anybody at Columbia takes this class, and you should, too. Taught by University President Lee Bollinger, the course offers students interested in law or politics a chance to study an increasingly relevant topic in depth. One warning: PrezBo teaches the class like it's a law school course, which means he will call on you randomly, so do your reading.

America Since 1945
History majors and non-history majors alike say this is one of their favorite classes. Taught by professor Mark Carnes, the class gives a good overview of, well, America since 1945. The lectures are good and though the class loses steam toward the end, it is worth attending.

Civil War and Reconstruction
People describe Eric Foner as an academic rock star, and they aren't that far off. He is one of the leading historians when it comes to Civil War studies, and he offers a class that is interesting and engaging for beginners as well as history buffs.

Mind, Brain and Behavior
This is one of those classes that will give you cocktail party talking points for the rest of your life. The science-requirement filler teaches students how their brains work and why people act the way they do. It's a little tough, but definitely worth it.