HST 390: Piracy in the Atlantic World

Yarrrrrr, maties.

HST 390, which is piracy in the Atlantic world,  specifically focuses on the history of the Atlantic ocean and the pirates that inhabited it for hundreds of years.

“This is a course about the Atlantic World as much as it is a course about piracy,” Professor George Milne said.

The course, which Milne first taught at the University of Oklahoma in the fall of 2007, made its Oakland University debut in winter 2009.

The course features many different variations and themes of piracy such as economics, naval technology, slavery, race, foreign affairs and politics.

Though the course briefly discusses the first known pirates in ancient times when piracy started out as a form of government and foreign policy, its focused timeline is from the early 1500s through the early 1800s.

Milne also uses many forms of literature to illustrate the impact piracy had on the Atlantic as well as the history of the Atlantic region.

The class also examines the modern images of pirates from Hollywood and looks at the reasons it has become so popular.

This writing-intensive course is open to anyone interested in the topic.

EXS 215: Stress Management

Most college students have one certain thing in common: stress.

EXS 215, also known as stress management, is a class centered around the relationship between students and how to handle the daily stress they encounter.

Professor Patricia Wren teaches the course typically with 45 students per semester.

“Students occupy multiple roles; juggling all of these things simultaneously,” Wren said. “They are all hot messes.”

Wren aims to give students “tools for their toolbox” on how to handle stress.

She said one of the key elements to managing stress is find a way to find humor in life.

“If we take ourselves so serious, think of how that would just wear on you,” Wren said.

The course takes students through an array of topics related to stress such as interpersonal relationships and communications, occupying various roles, balancing responsibilities in your life and looking at physical ware on the human body from stress.

Wren and her students try different techniques to find which is most effective. Some tactics the class tries are meditation and progressive relaxation.

The class teaches students how to pinpoint where they unconsciously put their stress and gives them the tools they need to triumph over the mental roadblock known as stress.

This class is open to anyone interested in taking it.

WHP 315: Laughter as Therapeutic Modality

There is one class on campus that requires students to laugh during class.

Laughter as therapeutic modality, WHP 315, teaches students the importance of laughter in life.

Dibble teaches his students about using laughter in different environments as well as the appropriate times to use it.

This writing-intensive course challenges students to understand the profound impact laughter has onmentality and spirit.

“I think it helps them learn to write better, but helps them in a personal way as well, being able to use humor to manage stress,” Dibble said.

According to Dibble, laughter has become a key pain reliever for hospital patients and helps them get through the pain.

“The take home message for that class was what a profound impact the patient’s mind set has on healing,” Julia Williams, a senior, said. “In the end, even if laughing isn’t the most effective treatment, I think everyone can benefit from a little more laughter.”

Even the assignments in this course require students to use the humorous side of their brains.

His latest assignment had students create a public service announcement and presentation about health topics with the appropriate amount of humor suggested.

This course is open to anyone.