Fresh picks for spring: New classes at UNC in 2025

Course registration for UNC’s spring 2025 semester is in full swing, and the 2025 course catalog includes new courses that range multiple topics. 

Faculty at UNC draw from their research, passions and current events to design new courses for UNC students. New classes require a rigorous approval process through the Office of Undergraduate Curricula before they appear in ConnectCarolina shopping carts during registration.

Any faculty member can design a new course at UNC, beginning with the creation of a detailed syllabus outlining the course’s structure, objectives and logistics. In most scenarios, the syllabus is then reviewed by the faculty member’s Department Curriculum Committee before it is entered into a university-wide online platform called Course Inventory Management. The course is then reviewed by the Department Chair and forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Curricula if approved.

Meredith Petschauer, the associate dean for undergraduate curricula, said the Office of Undergraduate Curricula focuses on reviewing the nuts and bolts of the classes. They inspect each course to verify that it has well-defined learning objectives, a clear grading breakdown and assignment explanations. Once approved, the course is confirmed by an Administrative Board before being sent to the Registrar to be added to UNC’s systems.

Given this lengthy process, course requests must be sent in approximately a year before they are intended to be offered at UNC. 157 new courses were approved last year to be offered during this academic year, and there currently are 130 courses in queue to be approved for next year.

Here are three new courses that will be offered during the spring 2025 semester:

POLI 490: A Divided Union? Public Opinion and Policy Responses to Climate Change in the EU

Jakob Wiedekind, a visiting assistant professor at UNC, said that he created this course to “explore the nuances and specifics around public opinion on climate change policy within the European Union.”

The course intertwines the analysis of public opinion with public policy responses and includes a historical review of the EU as a global leader in climate change policy. Designed as a student-centered, discussion-based class, Wiedekind encourages students from all backgrounds and interests to enroll, reassuring them not to be intimidated by the course’s advanced level. 

PHYA 239: Triathlon Training

Sara Larson, an experienced triathlete and coach of the UNC Triathlon Club, will instruct this new PHYA course in the spring.

Throughout the semester, students will train in the three disciplines of a triathlon: swimming, biking and running. The course will also focus on teaching students how to properly transfer between the three events and maintain their equipment. While the course is an elective credit, it is open to students of all athletic levels and provides a great way for students to stay active.

GERM 279: Once Upon a Fairy Tale: Fairy Tales and Childhood, Then and Now

This course, taught by Tobias Wilke, an assistant professor of German at UNC, traces the history of fairytales from their original appearances to their current role in pop culture.

Josephine Armes, a first-year chemistry major at UNC, is one of many students excited to be enrolled in this course.

As a student who’s always enjoyed literature and original stories, Armes said the course “grabbed [her] attention because it discusses the raw, original Grimm fairy tales rather than just the glossed over versions we grew up with.” 

Other new courses include PWAD 490: The Practice of Connecting with Strangers; SCLL 89.001: What is a University For?; and SCLL 89.002: C.S. Lewis and Enchantment.

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