Each semester, the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offers new, rare, or special topic courses in the “Cool Classes” series—encouraging students to explore unique subjects through innovative curriculums and state-of-the-art tools or methods.
Explore these upcoming Cool Classes:
Summer 2026
ARS 495-QL: “Poster Design – Special Topics – Interdisciplinary" with Assistant Professor Ryan Meyer
Online
In "Poster Design," students will explore visual communication and learn how posters are used to inform, persuade, and make a statement. Boost your creativity and develop a portfolio using a mix of digital and analog design techniques!
Keywords: Poster Art, Graphic Design, Visual Communication
Note: when registering, students will see the course as "Special Topics - Interdisciplinary." Please email Prof. Ryan Meyer for a prerequisite override if needed.
Fall 2026
ANTH 407 9-H/ 517 9HA: “Peace Ethology” with Dr. Peter Verbeek
Day(s): Tuesday from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Peaceful behavior such as cooperation, helping, sharing, caring, playing, reconciling after a fight, and consoling after distress, is not restricted to humans and is found in many other animals, ranging from mammals to birds and fish, and more!
In this course, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology meet through the lens of peace ethology to study obstacles and catalysts of peaceful behavior in nature and human society.
HY 201: “History of Sex” with Dr. Tola Rodrick
Day(s): Tuesday/Thursday from 2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
This global survey explores the history of sex from the ancient world to today, across myth, law, religion, art, poetry, and everyday life. We’ll examine courtship customs, erotic poetry and humor, same-sex relationships and LGBTQIA+ communities, gender-crossing and “third gender” categories, intersex histories, sacred and mystical sexual themes, and the long history of pornography. We ask how cultures have defined what counts as “normal,” “natural,” or taboo, examining some of the most debated issues of our own moment.
HY 465-3M: “French Enlightenment” with Dr. Steve Miller
Day(s): Monday/Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
The Enlightenment of the 18th century changed Europe from a continent in which the Christian God was sovereign, and faith was preeminent, to one where the individual is sovereign and the pursuit of human happiness has displaced faith. This course exams great authors of the period, such as Montesquieu, Rousseau and Choderlos de Laclos, to exam how gender equality and sexual freedom paved the way for democracy.
PHL 392-2E: “Ending Wars” with Dr. David Chan
Day(s): Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Some wars are more justified than others, but they all cause great harm to people. What are the lessons from past wars for ending the conflict in Ukraine and other wars today? This class will use recent work in the ethics of war to consider what is the right way to end wars.
PHL 400/500: “Philosophical Methods” with Dr. Joshua May
Day(s): Wednesday 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Study and practice the tools of philosophy: making arguments, interpreting evidence, recognizing fallacies, crafting compelling prose, and disagreeing respectfully. Students will analyze these methods in readings focused on the ethics of artificial intelligence.
PHL 401/501: “Advanced Bioethics/Central Issues in Bioethics” with Dr. Brynn Welch
Online Course
A breadth of areas in bioethics is covered, including medical practice, public health, responsible biomedical research, animal care and use, and environmental sustainability. Specific topics include chronic disease and disability care, health disparities, child health, healthcare practice and rights in prisons, climate-related health concerns, research ethics, infectious diseases, and global health.
PHL 480/680: “Ethical Dimensions of AI” with Dr. Keshav Singh
Day(s): Monday from 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
This course is a philosophical examination of some of the most pressing ethical questions raised by the emergence of contemporary AI. We will consider the ethics of developing and relying on AI systems. We will investigate what it means to be human, and to live a good life, in the age of AI.
To explore more courses offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, visit the UAB Course Catalog.
