The Mini-Course Committee is a volunteer student committee of the Twin Cities Student Unions Programs and Activities board that strives to enrich campus recreation by promoting engagement in a wide variety of subject areas. Committee members organize a variety of skill-based courses, taught by instructors from the University and local community, which encompass, but are not limited to, all facets of the arts and crafts.
Cancellation Policy: One must cancel 10 business days before the first day of the Mini-Course.
Submit a Proposal
Do you want to teach a mini-course this spring? Submit a proposal for your course!
If you wish to sign-up in person, visit Coffman's Information Desk.
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Fall 2008 Mini-Courses
- Advanced Drawing
- Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 PM
- Days: November 20, December 4 and 11
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union Room 302
- Instructor: Caroline Kent
- For those of you who already posses confidence in your drawing skills and wish to develop further, this 3 day mini course is perfect. You will explore drawing as narrative through personal story telling through drawing. Through the use of photographs and real life objects you will create visual narratives.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 17
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $45 General.
- Limit: 10
- Beginning Drawing
- Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 PM
- Days: October 16, 23 and November 13
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union Room 302
- Instructor: Caroline Kent
- For those of you interested in taking a break from the rigidity of school, come and check out a 3 day mini course in Drawing. You will learn basic drawing techniques while exploring the drawing themes of expressionism and self-depiction. So if you are a beginner or want to refresh your drawings skills-all are welcome!
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 13
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $45 General.
- Limit: 10
- Belly Dancing
- Time: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Days: November 3 and 10
- Class Location: St. Paul Student Center North Star Ballroom
- Instructor: Catherine Liska
- Belly Dance is a beautiful Middle Eastern art form which consists of graceful yet powerful movements that allow each dancer to express the beauty of the music. In this class you will learn basic techniques, dance to live drumming and learn complete song choreography while having fun and increasing flexibility.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 31
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $35 General.
- Limit: 20
- Coffee 101
- Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 PM
- Days: December 4
- Class Location: Dunn Bros in Loring Park
- Instructor: Josh Dexter
- : Coffee is a vital part of everyday life for most people. This course will teach you everything you ever wanted to know plus some about this wonderful beverage. We will walk you through the history, geography, some fun facts, brewing and even roasting. There will be a roasting demonstration and then you will receive a half pound of beans from that batch. You will come away with a better appreciation for what it takes to make that perfect cup of Joe.
- Registration Deadline: Dec, 1
- Cost: $5 U of MN students; $10 General.
- Limit: 10
- Crochet
- Time: 6:30 pm-9:00 pm
- Days: November 6, 13 and 20
- Class Location: Coffman Room 323
- Instructor: Cathleen Childs
- This comprehensive class will equip you with a firm base on which to build. We will cover all the basic stitches and an introduction to the many stitch patterns that are possible when using them. It is complete enough to enable most motivated students to crochet a good number of intermediate patterns on the market. Please bring a metal crochet hook size H.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 3
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $36 General.
- Limit: 10
- Guitar
- Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
- Days: October 16, 23, November 13, 20
- Class Location: Coffman Room 325 (October 16 in 305)
- Instructor: Zacc Harris
- Learn about the instrument and its fundamentals, along with good technique for playing. We will cover basic chords, scales, and strumming, along with some bare bones music theory to make sense of it all. In this course, we will also learn to read common chord and tablature. Please bring a guitar.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 20
- Cost: $20 U of MN students; $35 General.
- Limit: 15
- Holistic Health
- Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
- Days: November 3 and 10
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union Room 326
- Instructor: Linda Brady
- The course will start out with students identifying "what is holistic health" and why this is important. We will then present how healers in the US culture and other cultures think about holistic health. Lastly we will develop practical ideas for approaching the goal of holistic health in the lives of students.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 31
- Cost: $10 U of MN students; $20 General.
- Limit: 10
- Massage Therapy
- Time: 6:30-9:30pm
- Days: December 2 and 9
- Class Location: Massage in the UTEC Center, 1313 5th Street S.E., Suite 336 Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Instructor: Patricia Schuckert
- Learn a variety of basic massage techniques for the head, neck, back, arms and legs; emphasizing continuity, completeness and confidence. This course is great for stress reduction, relaxation, and improved circulation - perfect for anyone who enjoys working on family and friends. Please wear loose clothing. Bring two twin sized sheets, a face towel, and a large blanket or towel for warmth. Massage lotion provided.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 30
- Cost: $37.50 U of MN students; $57.50 General.
- Limit: 24
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop
- Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
- Days: October 26, November 9, 16 and 23, December 7
- Class Location: Coffman Union, Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Andrew Worm
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 23
- Cost: $10 U of MN students; $20 General.
- Limit: 10
- Noon Yoga
- Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Days: November 11, 18 & 25, December 2
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union Room 303
- Instructor: Leslie Johnson
- In this course you will learn how to access your own true nature through using the body, breath and awareness as tools to dive into your "Self". Discover how unraveling the deep tensions in the body opens up access to the bliss of your being. Benefits include: Less stress, improved clarity of mind, stronger muscles and bones, improved digestion, better sleep, relief from aches and pains, increased flexibility, vitality, and peace of mind. This style of yoga is simple and accessible to all. Wear comfortable, easy to move in clothes and please eat lightly just prior to class.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 8
- Cost: $15 U of MN students; $25 General.
- Limit: 10
- Nutrition
- Time: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Days: November 5, 12, and 19
- Class Location: Coffman Room 323
- Instructor: Holly Willis
- The media sensationalizes nutrition messages everyday! So who do you believe when one news channel says eating carbohydrates makes you gain weight and the next channel says the opposite? Learn to separate nutrition facts from fiction in these four one-hour courses. Eating healthy isn't tricky, it doesn't have to be expensive, and it tastes great if you choose right. This course will teach you how to make healthful nutritious decisions, no matter where you are or how much time you have. Week One: Become Nutrition Savvy - If you know the basics you can't go wrong. Week Two: Think yourself to a healthy body weight - the power of mindful eating. Week Three: The problem with fad diets - it's not unique to you. Week Four: Practical tips to plan meals quickly, eat healthy on the go, eat more and lose weight.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 2
- Cost: $15 U of MN students; $30 General.
- Limit: 15
- Online Safety
- Time: 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
- Days: October 21
- Class Location: Coffman Room 325
- Instructor: Erin Cohen, Chad Ellsworth, DeBettignies
- It is not only your friends that are looking at your sites – it is now teachers, potential employers and strangers. This session will provide an alternative look about the pictures, posts and groups on your profile. The session will provide the answer to "who is REALLY looking at your profile" by utilizing two different perspectives - a University and business recruiter perspective.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 17
- Cost: $2 U of MN students; $5 General.
- Limit: 10
- Personal Financing
- Time: 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
- Days: November 5, 12, 19, and December 3
- Class Location: Carlson School of Management 1-135
- Instructor: Andy Whitman and Doriana Ruffino
- Life-cycle planning, especially career management and investing for retirement, is today a matter of intense concern to millions of people around the world. In today’s world, much of this complex task has become a responsibility falling solely on the individual. This workshop will help to develop your own financial plan using computer software, including cash & expenditure management, credit/debt/loan management, emergency plans & insurance (disability, health, liability), saving & investing in Roth IRAs, portfolio allocation with index mutual funds, tax reduction, and retirement planning. Practitioners present principles of personal financial planning, and you develop your own plan.
- Registration Deadline: Nov, 2
- Cost: $15 U of MN students; $25 General.
- Limit: 40
- Salsa Dancing
- Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
- Days: November 2, 9, 16, and 23
- Class Location: Coffman Union, Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Bruce Abas
- Have fun and relieve stress as you gain knowledge of the basics of Salsa dancing and its valuable place in Latin tradition and culture. Draw from previous dancing experiences or start here, you’ll learn fundamentals of Salsa as well as intermediate combinations.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 29
- Cost: $28 U of MN students; $48 General.
- Limit: 30
- Tarot Reading
- Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Days: October 23
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union Room 323
- Instructor: Nancy Antenucci
- Tarot cards are ancient tool of divination and meditation. During this course, students will focus on an intuitive way to learn and read the Tarot. Whether you are an experienced Tarot reader or have recently purchased your first deck, this class offers new and enticing ideas to explore.
- Registration Deadline: Oct, 20
- Cost: $18 U of MN students; $33 General.
- $1 for handouts - due on the first day of class
- Limit: 10
Instructors
Cathleen is a professional designer and has been crocheting since childhood. She has held workshops and has taught knitting in school district 622 and 623. Cathleen also instructs knitting at Michaels craft stores along with other individual city yarn and fiber venues
Catherine Liska is a professional belly dancer as well as an active performer and instructor in the Twin-Cities area.
Zacc Harris has been teaching all levels and ages of students for more than 7 years as a private instructor. He currently teaches at The American Guitar Boutique on Snelling Ave in St. Paul. He holds a Scholar of Arts degree in Music from Southern Illinois University.
Patricia Schuckert earned her masters in pastoral studies from Loyola University in 1978 and has B.A. degress in dance and dance therapy and biology. Pat has had extensive training in various approaches to bodywork and several approaches to energy work. Her teaching experience has been varied, from College of St. Catherine's holistic therapies program to Cook County jail in Chicago. Patricia maintains a private practice in both bodywork and spiritual direction in Minneapolis.
Bruce Abas is part owner of Four Seasons Dance Studio in Minneapolis and has over twenty years of dance teaching experience.
Nancy Antenucci has been a teacher, mentor and reader in the Twin Cities for over a decade. She has developed a thriving practice providing intuitive strategies for clients of various walks of life.
