UNT delivers excellence in core academic courses, and it also provides classes that teach unique skills students can take to their career and life after graduation.

Nature's Remedy

Written by Bess Whitby
Photo by Ahna Hubnik

On a cool, sunny day, sitting in the shade of old growth trees outside the UNT Language Building, four students are pondering the same question: Why don't people spend more time outdoors?

"Some people just don't like nature," says Jorge Guzman, a senior international studies major focusing on business and economics. "But for some, it's a structural issue -- some people don't have that access."

Guzman and his classmates are discussing a project for their Introduction to International Studies class, taught by lecturer Sing Hui Lee. The project asks students to identify and create a plan to address "a global issue with local impact" -- or, as Lee's syllabus calls it, a "glocal" issue.

"It's easy to develop a mindset of, 'This issue doesn't concern me,'" Lee says. "I want my students to leave UNT ready to go out and do good with empathy, integrity and altruism."

The class has been researching the cognitive benefits of access to green space, especially for children with anxiety, stress and developmental disorders like ADHD.

"Separation from the outdoors goes hand-in-hand with being stuck on phones or social media, especially when it comes to children," says Claire Hood, a senior in UNT's Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science. "Getting them outside even for a small amount of time boosts their mental health, cognition and communication skills."

To address the issue, the group partnered with the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, which offers activities like bird watching, guided hikes and field experiences for children and adults. The students are focusing on practical ways -- including slide presentations and videos -- to educate local parents on LLELA's resources and the benefits of outdoor time.

To Sri Dulla, a freshman international studies major focusing on global conflict, the project offers a small-scale opportunity to make a big impact.

"If you're able to do on the local level something that affects people around the world, you start to see how those solutions can be applied everywhere," Dulla says.

Music Mechanics

Written by Jessica DeLeón
Photo by Pete Comparoni

Students gather around a table in the instrument repair room in the Music Annex Building. It's like a hospital for ailing instruments. At one table, junior music performance major Marco Alzaitoun is putting balls into the horn of the trumpet as he tries to repair the dents. In another corner, senior music performance major Zuzanna Belka and junior music education major Maria Sotello work together to fix the strings in a French horn, reconnecting its levers and valves. Justin Cooper, musical instrument repair coordinator, talks to senior music education major Ezven Gonzalez about corrosion in instruments.

Repair and Maintenance of Musical Instruments, taught by Cooper, enrolls about eight students each semester to learn how to repair brass instruments. This class gives the students, who are planning to become school band teachers or musicians, skills that can help save money and time down the road.

The class alternates between lectures -- such as how to clean instruments and take out dents -- and lab days to demonstrate the process. They even use fire when they are soldering, a process similar to welding. Sotello, who wants to be an elementary school music teacher, notes, "The dent work requires a lot of muscle" -- and patience. They have to go over it many times before the dents are gone.

Belka, a trumpet player who wants to be a private instructor, says it's given her a new perspective on her art. "I'm actually understanding what makes this instrument work."

Cooper says he's seen several horns that have been run over by cars. "Kids can mess horns up in very, very unique, interesting ways and it almost seems like never the same way twice. Each repair is its own little creative thing of problem solving."

Media for the Masses

Written by Brad Osborne
Photo by Ahna Hubnik

On the first day of Media Performance for News and Public Relations, students dive right into the material. They perform a mock newscast at the full-service broadcast suite in Chilton Hall, using high-tech camera and audio equipment.

"It's my favorite day of the semester," says award-winning multimedia journalist and senior lecturer Brittany McElroy. "It gets them out of their comfort zone."

That's her overarching theme for the course, with the goal that students explore their abilities -- and have fun doing it. They perform mock reads, live shots and press conferences and create social media content focused on public relations, sports and traditional news.

"I love going into the studio," says Alexandria "Allie" Driver, senior public relations major. "It's given me chances to practice using unique resources, like green screens and fancy microphones, and it's provided some great pieces to include in my portfolio."

Throughout the semester, McElroy provides lectures on camera tips and brings in guests from various industries.

Students, who dress professionally and shoot in the studio, are tasked to develop several professional and self-performance critiques as the course progresses, using feedback they've received from their teacher and peers.

"Performance is really important in communications, but it's hard to teach without practice," McElroy says. "I can lecture all day, but until students actually do it, they won't learn it."

For their final, students write original scripts, produce two performance materials from the course selection on any topic and present them on the last day, reflecting on their growth.

"This is an elective, so I want it to be enjoyable and not stressful," McElroy says. "It's all about improvement, not perfection, so I just want students to be brave and willing to try new things."

Creating Career Pathways

Written by Bess Whitby
Photos by Pete Comparoni

Stephanie Murphy ('05, '11 M.A.) came back to the classroom this fall.

She popped in online, providing tips to students as a leadership coach for the Braven Career Accelerator course.

"As a first-generation college student from a low-income, immigrant household, I didn't have clear guidance on how to navigate higher education or my career. A program like Braven would have made my path much easier," says Murphy, who serves as director of state policy and research at HCM Strategists in Mesa, Arizona.

The course is offered to students looking to succeed in today's competitive job market, many of whom are first-generation college students. UNT partnered with nationally recognized nonprofit Braven in 2025 and launched the course for transfer students in Spring 2026.

Students work in small groups led by two industry professionals serving as leadership coaches. Throughout the semester, students build professional portfolios, network, develop leadership skills and collaborate on a capstone project. For her project, junior political science major Madeline Ledesma created a program in which Capital One, one of Braven's corporate partners, offered challenges to encourage its employees to volunteer more.

Braven also connects UNT's extensive alumni base and employer network with current students. With more than 324,000 UNT alumni living and working in North Texas, Braven students have greater access to career paths, mentorship and community-based leadership roles across the area.

Ledesma says the course has gotten her closer to her goal of attending law school. "I talked with leadership coaches about the different paths and how to stand out as a prospective law student," Ledesma says. "They helped me create a plan and identify the steps I need to take to get there."

Murphy, the mentor who makes up part of that community, says it isn't just the students who benefit from Braven.

"For me, it's been incredibly rewarding to see what the students have gotten from this experience."

Costume Craft

Written by Amanda Lyons

A dressing room behind UNT's University Theatre comes to life with the voices of students. However, they're not preparing for a career on stage, but for a career behind it.

This small group makes up UNT's Costume Crafts course as part of the theater program.

"There's a lot of students with creative drive who don't want to sew," says lecturer Alex Heder, who oversees the class. "There are so many things that go into creating costumes that aren't stitched like shoes, hats, armor and jewelry. That's where Costume Crafts lives."

Heder teaches his students three different techniques in his course: leatherworking, sculpting and foam thermoplastics working.

"I structure it as a skills-based course and expect them to be familiar enough with them all so they can start selling their work as soon as they're done," says Heder.

Classes are split into either demo days or workdays. Heder will teach his students how to use the necessary tools and proper handling techniques on samplers first. After that, they're tasked with making items tied to the techniques: sword holsters, masquerade masks and derby day hats.

Students also need to write a contract before starting their work. They must list the cost of the materials used plus their time and effort.

"I want to make competent and marketable artists in the theater and craft world. So, if you join this class, come in ready to work," Heder says.

For the final project, students need to combine all the techniques they learned into making an armor set.

"You learn a lot, and you realize that if one thing doesn't work out for your project, you can switch to another because you have that understanding," says Ronnie Jackson, a junior studying theater tech and design. "And what other class lets you make derby day hats?"