Bored of the usual Math, English and General Study course schedule in college? Take a look at some “out-of-the-box” classes that might interest you (while adding credits for your college degree)

1.    “The joy of garbage”

University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

This class aims to highlight some of the major trends and issues wrapped up in the current global garbage crisis, especially in the Bay Area, as well as national and international issues. Guest speakers will talk to us about issues they specialize in, from environmental-justice, landfill design and operations, zero-waste philosophies, the pros and cons to recycling, composting, etc. This class is intended to remove the stigma around garbage and increase discussions regarding the issue.

2.   “The Hunger Games: Class, Politics and Marketing”

American University, Washington, D.C.

If you want to relive and critically analyse the story of Katniss Everdeen, this is the perfect course for you. The Hunger Games trilogy is a publishing phenomenon that has dramatically impacted American popular culture. Using the series as a case study, this course examines the interplay of class, politics, and ethics. Over the course of the semester, students will discuss the text, explore aspects of The Hunger Games and its cultural impact. Topics covered include oppression, feminism, food deserts, rebellion, the publishing industry, and social media marketing.

3.   “Learning from YouTube”

Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

YouTube is on every student’s Most Visted Website List. Hence, this course aims at demystifying the world’s largest video portal. Students meet in a classroom but mostly work online, viewing YouTube content, commenting, and encouraged to create short video clips. One class member, for instance, posted a 1:36-minute video of himself juggling.

4.   “Science from Superheroes to Global Warming”

University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA

Have you ever wondered if Superman could really fly? How did Wonder Woman’s invisible jet work? What does it really mean for something to be a scientific “fact”? This course aims to explore how science works and what constitutes “good” science through case studies drawn from a wide spectrum of people’s experience, especially superheroes, sci-fi movies, and real world issues such as global warming. The case studies will provide the change to act as science critics as one starts to develop a better appreciation for science and the scientific method.

5.   “Lady Gaga and the sociology of fame”

University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.

Some of you might love Lady Gaga and some might strongly dislike her. But most of you might not know the actual story behind her career. The course introduces students to a sociological analysis of issues related to the work of 24-year-old Stefani Germanotta, a.k.a. Lady Gaga.

6.   “How to watch television”

Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J. 

Watching Television is supposed to be an innate skill. However, you can study this as well. This course is about analysing television in the ways and to the extent to which it needs to be understood by its audience. The aim is for students to critically evaluate the role and impact of television in their lives as well as in their culture.

7.   “Simpsons and Philosophy”

University of California, Berkeley, CA

After two decades and 500 episodes, The Simpsons is less a cartoon television show and more a prism reflecting the complex human condition. The class curriculum asks questions such as “Can Nietzsche’s rejection of traditional morality justify Bart’s bad behavior?”

8.   “The Vampire in Literature and Cinema”

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Not to be confused with the modern de-fanged protagonist vampire, this class is steeped in how vampires are an illustration of the way one culture is transmitted to another. Through Bram Stoker’s classic novel and the 1922 Nosferatu, students will learn about how the vampire myth coloured Western views of Eastern Europe as backward.

9.   “Philosophy And Star Trek”

Georgetown University

One might consider Star Trek as being a philosophical piece of work. What’s stopping the students of this course then, to watch Star Trek, and read philosophy, and put the two together to get educated? The course introduces students to topics in metaphysics and epistemology philosophy but are primarily centered around the main philosophical questions that occur over and over in Star Trek.

10. “On Being Bored”

Brown University

The “On Being Bored” course examines books, articles, and movies that are based on not being productive and not wanting to do anything. The course goes back as far as the Enlightenment period to examine the lack of progress, denial of assertion and revelation. Forgive me for the pun, but this class sounds pretty boring to me.

11. “Tree Climbing”

Cornell University

This course prides itself on teaching students how to get into the canopies of trees, and how to climb from tree to tree without touching the ground. It also teaches you how to use ropes and other technical gear when climbing the trees.

12.  “Demystifying the Hipster”

Tufts University

This class focuses on the definition of a true “hipster”. It asks students to wonder what exactly a hipster is, if they’re part of a counter culture or if they’re just another “marketing niche in the mainstream.” Music, books, fashion, and films are used to examine the hipster label. The goal of the course is to have students become “critics and sociologists” of hipster culture.

13.  “Fantasy Literature: Harry Potter”

Ohio State University

Even if you are not a Harry Potter fanatic, this course is very interesting. The course focuses on the story of the wizard world and teaches muggles (non-wizards) about the literary techniques and cultural roots of the Harry Potter novels. Students are required to read all seven books, as well as articles about the series and other materials about the fantasy genre.

14.  “Invented Languages: Klingon and Beyond”

The University of Texas, Austin

Sci-fi enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that a course titled ‘Invented Languages: Klingon and Beyond’ actually exists. Klingon, the language used by the fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe, has been an object of various discussions and research through the years. This course  does not actually teach students to speak Klingon, but it uses invented languages as a vehicle to discuss current ideas about linguistic theory, especially ideas surrounding the interaction of language and society.

Author: Simran Bhatia