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02nd Apr 2013

A Degree With A Difference: 17 Of The Most Bizarre College Courses On Offer

If you're looking to make some tough life choices, this could cheer you up...

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The months are flying by fast which, for most of us, means longer evenings and dreams of chilled glasses of wine after work on some imaginary veranda that we might own by summer. For others though, it means exams and making some serious enough life choices. 

If you’re finding it tough you should know us by now, we’re always willing to offer a helping hand. That’s why we went and gathered 17 of the most bizarre college courses in the whole wide world.

If you’re considering college as an option, have a look at below, you could be inspired. If you’re done with college, also see below and feel grateful for whatever you did study at third level…  

1. The Art of Sin and the Sin of Art, Rhode Island School of Design

Choose this semester-long subject and your could be analysing the moral dimensions, as opposed to the technical, of both classical and modern works.

2. Philosophy and Star Trek, Georgetown University

These philosophy students read the works of Kant and Aristotle among other philosophers, but it’s all studied under the pretext of understanding the philosophical depths of Star Trek. Live Long And Prosper!

Are you a Trekkie? Your dream could have come true… 

3. FemSex, Carleton College

May you never have crappy sex again… Women of all ages and orientations are enrolled in this course, which teaches you the definitions of sex, orgasms, sexual norms and even taboos like incest.

4. Zombies! The living dead in Literature, Film and Culture, University of Alabama

A one-of-a-kind course, the mentality behind it is that there are parallels between American consumption and zombies. Why, of course.

5. The Art of Walking, Kentucky Centre College

The professor in charge here assigns freelance walking assignments for students to appreciate the subtleties of walking. Sounds like we’d enjoy this one…

6. Arguing With Judge Judy: Popular “Logic” On TV Judge Shows, UC Berkeley

Ever wonder about the logic of these shows? This course will allow you to pull apart courtroom excuses just like Judy… move over NBC, we have a new TV star coming….

Does the course teach you the Put-the-fear-of-God-in-ya faces?

7. Stupidity, Occidental College, Los Angeles

Not something we’d want written on our graduation ceremony scroll, but it’s not what it seems. The course itself uses works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Gilles Deleuze to clarify that “stupidity is neither ignorance nor organicity, but rather a corollary of knowing and an element of normalcy, the double of intelligence rather than its opposite”. Now, see, you wouldn’t understand that if you were stupid…

8. The Theology of Eating, Loyola College, Maryland

Loyola College offers this fantastic-sounding course… Students are taught the “complex religious aspects associated with eating”. Free food? Sounds good.

9. The Unbearable Whiteness Of Barbie, Occidental College, Los Angeles

Don’t be mistaken, it’s not a course where you get to sit around with the girls and create over-the-top storylines for little dolls. This course “tries to explore ways in which scientific racism has been put to use in the making of Barbie”. Be warned, don’t do this if you’re a fan… we’d say it could ruin your love for Barbie forever.

Oh, so it’s not just a game of Barbies?

10. The Beatles, Popular Music and Society, University of Liverpool

This course calls it a unique opportunity to study a popular music course in a city that is home to such a world-famous band. It is the only course of its kind in the UK and in the world. Get practising those lyrics…

11. Elvish, the language of Lord Of The Rings, University of Wisconsin

Are you a massive fan of the Lord of the Rings? Only dying to have a chat in Elvish like Frodo and his friends? Sorted.

12. Harry Potter Literature, Ohio State University

In the mood for reading all of Harry’s books again? The perfect excuse.

The perfect excuse to read the books again… 

13. The Amazing World Of Bubbles, California Tech

Attention science heads/bubble lovers… now you can explore the energy potential of every bubble. Fascinating.

14. Learning From YouTube, Pitzer College

If you can’t figure out how to watch videos to learn something, this video will teach you how.

15. Nothing But A “G” Thang, Oberlin Experimental College

Eh, embrace your inner street thug? The course explores the history of gangsta rap…

16. Underwater Basket Weaving, Reed College

Enough said.

And finally…

17. Getting Dressed, Princeton University

Serious questions could be asked for those who arrive to class in pyjamas… this course looks at what it really means to wear Uggs or a hat to college.