Why do we go to college? Well, we go to learn, of course. We go to prepare ourselves for the real world — to prepare ourselves for the work force. But preparing yourself doesn’t mean taking biology 101, falling asleep during class, and calling yourself a scholar. Many universities offer wacky course alternatives to the everyday lecture. Learning from Star Wars or the Simpsons might be more eye-opening for students than stodgy textbooks. Listed below are a few of these wacky college courses.
- Superhero Science: This course, offered at the University of California at Irvine, is a physics class taught through the lens of superheros such as Superman and Batman. Some lessons include the physics of flying and the strength of spider silk.
- Simpsons and Philosophy: This University of California at Berkeley class asks the question “Is Bart’s behavior justifiable?” using Nietzsche and other philosophers. The course also considers the Simpson family as a whole to decide if the depiction represents the average American family.
- Daytime Serials: Family and Social Roles: At the University of Wisconsin, students in the Daytime Serials course are encouraged to watch soap operas to parse the social roles placed on women within those programs.
- Witchcraft and Politics: This Bucknell University course takes a look at cults and offbeat religions and associates them with the political ramifications they cause. How does witchcraft affect society? This course delves into that question, among others.
- The Art of Walking: Although it may sound like a boring health class, the Art of Walking, offered at Centre College, is a philosophy course that examines Immanuel Kant by meandering through the town. These walking lectures are said to free up the mind to think more deeply.
These classes turn out to be less wacky than they first appear, but that’s the point. These innovative courses take real subjects and make them more enjoyable.