Going to college doesn’t just mean studying for traditional degrees like nursing; some rather unusual college courses are available as well. This brings to mind a saying, which suggests, “You can specialize in Gameboy if you have the knack to spin your knowledge.” This implies that clever individuals can make any opportunity work in their favor. Therefore, don’t hesitate to enroll in an eccentric college course if you’re heading off to college. You have the potential to make it valuable! College isn’t merely about monotonous lessons such as Plato’s Cave. Surprisingly, you can specialize and participate in college classes covering an array of interesting topics, like interpreting 2PAC lyrics or mastering tree climbing. So, instead of opting for the mundane classes that impart useful skills, consider these 25 Extraordinarily Odd and Unusual College Courses.
Maple Syrup: The Real Thing
Source: https://blog.ivywise.com/blog-0/bid/138938/Wacky-College-Courses At Alfred University, you can explore the history of maple syrup, and maybe even learn to make it yourself. We can’t say that any trees weren’t hurt in the process.
Street Fighting Mathematics
Source: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-098-street-fighting-mathematics-january-iap-2008/ This course offered at MIT analyzes fighting with math. We suggest you watch out for the flying protractors, and compasses.
How to Win a Beauty Pageant
https://www.oberlin.edu/news/buzz-how-win-beauty-pageant Technically, the full name of the course offered at Oberlin College is “How to Win a Beauty Pageant: Race, Gender, Culture, and U.S. National Identity.” We can see how there might be a lot of upset parents, though. Perhaps the course should be called “How to Win a Beauty Pageant, but we’re not miracle workers.”
Comedy
https://creativearts.humber.ca/programs/comedy/comedy-writing-and-performance Have you been told that you are the comedian of your friends? Then, this is the course for you. At Humber College you can actually major in comedy. Get those hand buzzers ready.
Elvish, the language of “Lord of the Rings”
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2007/11/30/lord-of-the-languages-prof-teaches-with-elvish-orkish/ At the University of Wisconsin you can let your nerdiness flow unhindered. We think this course is “precious.”
Golf Course Management
https://study.com/articles/Golf_Course_Management_Major_Information_and_Requirements.html For anyone interested in maintaining greens, building sand traps, and watching Happy Gilmore, this class at Tarleton State University is for you. Just don’t steal the golf carts.
Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling
https://alum.mit.edu/slice/recalling-link-between-pro-wrestling-and-mit Offered at none other than MIT, we’re not sure what exactly this course is supposed to teach you, but if they say that you need to suplex your roommate to get an A, then…well, you don’t want to fail, do you?
Tightwaddery, or The Good Life on a Dollar a Day
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Cheapskate-Course-at-Alfred-U/3086 At Alfred University, you can learn to be a miser. Seems like an ironic class to host at a private institution. Maybe this was what Ebenezer Scrooge majored in?
Furniture Making
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4013776314/ Another baffling course coming to us from MIT, this time you have to build your own desk. Okay, that is unconfirmed, but it would still be pretty cool. I’m having flashbacks of my wife making me go to Ikea.
Underwater Basket Weaving
https://boingboing.net/2010/07/05/underwater-basket-we.html Why Reed College offers this course is beyond us. We can imagine many projects were probably ruined and there were a lot of unhappy people.
Joy of Garbage
http://educationtechpro.com/featured/the-art-of-walking-the-joy-of-garbage-unusual-college-classes/ Taught at Santa Clara University, this course actually goes into depth about decomposition and odors. Did anybody else think this course would be Oscar the Grouch’s paradise?
The Strategy of StarCraft
https://www.redbull.com/us-en/starcraft-studying-esports-at-university This University of California-Berkeley offering is limited to super geeks only. No, not really, but you will need to bring your A-game. And your own snacks.
Zombies in Popular Media
http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199791286/obo-9780199791286-0263.xml Brought to you from Columbia College in Chicago, this course teaches you the basics of zombie survival. I call dibs on the crossbow.
The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur
https://dailyegyptian.com/32611/archives/harvard-university-offer-courses-using-tupac-shakurs-lyrics/ At the University of Washington you can study Tupac’s gangster rapping through a “sophisticated” lens. Make sure you don’t go off and challenge someone to a rap battle, unless you got bars.
The Amazing World of Bubbles
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/03/07/getting-bubble-blowing-down-to-a-science/#.XGHSKlxKiUk At Cal-Tech, learn the science behind blowing the perfect bubble. Afterwards, you can get a job! Well, you can be a…professional… bubble…blower, we think?
Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang
https://cup.columbia.edu/book/nuthin-but-a-g-thang/9780231124096 Oberlin Experimental College lets you unleash your gangsta side. Do not, we repeat, do not commit any crimes after you graduate.
Tree Climbing
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-holton/ivy-league-school-offers_b_504202.html There are only a select few who recognize the value of climbing trees quickly and efficiently. I have to admit, I am jealous of some of these.
Soviet Visual Propaganda
http://www.academia.edu/6387163/A_Study_of_Soviet_Propaganda At Rhode Island School of Design, you can learn all about the evils of capitalism with out the fuss of being black listed.
UFOs in American Society
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/28/news/campus-journal-taking-ufo-s-for-credit-and-for-real.html This class at Temple University analyzes the reaction of American society to UFOs and aliens. The truth is out there, my friends.
Mail Order Brides: Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context
http://www.wunrn.org/news/2007/01_07/01_15_07/011807_course.htm Supposedly designed to explain the stereotyping of Filipino women, this course at John Hopkins University does a good job of standing out. We think there was a lot of confusion with this class.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie
https://www.goacta.org/news/the_unbearable_whiteness_of_barbie_and_other_college_stupidity Given at Occidental College, this class uses Barbie to launch discussions on gender, race, and social justice.
The Science of Superheroes
https://360.rollins.edu/academics-and-research/course-spotlight-the-science-of-superheroes At the University of California-Irvine, you can fight crime and learn to use your mutant powers. No, not really. But, you can learn the science behind these things, so that’s pretty cool.
Gossip
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/have-you-heard-gossip-is-actually-good-and-useful/382430/ This graduate course at Cornell University may actually have a slightly misleading title. It focuses on the work of scientists rather than magazines like the National Enquirer. It also doesn’t advocate for you to spread rumors about someone you don’t like.
The Art of Walking
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/unusual-american-college-classes/4173663.html Taught at Centre College, their students get credit for walking to class. Maybe there is bonus points for chewing gum at the same time? Fingers crossed!
Learning from YouTube
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/youtube-career-college-major What student wouldn’t want to get credit for watching Youtube videos? We have to admit this is actual a pretty useful major, especially in today’s society. However, maybe have a backup plan.
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