Once the usual subjects like biology and calculus are taken care of, college students are allowed the freedom to explore classes that fit their liking. Elective classes are usually associated with fun and intrigue, some more so than others. For instance, what if you could take a class like ‘ Scuba Diving’ or ‘How to Watch Television’? Well, believe it or not, some students actually have these course titles listed on their transcripts.
1 – “Maple Syrup” – ALFRED UNIVERSITY
How would you like to study the sticky, sweet stuff you drizzle on your morning pancakes? At Alfred University, students can take a seminar all about maple syrup! The course description says, “This class will explore the history of maple syrup production, discover the ins and outs of making syrup, create (and eat) some sweet confections, and take field trips to local producers, restaurants and festivals.” What could be sweeter than that?
2 – “Underwater Basket Weaving” – ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
RIT undergrad Jenna Deutsch knows that her school offers some quirky classes, but “Underwater Basket Weaving?!” That’s a first! According to the university website, honors students can “Unwind in a unique utopia while uttering about umpires, undertakings and underwater basket-weaving.” We can’t think of a better way for all of those talented young minds to spend their time.
3 – “How to Watch Television” – MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
Broadcasting majors are used to studying media and its impact on society, but at Montclair State, anyone can enroll in “How to Watch Television.” Imagine a class where flipping through channels is actually an assignment! MSU’s website says that this class is about “analyzing 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 the life of the culture.” So next time you’re watching the tube, don’t feel guilty about putting off that exam prep. Technically, you are studying, right?
4 – “The Art of Walking” – CENTRE COLLEGE
Tired of sitting in a cramped classroom? Then sign up for this outdoorsy class, where students ponder philosophy while embarking on three-hour long walks. Ken Keffer,who teaches the course, leads pupils on treks through battlefields, farms and nature preserves in the surrounding area. What better way to learn, reflect and exercise all at the same time? The course was even featured on an episode of Jeopardy in 2009… now, honestly, what other classes hold that claim to fame?
5 – “Scuba Diving” – OHIO UNIVERSITY
Swim 23 yards underwater, survival-float for seven minutes and tread water with no hands. Sound easy enough?If you can pass the swim test, consider yourself enrolled in Ohio University’s scuba class. OU student Jessica Salerno says, “It’s actually pretty intense. You have to know how to use all the equipment and take regular tests on every aspect of scuba diving. You also have to pay extra to take it and if you pass all the tests at the end you get your license!”
6 – “Chocolate: History, Culture, and Science” – CAL BERKELEY
Calling all foodie friends and cultured connoisseurs! This class will satisfy your chocolaty cravings and make youthink of dessert in an entirely new way. According to the course description, students will spend the semester learning about the technical aspects of chocolate by delving “into the world of chocolate research, finding out what commonly held ideas are being debunked, and asking questions as-yet unanswered about the culture, history, and science of chocolate.”
7 – “Harry Potter: Ethics and Imagination”– UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM
You’ve read the popular books and seen the highly anticipated movies, but have you taken an exam on Hogwarts History? Most Harry Potter fans would jump at the chance to take a class centered on the series. UAB student Jaime Ritter says that her school offers a solution to your wizardly wishes. “It’s an English 400-level class. It dissects all the books and their summaries, symbolism, and the socio-ethics of both the wizarding and Muggle worlds.” Another cool fact? UAB’s Museum of Health Sciences even had an entire exhibition dedicated to the teenage wizard for three months this past year, housing the traveling exhibition “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine.”
8 – “Love and Sex” – UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
According to U of O student Jessica Williams, this class is different from anything most students have experienced. During the semester, you study the topics of love and sex by examining animal behavior. “Learning about love and sex through the scientific study of monkeys is quite interesting!” Williams says. “Watching videos about couple-drama from monkeys in the wild was unlike anything I’ve done in other classes I have ever taken.”
9 – “Alien Worlds” – BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Interested in outer space and extraterrestrial life? BU’s Astronomy department offers a course especially suited to you! In “Alien Worlds,” students investigate stars, planets, and the possibility of other life forms. The class even provides opportunities to use telescopes. Recent BU grad Bekah Handler says, “I had always wanted to take an astronomy class. The topic seemed fun and would satiate my curiosity about outer space…and the possibility of extraterrestrial life!”
10 – “GaGa for Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity” – UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Sure, you go to her concerts and blast her lyrics on your iPod speakers, but have you thought about the residual effects of Lady Gaga’s massive media presence? University of Virginia’s popular class focuses on gender boundaries and how Lady Gaga challenges them. During the term, students study social divides while honing in on their argumentative essay writing skills. So there’s some work involved…but it’s hard to complain when the topic is none other than the Lady Gaga.