You can expect to look forward to certain classes you’ll have to take in college ranging from mathematics and languages to sciences and history. Many colleges across the country also offer interesting electives to choose from, where you’ll learn about things like philosophy, pop culture and media, and even specific cultures and ethnicities. However, some universities went a step further and offer some of the most obscure, unique, and downright ridiculous courses that their students would never have expected to get from a college education. Here are some of the most unbelievable courses that you can actually take and get credits for.
The Amazing World of Bubbles – Caltech
Blowing bubbles is no longer only a kid’s activity, at least according to one professor at Caltech who offers a course on everything bubbles. In this class you will learn everything there is to know about bubbles, from how they form, what they’re made of, and what chemical components go into making them.
Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse – Michigan State
The full name of this course is actually “Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse—Disasters, Catastrophes, and Human Behavior”. The course will use the idea of a potential zombie apocalypse to explore the inner workings of how humans react to things like global pandemics and natural disasters.
Maple Syrup: The Real Thing – Alfred University
Who can say no to that thick, sweet drizzle of maple syrup on your pancakes in the morning? In this course, you will have the opportunity to go out to the woods and actually tap a maple tree and get your own syrup, straight from the source. You’ll also learn everything that goes into local maple sugaring companies and the agriculture and environmental science that goes with it.
The Science of Superheroes – University of California: Irvine
This course is basically physics on steroids…well, on superpowers actually. Instead of just learning the basic principles of physics, you will look at the dynamics of flying and movement by learning how it relates to Spider-Man. They even look at things like spidey senses and they try to make sense of the mechanics of Wonder Woman’s ride, the invisible jet.
Demystifying the Hipster – Tufts Experimental College
I think we all could benefit from a course like this, just going off the name of it. What is a hipster and what makes him act, dress, speak, and think the way that he does? Sign up for this course to find out what makes them tick, and then please let me know what you learn.
Makin’ Whoopi: Goldberg’s Canon – Bates College
No, it’s not what you think. This course, taught by film & screen studies professor Charles I. Nero is an all-encompassing look at the cinematic work of Whoopi Goldberg: her early work, her later films, and everything in between. If you’re a fan, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
The Physics of Star Trek – Santa Clara University
This course is another university’s attempt to try and make physics class more appealing. Here, you will learn all about the physics of how intergalactic spaceships rocket through the stars at light speed. You’ll also have fun discussing what parts of the Star Trek world have already come to pass and what we might expect in the future.
The Game of Thrones – University of Virginia
Are you a Game of Thrones superfan? If so, you will definitely want to take this course. Here, you will explore and discuss all of George R. R. Martin’s books and short stories, as well as the HBO series, and see how they compare. You will also take a deep dive into the species, worlds, rules, and family trees of the characters. It’s like a nerd’s dream, honestly.
How to Watch Television – Montclair State University
Yes, this is an absolutely real college class that you can take at Montclair State University. Even if you believe yourself to be the master of watching TV, this class will teach you to “…critically evaluate the role of television in their [your] life as well as in the life of the culture.”
Simpsons and Philosophy – University of California: Berkeley
The Simpsons has been on for over 30 years at this point and they’ve predicted more events, quite accurately, than we’d like to admit. The Simpsons and Philosophy course explores the show over the years, as well as the morality and ethics that go into the characters and the plot. Students will take a deep dive into the politics, pop culture, characters, and more and answer questions about behaviors and outcomes that they’d probably never considered in the past.
Getting Dressed – Princeton
Did you get dressed in the dark or something? Getting dressed is something that most everyone does, every morning before they leave the house. And yet some of them look like they’ve never looked in a mirror in their lives. Take this freshman seminar offered at Princeton for a look at why we wear what we wear, and how to do it better.
Tree Climbing – Cornell University
Ready to earn college credit for playing outside and climbing trees? In this outdoor course at Cornell, you will learn about the best methods for safely and successfully climbing trees and even jumping from limb to limb without falling. Useful and fun.
Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame – University of South Carolina
Are you a Gaga fan? Well, so is Michael Deflem, the sociology professor at the University of South Carolina. In fact, he loves her so much that when he watched her on the “Tonight” show, he realized that he needed to make a class that celebrates fame and how it affects both Gaga and other celebrities.
