Fun Classes to Take in College? Yes, There is a Santa Claus

Fun Classes to Take in College

College is for serious higher learning. That is what you have been told. You are anticipating really tough courses, lots of essays and papers to write, and tests to study for that could keep you up to all hours of the night. Yes, all of this is true. You will have courses that you absolutely hate (but they are required, so bite that bullet), courses that are okay, and others you love. And, if you plan to be a full-time student and wonder how many classes do you take in college, the normal number is 5 each semester.

When You Have Choices

There are certain general education classes you must take; then there are those general requirements, like a fine art or a sociology course, and you have options. When you do have a choice, look at those options carefully, and you may find some very cool surprises. There are actually fun classes to take in college.

If you are a student at London College, for example, and you have decided to fulfill your fine art requirement with a photography class, you might be a bit surprised to find a course titled, “The Art of Selfies.” Yes, it is a real course. You will spend a semester learning how to get a good background, how to pose yourself, etc., in order to get the best selfie pictures possible. Personally, I think this might be a course for someone who is a narcissist, but no one should judge others.

The Weird, the Crazy, and the Fun

Sometimes, you simply have to fill your schedule with an elective. It happens. You have a four-year plan with all of your required courses filled in, and there are a couple of holes. You may have asked others, “What classes should I take in college?” and they may have advised you to fill those holes with something intellectually challenging. Hogwash. Fill those holes with something weird or crazy. Some of the best classes, in fact, are now being offered at colleges all over the country with some pretty strange content. Here are just a few.

• “The Hunger Games.” This is offered by the sociology department at American University in Washington, D.C. and is a different “take” on cultural history.
• “Philosophy and Star Trek,” offered at Georgetown University, also in D.C. The course is in the philosophy department, and the activities involve watching ‘Star Trek” episodes and then discussing such topics as time, reality, free will, and self-identity
• “Tattoos in American Pop Culture.” This is a sociology class offered at Pitzer College. The sub-culture of “inking” is studied, and its specific relationship to notions of class, race, sexuality, and gender.
• “Game of Thrones,” offered at the University of Virginia, with the only course materials being the book and the HBO series.
• “The Stand-Up Comic.” John Hopkins offers this course as a part of its drama department. Course content includes watching clips of comedians’ performances and clips from TV series such as Seinfeld. Field trips include excursion to open mic comedy clubs. The final exam? Develop your own comedy routine and perform it for the class!

Sometimes, you just find a gift hidden deep in those course catalogues. Smile and thank Santa.