One of the great things about college is the freedom to choose your own college classes—within limits, of course. You still must meet your core and major requirements. In college, you’ll find all the courses you’d normally expect, like calculus and biology, but you’re also likely to encounter some fun classes, plus a few just plain weird ones. Check out these bizarre and spooky college courses, right in time for Halloween!
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You Won’t Believe These Fun and Weird College Courses
1. Topics in Literature: Harry Potter
Baylor University
If you love all things Harry Potter and you’re planning on attending Baylor University, you’re in luck! The English department regularly offers ENG 3378: Topics in Literature. For the foreseeable future, the spring semester iteration of this class will focus on all seven books of the widely beloved “Harry Potter” series.
The class explores “Harry Potter” largely through a thematic lens, particularly by considering real-world issues that echo throughout the books and can resonate with readers. These include themes like coming of age, putting others first, and the intrinsic value of all of humanity.
2. Bones, Bodies, and Disease
Tulane University
Did you know that through paleopathology, you can study the health issues and diseases encountered by ancient civilizations? This 3000-level course is ideal for students who have an interest in learning about healthcare through a unique lens. Taught by the anthropology department, the course covers anything from ancient medicine, surgery, dietary practices, and health trends that have impacted humans throughout the course of history.
3. Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe
Salem State University
Ever been curious about the Spanish Inquisition and other witch hunts throughout history? At Salem State University, you can take an entire class dedicated to witch hunts in 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Offered by the history department, this college class explores witch hunts in their historical context, with a look at religious, social, intellectual, economic, demographic, and political factors in that era.
4. Fire: Past, Present and Future Interactions with the People and Ecosystems of California
University of California, Berkeley
Few things are more terrifying than living through a major natural disaster like a wildfire. This course on fire, offered by the anthropology department, explores the intersection of humans, fire, and ecosystems in California over the past 10,000 years. This multidisciplinary college class brings together sources in fields like biology, history, ecology, and anthropology and explores various fire practices and how they affect landscapes.
5. The Undead South: Horror and Haunting in U.S. Southern Literature
Dartmouth College
Love a good ghost story? You’ll definitely want to sign up for The Undead South if you decide to attend Dartmouth. Offered by the English department, this course is a broad survey on horrors and hauntings through classic Gothic literature, as well as contemporary media. It’s a wide-ranging course that explores everything from mourning and funerary practices to lost causes and heroes.
6. Monster Encounters – Monsters and the Monstrous in Literature
University of Toronto
If you enjoy reading classic literature, you might want to consider this freshman seminar course offered by the English department. It explores themes in classic literature on monsters and human encounters with monsters, including Homer’s Cyclops. Although there is a focus on the classics, this class also explores monsters in contemporary literature, including Madeleine Miller’s “Circe.”
7. Conceiving and Misconceiving: The Monstrous
Rice University
Here’s another monster course! This unique offering at Rice University combines the study of bioscience with creative arts, and the course is co-taught by a bioscientist and a literary professor. One interesting assignment is for students to create unique masks based on their interpretation of course material. Over the years, Rice has photographed and displayed photos of the masks in art exhibitions.
8. American Apocalypse: Disaster and Dystopia in Hollywood Film
Utah State University
If you were a big fan of “The Hunger Games” books and/or movies, you might be interested in taking this course on disasters and dystopias. This class takes a survey of various Hollywood films in the disaster/apocalypse genre. You’ll discuss films depicting alien invasions, war, famine, and other disasters.
9. True Crime Podcasts
University of Texas at Austin
Do you love true crime podcasts or documentaries? Then this unique journalism class is for you! In J330M, students break down true crime podcasts and take a deeper look at the popular genre from a journalistic storytelling standpoint. Throughout the course you will analyze and discuss podcast episodes, taking a deep dive into the ethics and sensitivity surrounding the subject. If you’re already an avid listener of this type of content, you’ll learn how to look at the content from a whole new perspective, knocking out some college credits along the way.
10. Neuroscience of Zombies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Neuroscience can be a fascinating field all by itself, but when you add zombies to the mix things can get even more fun! This popular honors class, offered by the psychology department, explores some fundamental neuroscience principles and emerging research while taking a look at some of the truly weird aspects of the field. For example, there is a virus that can make a person terrified of water and a parasite that convinces mice that cats aren’t dangerous to them. This class includes a zombie walk.
11. Vampire: Blood and Empire
University of Pittsburgh
Did you devour every Anne Rice book ever written? Or have you watched Twilight more than a dozen times? Then you’ll definitely want to take a look at this class on vampires if you attend the University of Pittsburgh. You’ll take a close look at vampires in novels and films, analyzing them from various critical perspectives. The class examines vampire media from a range of cultures and across various time periods.
12. Aikido: Japanese Sword and Staff
Duke University
Duke University’s physical education department is offering students the opportunity to learn the ancient art of sword and staff fighting. Aikido sword and staff forms are appropriate for defending against multiple attackers at once, relying on whole body movements and physical coordination. Participants will engage in solo and partner practices in non-competitive formats.
13. Witches in History, Literature, and Film
Georgetown University
In this class, you’ll dive into all things witches in Europe, with a focus on German-speaking areas. Using literature, film, and historical contexts, this course examines the historical phenomenon of witch hunts. You’ll be expected to develop an understanding of how historical experiences and media have shaped humanity over time.
14. The Zombie in History and Popular Culture
University of Colorado Boulder
You’ll find plenty of zombie literature and films in cultures throughout the world. This particular class focuses on zombies in the Caribbean. You’ll explore how representations of zombies have evolved over time, starting in eras and places like colonial Haiti to the present day Caribbean. There is a focus on how the mythical figure of the zombie represents very real anxieties about the world.
15. The Haunted Screen: Understanding the Horror Film
The University of Arizona
Warning: If you don’t like watching horror movies, this course might not be the right choice for you. This introduction to horror cinema draws upon critical approaches and textual analysis to examine the horror genre. You’ll consider cultural and political perspectives inherent in films, as well as how the genre has evolved over time alongside cultural identity itself. Expect to watch horror films from various cultures.
16. Magic/Medicine: Healing, Protection, and Transformation in African and Indian Ocean Worlds
Johns Hopkins University
In the Malagasy language of Madagascar, the word “fanafody” has multiple meanings. It can mean “medicine” but also “charm” or “magic.” In this course, you’ll take a look at cultural perspectives and medical practices of 20th- and 21st-century East Africa and the western Indian Ocean. You’ll examine everything from faith healers to modern medications, as well as humanitarian global health, ritual and religious processes, and pandemic politics.
17. Dracula: History and Legend
The University of Chicago
Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula is said to have been based on Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who ruled Transylvania and fought the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. As a ruler, Vlad was known for cruelty and ruthlessness. This course examines Vlad, the historical figure, and Dracula, the literary figure.
18. Crime and Punishment in Early Modern Europe (1400-1800)
Skidmore College
The history department at Skidmore College offers this 300-level course on the history and theory of crime and punishment throughout 400 years of European history. Early modern Europe was characterized by the persecution of the Inquisition, religious wars, and other societal upheavals. The course compares criminal violence to state violence and explores the conflict between individual freedom and state authority.
19. The Black Death
SUNY New Paltz
You’ve already lived through a pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide. How does COVID compare to the Black Death? While there have been multiple waves of bubonic plague spanning centuries, the initial outbreak of the Black Death in the 14th century wiped out one-third of all people in Europe. In this course, you can explore how the drastic demographic change affected economic, social, cultural, and religious life.
20. Ghost Hunting: Specters, Specialists, and Spectators in 21st Century America
University of Arkansas
In this honors seminar class, you can dive into the history and practice of ghost hunting throughout the U.S. Reflect upon paranormal research and what it says about social memory, class, gender, and race. In addition to lectures and discussions, students will participate in observation experiences during “ride-alongs” with local ghost hunters in Northwest Arkansas.
How do I know what classes I should take in college?
Your first priority is to fulfill core or general education requirements (which all students at the school must take, like language and math), as well as major-specific requirements. There may be multiple courses that can fulfill any given requirement, which means that even when working toward meeting the requirements, you will have some freedom of choice. You’ll also be able to take a limited number of electives throughout your college years. When choosing both electives and courses that fulfill requirements, you should look for offerings that spark your interest and/or complement your academic/professional path.
You’ll be assigned an advisor as an incoming freshman. In order to stay on track toward meeting the requirements and graduating on time, it’s essential to consult your advisor when choosing college classes for each upcoming semester. Expect to make an appointment with your advisor at least once each semester once the next semester’s course schedule becomes available.
Can you choose anything as an elective?
You can choose almost anything as an elective. Note that some courses may have prerequisite requirements, which means you must have taken one or more introductory-level courses first. You can choose electives within your own department or from any other department.
Should I only take easy electives?
It can be tempting to choose only electives that look easy and/or fun—like a course on Harry Potter, for example. (By the way, a Harry Potter-themed class might fulfill a humanities requirement.) However, it’s ideal to choose electives strategically, as well.
Yes, you can have fun with them, but you can and should also use electives to:
- Explore other academic interests.
- Acquire competencies that might complement your major and intended career path.
- Develop skills in topics that may help you meet your post-baccalaureate goals.
For instance, if you’re on a pre-law or pre-med track, you might take courses that complement that goal.
How many college classes do you take per semester?
It can vary somewhat from school to school and program to program. Usually, a full-time undergraduate student can expect to take at least 12 (which equals four three-credit courses) and up to 15 credits per semester. Not all classes are worth the same number of credits. For instance, as a freshman, you may be required to take an intro class on college research or a similar topic, which may only be worth two credits. Similarly, physical education courses may be worth fewer credits.
For university-specific guidance, look for your school’s course load policy and check for any department-specific guidelines.
How do I choose a college major?
This is a tough question because there are so many factors that can contribute to your decision, and some of those factors may be more important to some students than to others. You’ll want to consider:
- Your intended career outcome
- Whether you’ll need to (and want to) pursue graduate education for that career outcome
- Your academic and personal interests
- Your academic strengths and weaknesses
If you’re not quite sure which major is right for you, we recommend taking a comprehensive, science-based Aptitude Assessment. You can also check out this blog on choosing a college major.
Do employers check college transcripts?
It depends. Often, an employer will verify degrees earned by requesting a copy of your diploma, calling the educational institution(s) to verify dates and degrees, or in some cases, requesting an official transcript.
It’s less common for hiring managers to scrutinize individual college classes on a transcript. The most important thing most employers check for is whether you earn the degree you claim to have earned from that institution.
Tech companies may be more likely to check individual college classes. For example, if they want a programmer with a strong working knowledge of Java, they might check that the programmer took a Java college course. In addition, for highly competitive jobs at prestigious firms and at higher ed institutions, hiring managers may be more likely to scrutinize GPA and coursework rigor.
Need help preparing for college?
At KD College Prep, we specialize in helping middle and high schoolers prepare for success throughout the college admissions process. Explore our test prep programs and college counseling programs or schedule a free consultation to discuss a student’s college prep goals with an advisor.