Comments on: The 15 Strangest College Courses In America http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/ Explore our guides to the top online schools and learn about how online education can help you meet your academic, professional, and personal goals. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:04:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-244 Bill Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:03:46 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-244 CA schools made the list a few too many times. CA schools made the list a few too many times.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-242 Kelly Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:26:21 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-242 I’d like to advise against using this class list as evidence that U.S higher education is failing. Conversely, I see the offering of courses that incorporate elements of modern popular culture as innovative teaching tools that have the ability to captivate the intellectual attention of students born and raised into a culture that is so based on “entertainment”. Furthermore, a class like this can offer the pragmatic tool of teaching students to examine the things they encounter on a daily basis (movies, book series, t.v shows, etc.) with a critical eye while showing that “fun” doesn’t have to be passive activity but can be an active engagement. As for the other classes on this list that seem to offer very little to no intellectual value, such as underwater basket weaving, or beer brewing, I argue that they too have value in a college education, in that they offer recreation that allows community building and stress reduction to students. That is, of course, when they are taken only in ADDITION TO more intellectually oriented classes, not in place of them. Being a college student myself I can assure you that this is (usually) the case. Don’t get me wrong, our higher institutes of education have many flaws. Innovative teaching tailored to the tastes and habits of students however, is not one of them. I’d like to advise against using this class list as evidence that U.S higher education is failing. Conversely, I see the offering of courses that incorporate elements of modern popular culture as innovative teaching tools that have the ability to captivate the intellectual attention of students born and raised into a culture that is so based on “entertainment”. Furthermore, a class like this can offer the pragmatic tool of teaching students to examine the things they encounter on a daily basis (movies, book series, t.v shows, etc.) with a critical eye while showing that “fun” doesn’t have to be passive activity but can be an active engagement.

As for the other classes on this list that seem to offer very little to no intellectual value, such as underwater basket weaving, or beer brewing, I argue that they too have value in a college education, in that they offer recreation that allows community building and stress reduction to students. That is, of course, when they are taken only in ADDITION TO more intellectually oriented classes, not in place of them. Being a college student myself I can assure you that this is (usually) the case.

Don’t get me wrong, our higher institutes of education have many flaws. Innovative teaching tailored to the tastes and habits of students however, is not one of them.

]]> By: teacher http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-230 teacher Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:52:55 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-230 Miami University, Oxford, Ohio "The Meaning of Leisure" "Guide to Wine Tasting" Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

“The Meaning of Leisure”
“Guide to Wine Tasting”

]]> By: Nathan http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-220 Nathan Tue, 05 May 2009 00:52:26 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-220 it should be noted that classes like the science of harry potter are not as uncommon as one might think. i go to Columbia College Chicago and our fiction writing department has classes that focus on the history of harry potter, lord of the rings, and other such things. however i think that the strategy of starcraft should also include games like Dawn of War, Red alert command and conquer, civilization, etc. also who wouldn't want to take a class on zombies i would! it should be noted that classes like the science of harry potter are not as uncommon as one might think. i go to Columbia College Chicago and our fiction writing department has classes that focus on the history of harry potter, lord of the rings, and other such things. however i think that the strategy of starcraft should also include games like Dawn of War, Red alert command and conquer, civilization, etc. also who wouldn’t want to take a class on zombies i would!

]]> By: Frank http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-218 Frank Mon, 04 May 2009 23:00:44 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-218 Where is Jacques Barzun when we so desperately need him? Where is Jacques Barzun when we so desperately need him?

]]> By: Lone http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-216 Lone Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:19:43 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-216 As a student of Columbia College, there are quite a few other courses that deserve to be on this list. There is a two week semester in january that you can choose to take and in that semester they teach all sorts of ridiculous experimental classes. As a student of Columbia College, there are quite a few other courses that deserve to be on this list. There is a two week semester in january that you can choose to take and in that semester they teach all sorts of ridiculous experimental classes.

]]> By: Crystal Kile http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-215 Crystal Kile Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:48:26 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-215 T'aint WHAT one studies, it's HOW one studies. That said, Greil Marcus was also right when he observed that popular culture, finally, is "limited, enervating, and obvious." Nice work, whoever selected the images for this article!! T’aint WHAT one studies, it’s HOW one studies.

That said, Greil Marcus was also right when he observed that popular culture, finally, is “limited, enervating, and obvious.”

Nice work, whoever selected the images for this article!!

]]> By: Dog Obedience Training http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-214 Dog Obedience Training Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:04:22 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-214 <strong>Dog Obedience Training...</strong> I really cannot agree more. Nice points there.... Dog Obedience Training…

I really cannot agree more. Nice points there….

]]> By: Leslie http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-213 Leslie Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:34:04 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-213 For all those complaining about Berkeley and the California school system offering all these courses, I suggest reading the comments offered above on DECals. Its a process of democratic education which has NOTHING to do with your major, gpa, or tuition. Enterprising and interested students have to make up their own syllabi and submit it to faculty. Sure, there are some real duds, but most of these students work really hard so that all involved learn something from these courses. Relax people. The only thing you could be paying for is the money for the lights they have to use to illuminate the classroom. For all those complaining about Berkeley and the California school system offering all these courses, I suggest reading the comments offered above on DECals. Its a process of democratic education which has NOTHING to do with your major, gpa, or tuition. Enterprising and interested students have to make up their own syllabi and submit it to faculty.

Sure, there are some real duds, but most of these students work really hard so that all involved learn something from these courses. Relax people. The only thing you could be paying for is the money for the lights they have to use to illuminate the classroom.

]]> By: Frank http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/02/25/the-15-strangest-college-courses-in-america/#comment-212 Frank Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:49:10 +0000 http://www.onlinecolleges.net/?p=15#comment-212 I think the Columbia College courses need to be further investigated. I attend that school......we have a lot more classes. I think the Columbia College courses need to be further investigated. I attend that school……we have a lot more classes.

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