9 College Courses Based On Popular TV Shows

One of the most important college goals is to craft the perfect schedule -- a delicate balance between ballbusting Organic Chemistry labs and the 90-minute nap found in any course containing "Postmodern," "Literary" or "Criticism" in its title. From the lowliest junior college to the corridors of the Ivy League, course selection can make or break a semester. With its endowment in a freefall, Harvard has decided to throw a Hail Mary in that direction by offering a new Sociology course with HBO's The Wire as its central text. For all the students wait-listed by the big H or without the proper familial connections to get over the Longfellow Bridge, you can feel content knowing that students in Cambridge are doing exactly what you do every Saturday: Rolling up a gram of mid-grade, watching David Simon's magnum opus and eventually making a Taco Bell run. Only those Crimson losers have to take notes.

But Harvard isn't the first school making use of the idiot box in the classroom. Your proof arrives in today's Movieline Nine.

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9. South Park and Political Correctness

Institution: CUNY's Brooklyn College

Department: TV and Radio

Course Description: After watching episodes of the Comedy Central program and completing academic reading assignments, students will participate in lively discussions about the show's relevant topics, including assisted suicide, war and religion, without any concern for offending classmates since all offensive viewpoints have been taken by the show.

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8. Daytime Serials: Family and Social Roles

Institution: University of Wisconsin

Department: Family and Consumer Communications

Course Description: Analysis of the themes and characters that populate television's daytime serials and investigation of what impact these portrayals have on women's and men's roles in the family and in the work place. The course will compare and contrast prime-time programs with daytime serials for these themes.

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7. Philosophy and Star Trek

Institution: Georgetown University

Department: Philosophy

Course Description: An investigation of the major philosophical questions that come up again and again in Star Trek. Students will watch the television series, read excerpts from the writings of great philosophers, isolate key concepts and then analyze arguments like "Is time travel possible?" and "What is a person?"

Note: Muhlenberg College offers an entry level theology class called The Religions of Star Trek.

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Comments

  • jay says:

    Susquehanna University has a sociology course on LOST.

  • Yan Xishan says:

    Of these courses, only the Wrestling one seems to have academic integrity. Still, I would attend class dressed like Macho Man Randy Savage. I am sure I could horse collar some MIT geek chick to accompany me as Miss. Elizabeth.

  • AB says:

    I go to Oberlin, and the Buffy class isn't in the Media and Literature Department. It's a 0-1 credit course taught by students.

  • Paul H. Farley says:

    This was a very interesting article. It's nice in today's internet when someone takes the time to write a well written post that convey's real writing ability. Thanks again for the good read!

  • This was a very interesting article.I would attend class dressed like Macho Man Randy Savage.

  • Trent Jordan says:

    Hey Guys!!!! Its Really Good and Macho Man Randy Savage is So nice....Fanatastic work done....keep it up...Good luck...

  • I think that's not a very good idea..Still, I would attend class dressed like Macho Man Randy Savage.

  • old phones says:

    College courses based on TV shows,isn't this amazing.I mean student will going to study these subjects with more interest.

  • I go to Oberlin, and the Buffy class isn't in the Media and Literature Department. It's a 0-1 credit course taught by students.

  • Nice way to put it! My brother and I were just talking about this:)

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