Have some colleges gone off the deep end?

[oakranger]

I seen the most wasteful (in my mind) and pointless classes offer in a lot of colleges.  For example, Univ Virginia Tech had a class on the show "24", UVA and Univ South Carlina offering a class on the pop signer "Lady GaGa"  and some school out west teaching a class on the whole "Twilight".   Is this useful for what?

[BrownBaron]

I seen the most wasteful (in my mind) and pointless classes offer in a lot of colleges.  For example, Univ Virginia Tech had a class on the show "24", UVA and Univ South Carlina offering a class on the pop signer "Lady GaGa"  and some school out west teaching a class on the whole "Twilight".   Is this useful for what?

It suceeds in attracting some attention to the schools. You sure you didn't take a few classes like these during your time in college, because it is obvious you didn't spend much time in English courses.

[oakranger]

It suceeds in attracting some attention to the schools. You sure you didn't take a few classes like these during your time in college, because it is obvious you didn't spend much time in English courses.

Had plenty of english just really bad teachers that did not put efforts to help me. 

[bagrat]

I seen the most wasteful (in my mind) and pointless classes offer in a lot of colleges.  For example, Univ Virginia Tech had a class on the show "24", UVA and Univ South Carlina offering a class on the pop signer "Lady GaGa"  and some school out west teaching a class on the whole "Twilight".   Is this useful for what?

Surprisingly there are some people who will enroll in courses that interest them, without ever thinking about how these courses would contribute towards them getting a career when it's all said an done. I suppose these would be courses for people who want to be film writers though. A friend of mind told me there was a college offering a class on the series "the wire" too.

[Perrine]

Is this useful for what?

If it's not transferable to other schools then it's not.

[Jayhawk]

They seem silly, but there are plenty of people who make a career out of studying pop culture and how these events happen.  Relatively speaking, Lady GaGa, 24, and all those other shows really aren't that original.  Studying those events will help the individual recognize what it takes to make an artist, and idea, or even a fad into a worldwide sensation.  They aren't just sitting in this class listening to music, they are studying why it become popular which becomes an investigation into society and human psychology. Maybe you don't agree with it, but there are definitely jobs in studying and analyzing Hollywood and what comes out of it.

[Bronk]

You sure you didn't take a few classes like these during your time in college, because it is obvious you didn't spend much time in English courses.

 

[CAP1]

one of the colleges around here is pushing classes on critical thinking.

 honestly......if you need a college professor to tell you how to make decisions........you lost the fight a long long time ago.

[JHerne]

I took a class in Verbal-Non-Verbal Communications when I was a junior in college. Everyone said it was a great course. Biggest waste of time, but got an A for just showing up. Years later, this same stupid class has actually come in quite handy, as you can tell a lot about person based on not what he says, but how he says it, and his body language while he's saying it.

Most of our football team took a course called "Introduction to Wildlife". Some thought it was a class on partying (I'm not joking), but the class involved walking around in the woods identifying at plants and insects. This was slightly more popular than Basket Weaving 101.

And to think I wasted my time taking Physics and Calculus courses. No wonder I was hammered all the time.

[Dichotomy]

a buddy of mine went to UT and took a throwaway course called 'Theater Appreciation' he said that all he had to do is show up and answer the question 'would you like to go to the theater' with 'I'd appreciate that'  

[Beefcake]

I'd like to take a class on Battlestar Engineering.

[redman555]

I think the point of em is for people like me that are taking 4+ classes and they are all core.  So its kinda like an easy class.  I dont think their are any classes like that at my college though.


-BigBOBCH

[oakranger]

Surprisingly there are some people who will enroll in courses that interest them, without ever thinking about how these courses would contribute towards them getting a career when it's all said an done. I suppose these would be courses for people who want to be film writers though. A friend of mind told me there was a college offering a class on the series "the wire" too.

They seem silly, but there are plenty of people who make a career out of studying pop culture and how these events happen.  Relatively speaking, Lady GaGa, 24, and all those other shows really aren't that original.  Studying those events will help the individual recognize what it takes to make an artist, and idea, or even a fad into a worldwide sensation.  They aren't just sitting in this class listening to music, they are studying why it become popular which becomes an investigation into society and human psychology. Maybe you don't agree with it, but there are definitely jobs in studying and analyzing Hollywood and what comes out of it.

Good point.  Just seem like a wast of a class to have.  Wonder if there is a class in Texas that will offer a class about AH.   

[Blooz]

Just seem like a wast of a class to have.  Wonder if there is a class in Texas that will offer a class about AH.   

If you are a liberal arts major and are working toward a degree in a certain field then you'll select from the courses the college curriculum offers to achieve that goal.

So if you're interested in being a film maker or flight sim designer then one of the steps toward your BA or MA may be to take a course or two in "24" or "Aces High".

[Flipperk]

It does several things, IMHO.

1.) Gives you a course to boost up your GPA. (If it matters to you)

2.) As redman555 said, when you are taking 12 - 15 hours of core classes, a nice easy course is a nice break.

3.) The college gains funds through these courses.

4.) I took listening to music my sophmore year, I was in band for 8 years before that so I thought I had the course in the bag. Turns out while I did know most of the material, I learned A LOT about composers and the composition of many different types and styles of music. As well as the importance and impact that music has had on our lives and the world around us.

5.) I agree with Jayhawk as well, for those who want to pursue a career in Hollywood knowing what makes up a successful singer, and even TV shows is an intangible asset to have.