School is meant to prepare us for the future, and for most of us, it takes up a great chunk of our lives. It’s where we learned to read, solve math problems, and discover science. However, not every school sticks to the usual subjects.
At some schools, students have to take classes that are beyond the regular curriculum. These strange subjects include some quirky hobbies and odd skills.
If you’d like to learn about some of the unusual subjects taught in schools, keep reading. Here we’ll share a list of odd school subjects that are sure to leave you shocked!
Underwater basket weaving.
The term underwater basket weaving is generally used to refer to useless or absurd university courses. However, the University of California actually holds an underwater basket-weaving class.
The class, which typically lasts about 90 minutes, takes place at the campus pool. It’s essentially just a lighthearted, fun exercise for students, and everyone gets a certificate afterward.
Happiness.
In Germany, it’s believed that school should not just be about learning complex subjects; it should also help kids be happy overall. That’s why happiness was introduced as a school subject in 2007.
So what happens during happiness classes? Well, students are taught the importance of being content and finding a purpose.
The subject, introduced to German schools by former head teacher Ernst Fritz-Schubert, has also been adopted in Austria.
Ghost hunting.
Learning how to hunt ghosts isn’t the sort of skill you’d think you’d learn in school. However, if you’re thinking of joining the Ghostbusters, there’s a class for you at Owen’s Community College in Ohio.
The college offers two ghost-hunting courses that cover everything you need to know about paranormal investigations.
The classes discuss the different types of ghost hunting and the equipment necessary. Students also get hands-on sessions hunting ghosts.
Garbology.
This is one of those school subjects that’s way more interesting than it sounds.
The joy of garbage, now called garbology, is taught at Santa Clara University and focuses on the science of waste management and sustainability for non-science majors.
The class is highly practical, and on the first day, students get to sort through piles of trash. After that, however, things get serious as students learn how waste is processed and safely disposed of. They also get to take a field trip to a landfill.
Wasting time on the internet.
Imagine a class where you could use your phone as much as you’d like, just scrolling through social media, without getting into trouble. If you’re taking the wasting time on the internet class at the University of Pennsylvania, you can.
The class lasts about three hours, and you have to be on your device the entire time. You’re probably wondering what the point of this subject is.
Well, it’s part of the creative arts program that explores how much time we waste staring at screens and how they’ve become such an important part of our lives. In the end, the results of your endless doomscrolling, such as your browser and social media history, are compiled into a compelling piece of literature.
The art of walking.
This subject was introduced at the Center College in Danville, Kentucky, in 2002. And you probably guessed it: it involves lots of walking, about 4 hours a day.
Nevertheless, the art of walking isn’t the same as your regular street running club. The class focuses more on philosophy than strolling.
Students study complex philosophical topics and analyze and discuss them during the walks.
How to win a beauty pageant.
If you’re thinking this class will be a cheat code to secure a sure win at a beauty pageant, think again.
Despite the name, this subject offered at Oberlin College isn’t about winning pageants.
Instead, it examines how beauty pageants in the United States have changed since the 1920s. It also looks at how they’ve influenced race, gender, and culture within the country.
Spongebobology.
For anyone who grew up watching SpongeBob SquarePants in the early 2000s, it was more than just another cartoon. So, any chance you get to rewatch it feels like you’re revisiting your childhood. Now imagine a whole school subject dedicated to studying SpongeBob.
Students who take the Spongebobology class at Oberlin College have to watch all 241 episodes of the hit Nickelodeon animated series. However, before you sign up for the class, you need to know that’s not all they’ll be doing.
Students also have to discuss the show’s humor and why it’s such a cultural icon.
Surviving the coming zombie apocalypse.
While the threat of a zombie apocalypse ever happening is pretty slim, it never hurts to be prepared. This class, however, isn’t actually about learning survival skills for the arrival of the undead.
The zombie thing is just a hook, though.
The program at the University of Michigan examined how people behaved during past catastrophic events, such as the Black Plague. It looks at human responses when disaster strikes, and resources are scarce.
Science of superheroes.
If you’ve ever watched Spider-Man swinging through the city and thought, “Hmm, how does that actually work?” the University of California has a subject for you.
The science of superheroes isn’t just about watching superheroes. It’s actually a science class that breaks down the physics behind how superheroes can flip cars, move at incredible speeds, and fly through the sky.
It’s a lot more serious than it sounds and is definitely a fun take on a rather complex subject.
Not all schools do things the same way. Although education is still the goal, some schools take a different approach by offering unusual subjects that still shed a new light on complex topics.
So, while some students are learning physics through superheroes or survival skills for zombies, they’re all still gaining skills to prepare them for whatever the future holds.
