5 Unique University Classes

With College and University coming up right around the corner, there are many new and exciting courses that will be offered for students to take. Normally we would just think of classes like Marketing, Psychology or Literature. But some universities went out of the box and offer classes that you never even thought of!

1. iPhone Application Development – Stanford University

If you’re a person who can’t wait to show off their new iPhone apps to their friends, imagine what they'll say when you tell them you created one! This class teaches you how to develop applications for both the iPhone and the iPad. Turn your creativity up – students have tapped into inspiration from their own lives coming up with apps that manage lab experiments or keep track of their food choices. The coolest part about this course? You don’t have to go to Stanford to take it —download it on iTunes U for free!

2. Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse: Catastrophes and Human Behaviour – Michigan State University

Ever get so tired that you feel like a zombie walking to class in the morning? Well, now you can get a credit for it! This seven-week summer course at Michigan State University features a simulation where you’re divided into groups and tasked with figuring out how to survive the recent zombie pandemic. If that doesn’t have you totally spooked, maybe the Black Death or meteor strikes will — you’ll be learning about the impact of those events on the planet too. All to learn how human behaviour and nature change after catastrophes. This class is so popular at the university that it fills up within the hour that spots are open!

3. Harry Potter: Literary Tradition and Popular Culture – Otis College of Art and Design

This class involves much more than reading about J.K. Rowling’s famous wizard. First, you’ll be sorted into one of the Hogwarts Houses. Then you’ll analyze the book, digging into how and why Harry Potter has made reading so magical. Throughout the course the different houses go through challenges, and it gets competitive to see who will win the house cup by the end of the semester for their house.

4. Cow to Cone- Pennsylvania State University

If you thought ice cream was just a study break splurge, think again! Every January, Penn State University offers a course called “Cow to Cone,” which teaches everything from producing ice cream to managing an ice cream company. You’ll learn the difference between ice cream and "frozen desserts" and most importantly, hear how to make them! Fun Fact: Ben and Jerry got their start in this class!

5. Surfing – Coastal Carolina University

Class on the beach? Yes please! Enroll in surfing at Coastal Carolina University and you’ll hit the waves instead of the books. It starts with the basics like learning to paddle and standing on the boards, and then meets at the beach every week for a full hour and fifteen minutes in the water. Although the class meets at 8 a.m. students find it totally worth waking up early and the spots for this class fill up quick. A bonus about this class is that students are taught ocean survival skills as well as all about marine life.