Nnamdi Constance 
Think college is all textbooks and tears? Think again. From mastering the magic of elves to studying the art of cheese, there are truly ridiculous courses people study around the world that will make you question if reality ever ruled had to begin with. In this wild academic roundup, we’re counting down 10 of the strangest subjects actually taught at real universities—and the last one might break your brain.
Are you ready!? Then let’s get straight into it!
1. Underwater Basket Weaving – University of California 🧺🌊
Yes! It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s one of the perfect examples of ridiculous courses people study. Students literally sit underwater… and weave baskets.
Nobody knows why this exists, but I have theories:
- Preparing for mermaid entrepreneurship
- Training future SpongeBob employees
- Or… just scamming tuition fees.
Somewhere, an engineering student is crying into their calculator.
2. Philosophy of Batman – University of Victoria, Canada 🦇
Because clearly, Shakespeare and Plato are outdated. Here, students analyze Batman’s ethics, identity crisis, and daddy issues.
Final assignment? Write a thesis on whether Batman is actually a hero… or just a billionaire with unresolved trauma and a latex fetish. 💀
3. Elf Studies – University of Iceland 🧝♀️
Not Lord of the Rings fan fiction. This is an actual academic program where students study elves, trolls, and hidden creatures in Icelandic culture.
Imagine graduating and your parents proudly say:
“My child has a degree in Elf Communication.”
Employers: “hmm…Interesting.”
4. The Physics of Star Wars – University of Leicester, UK ⚡🚀
Forget rockets. Forget astronauts. At this school, students analyze whether lightsabers, Death Stars, and hyperspace jumps are scientifically possible.
They’re doing NASA work; except it’s funded by people obsessed with Baby Yoda.
5. The Joy of Garbage – Santa Clara University, USA 🗑️
A whole course… about trash. Students spend a semester studying landfills, decomposition, and why humans can’t stop throwing things away.
Ironically, this course costs $2,500. So yes—you’re literally paying thousands to learn about garbage. Plot twist: The course itself is garbage. 🥲
6. The Art of Clowning – University of Connecticut 🤡
Finally, a degree for politicians. 😏
Students here learn makeup techniques, slapstick performance, and clown psychology (yes, that’s a thing).
Picture yourself graduating: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am now a Certified Professional Clown.”
Your bank account: “That’s funny… because you’re broke.”
7. Tree Climbing – Cornell University, USA 🌳
Oh yes, grown adults pay tuition to learn how to climb trees “safely and strategically.”
Meanwhile, African kids have been freestyling it for free since birth.
8. How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse – Michigan State University 🧟♀️🧠
Finally, a degree that matters! This course teaches survival strategies for a possible zombie outbreak—weapons, escape plans, and societal collapse.
Imagine being in an actual apocalypse and shouting:
“Don’t panic, guys, I TOOK THE COURSE!”
And then you trip and become lunch. 🍽️
9. The Science of Superheroes – University of California, Irvine 🦸♂️
Physics + Marvel + DC = this course. Students study spider silk tensile strength, gamma radiation, and whether Thor’s hammer is physically possible.
Spoiler: It’s not. But hey, at least they had fun.
10. Beyoncé Studies – Rutgers University, USA 👑🎤
Yup. An entire academic program dedicated to Queen Bey. Students analyze her lyrics, business empire, feminism, and cultural influence.
Final exam? Probably singing “Single Ladies” while defending a 50-page thesis on why Beyoncé runs the world.
11. Witchcraft, Magic & the Occult – University of Exeter, UK 🧙♀✨
Oh yes, Hogwarts is real… kind of. The University of Exeter now offers a Master’s in Magic & Occult Science. Students study ancient spells, sorcery, and how people in history used “magic” to explain stuff they didn’t understand—like Wi-Fi.
Imagine telling your Nigerian parents: “Mummy, I’m getting my Master’s in Witchcraft.” Instant disownment. 😂
Finally, the world is paying tuition fees for witchcraft, zombies, elf magic, and underwater baskets… while some of us are out here drowning in statistics textbooks and hot Jollof rice…
While it doesn’t make sense to some of us, it makes complete sense to them, and that’s just life.
