Interesting and weird online classes
It can be hard to fit in all the classes that you want to take. You have all these prereqs that you have to take, and very little time to take something just for fun. Well, that is part of the beauty of the Internet. Many of the top universities in the country are offering some of their classes online for free. So if you’re jonesing to take a class just for fun, but don’t really feel like having to show up every day or waste credits that you need to graduate, you can try them out online for free. (Most of these will require you to have iTunes downloaded on your computer.) These classes run the gamut from really useful and interesting, to downright bizarre. Here are a few examples.
History of the Compact Fluorescent Light: Get an in-depth look at the development of the compact fluorescent light. [UC Davis]
GPS: Where are You?: This course teaches you how GPS systems work. [MIT]
Going Beyond Hip-Hop: History, Politics and Spirituality: Discover all the ways that hip hop has impacted history and culture [Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York]
Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling: Try to understand the American obsession of watching pro wrestling. [MIT]
The repute and reality of being a Roman emperor: Understand the daily duties of a Roman emperor like Augustus. [The Open University]
How to Stage a Revolution: Learn all about radical revolutions, coup d’etats and terror in this course. [MIT]
Fencing: Learn fencing techniques when you study this course. [MIT]
Spa and Hospitality Operations: If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to run a spa, take this course. [UC Irvine]
Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology: Learn about stomach disorders in this class. [Tufts]
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Click here for the website where I found most of these classes. You can go to the websites of any of these universities to find out more about their free online course offerings.
Submitted by Emily