What's in a name? Weird and wonderful course titles

Not so long ago, it seemed quite the thing to criticise and even ridicule certain universities for offering so-called “Mickey Mouse” degrees. These courses came from a variety of disciplines and bore little resemblance to those which were doubtless considered more ‘academic’. Classics, Latin, or Archaeology always managed to miss the cut, which must have come as a huge relief for institutions with Medieval lawns and huge resources. But still, the notion of studying the media or sport seemed one small step from chaos, anarchy and the very end of time.

Golf hats

Don't get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with studying Classics, Latin or Archaeology. These are important subjects, although detailed knowledge of Ovid, pots, old ruins or sieges aren't the most obvious tools for dealing with business, psychology or a life in PR. And they wouldn’t help too much in, say managing a golf club. At this point, I should mention that all I know about golf is that involves weird clothing, sticks, balls and holes. So, if I’m not up to the job, who should we turn to? Perhaps someone with a golf management degree?

Football Studies?
John Still, master tactician

In a not-entirely unrelated sphere, Football Studies is also a minority interest subject. Or is it? Football Studies doesn’t involve people pretending to be pundits and trotting out lame cliché after lame cliché. Like it or not, and for better or worse, football is big business these days. Or, more accurately, football is a huge, corporatised juggernaut, the study of which might involve looking at sports, nutrition, development, business, media, finance, hospitality, sociology, psychology …. The list goes on. Football Studies course managers

may also be looking to add Criminology elements to their offer, given the recent shock revelations and investigations around the less-than-squeaky clean operations of the international game.

A few years ago, The Telegraph compiled a top ten “unusual degrees” list, which ranged from institutions such as South Bank and Liverpool Hope, to Plumpton College and UCL. The subjects tellingly included degrees with a very specific vocational and almost artisanal flavour (Baking Technology Management or

Brewing and Distilling) to those with clear roots in anthropology (Viking Studies) or those looking at a specific cultural phenomenon with a view to a wider academic discipline (The Beatles, Popular Music and Society).

Klingon??!!

Still, if these, or Surf Science don’t float your boat – and yes that is surf as in the waves not the web - our friends over the Pond have, not too surprisingly, an even more diverse range of courses for consideration. Last year, QS put a list together of degrees which would make most people’s eyes and mouths start watering – it would seem there really are opportunities to study Harry Potter, Klingon, the tv show Lost, zombies, the joy of garbage, the history of the pig in America and – perhaps most alluring – the science of superheroes.