College is so awesome.

Here's how great higher education can be: Kate Miltner attended the prestigious London School of
Economics. And she's handed in her dissertation to get a Master's degree from
the prestigious university.







Her paper's learned topic: Internet memes. Specifically,
lolcats. If that sounds silly, here's how Miltner describes the work she'll be
doing for ad companies as translating "brands' needs into results-focused
digital strategies."




In other words, trying to come up with the next lolcat or
Old Spice Guy.




Of course, Miltner was doing independent study for her degree. But there are also plenty of readymade university courses
available to undergrads:




—How to Watch Television
 Montclair State


You're doing it wrong.

—Joy of Garbage
 Santa
Clara University


—Theory and History of Video Games
 Swarthmore


"Historical, cultural and
formal perspectives on video games, tracing their emergence as new medium, big
business, and social force."

—Fly Fishing
 Montana
State


MS also offers courses in
pocket billiards, bowling fundamentals, or Skiing, Snowboarding and
Telemarking.

—Physics for Future Presidents
 UC Berkeley


Special topics for future
leaders include spy satellites, medical imaging, nuclear weapons and energy conservation.

—Zombies in Popular Media
 Columbia College Chicago


"…final projects foster
thoughtful connections between student disciplines and the figure of the
zombie."

—Cyborg Anthropology
 Lewis & Clark College


"Cultural practices
surrounding the production and consumption of technoscientific and biomedical
knowledge."

—Tightwaddery, or the Good Life on a Dollar a Day 
Alfred University


—The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur
 University of Washington


"Explores the
philosophical, historical and literary influences of the late rapper and
activist, Tupac Shakur."

—"Oh, Look, a Chicken!" Embracing Distraction as a Way
of Knowing
 Belmont University

From the catalog
description:

"This course will pursue ways of knowing through
embracing [little ants, carrying a morsel of food across the table] what it
means to be a distracted [I could sure enjoy a peanut butter sandwich right
now] learner as well as [OMG--I get to go to the beach this summer] developing
an awareness [I need to trim my fingernails] of one's senses. The instructor
teaches in the school of music, [do I hear water dripping?] so there will be an
element related to that woven [spiders are amazing] into the course. [oh, it's
the fish tank behind me] Those registering for this section may even learn to
juggle [I'll be right down, I just have to finish this...what was I working
on?]."




Gilmore Girls screenshot from here. Undergraduate courses drawn from mental floss.