Spice Up Your Semester With These Unusual Classes Offered at Ohio Schools

Shakespeare in Italy
Oberlin College
Students enrolled in this course have the chance to step off their college campus and into the worlds of some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Walk through ancient ruins in Rome, ponder cultural complexities in Venice and dive into the era of Florence’s Renaissance. Students gain a deeper understanding of the sites and settings that influenced Shakespeare’s timeless writing, embarking on a journey into the heart of history and literature. Additionally, students will get the chance to indulge in global culture, including delicious food and the occasional musical or theatrical experience. You’re going to want to pack your walking shoes for this one. 

Zombie 101: What Undead Teach Us About Philosophical Problems
Ohio Wesleyan University
It takes some brains to make it through this course. Ohio Wesleyan University’s Zombie 101 offers a philosophically focused honors seminar course that explores what zombies can teach us about the nature of life and death. It encourages students to ask questions, such as “What is death, really?” and “Is it really so bad?” and “If we all became zombies, would we still be us?” In their journey to answer such questions, students read works from contemporary philosophers and conduct thought experiments along the way. 

Programming Humanity
Kenyon College
Both fans and skeptics of AI have something to learn from this course. Dive into the looming question: Will we be programmed by our technology, or will we be able to program our humanity? Embrace the uncertainty and explore the intersectionality of humanity and technology as you get hands-on experience with the building blocks of artificial intelligence. Students learn the theory and practice of coding while examining the ethical implications of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence. This class gives students the ability to become a human voice in an increasingly tech-focused world.

We Want the Funk!
University of Dayton
Get funky in the city from which the genre’s most groundbreaking artists hail. This course is all about performance and practice of contemporary music, from refining improvisational techniques to working with a band to learn music by ear. Plus, students will be able to hear from some of the best in the business during guest lectures and interviews. We Want the Funk! is more than just music theory; it’s about putting theory to practice. At the end of the semester, students put their newly found skills to the test at a unique funk cabaret show.

Topics in Writing Studies: Taylor Swift
University of Cincinnati
Explore the music, career and impact of one of the most influential musical artists in the world with this course at the University of Cincinnati. (Think football, friendship bracelets and ultra-catchy lyrics with deep hidden meanings.) Offered by the university’s College of Arts and Sciences, this course takes a closer look at Taylor Swift’s storytelling and songwriting abilities through an academic lens. Journey through Swift’s various musical eras while exploring her brand, fandom and persona. Each week, students are asked to select any song from her discography and conduct a directed lyrical analysis that aligns with the week’s theme, offering a unique way to study writing and culture.

This story ran in the Winter-Spring 2025 issue of College 101.