College majors need more whimsy

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“Man, if only I could register for ‘Romance Films & Symbolism 101’ instead of ‘Statistics for Sociological Research’”: a thought I know I’ve had, and I’m pretty sure most college students can relate to. Sure, maybe a select few colleges offer some unique classes, like “Zombies in Popular Media” at Columbia or “Science from Superheroes to Global Warming” at University of California, Irvine, but most college students are just yearning for some more unique, out-there, whimsical classes. 

Many of us in The Lamron grew up being readers and writers, so naturally, courses on Harry Potter and Greek or Norse mythology are something we’re hoping for each semester we register for classes. How many times can we really have class discussions on the same 20th century poems before things get old? Let us write research papers about which Harry Potter house our professor fits into, participate in class discussions in “Cormac McCarthy Novels 110,” or even give presentations about our favorite mythical creatures throughout literature (shoutout to the Demogorgon in Stranger Things (2016-2025) and Mushu in Mulan (1998)!). 

Of course, one or two classes on mythical creatures or mythology would never be enough. Let us say, “My major is Dragons in Media, and I have a minor in Mythology and Folklore.” We want a senior capstone class centered around how witchcraft really works, and electives on mythology and folklore from different cultures. 

SUNY Geneseo, if you’re taking notes, don’t forget about another wonderful form of media: music! Sure, music courses are widely offered at many colleges and universities, however, some could use some revamping. Instead of your average music theory classes, let’s take “1970s-1990s Rock N Roll” or “The Evolution of Jazz Music” instead. 

Naturally, colleges should offer classes that appeal to all of their students. So, some film classes should be offered too—but not your basic film major classes. No, no, we want class discussions on how the lighting in Pride and Prejudice (2005) symbolizes the love Mr. Darcy has for Elizabeth, and exams on the expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Speaking of courses on various kinds of media and types of characters, let’s get even more specific. We at The Lamron are looking for some electives on each of the factions from Divergent and each of the Myers-Briggs personality types. 

With all that (incredibly enjoyable) homework of reading (and re-reading) young adult novels, making new Spotify playlists, and staying up all night to watch entire cinematic universes, students should not forget about staying active. Perhaps a “Pickleball Strategy 105” would make a more enjoyable general education requirement than a writing course. 

Even still, with all these courses about specific, wonderful media, the possibilities do not end. Who would want to go from “Complex Characters in Action Movies” to “The Culture of Punk Music” to Physics II? Certainly not any one of us at The Lamron. More practical, hands-on courses could include “Ceramic Pottery 211” with a lab where students are graded on their ability to shape, paint, and fire ceramic masterpieces. We could learn in “Painting as a Medium 312,” where lectures include the history of various painters, and students get to hand in research projects on their all-time favorite painting—maybe even present research on specific paint mediums, such as the differences from oil pastels, to watercolors, to acrylics. We are not afraid to suggest some even more unique courses, like a class on animations, which could make a great elective for the Filmmaking Through History major we are proposing adding to the curriculum. 

While we’re on the topic of more serious courses (or, as serious as we would like to be), standard pre-law, political science classes can feel lackluster. How about a course in the strangest, most bizarre legal cases in history? That could be the pre-requisite for “Weird Laws 447” where students prepare research papers on why it is illegal to play dominos on Sunday in Alabama, or why Maryland can impose a fine of up to 500 dollars for pretending to be a fortune-teller, as referenced on The Law Dictionary website. 

Having said all of this, we are not trying to give the impression that we want to completely disregard more traditional subjects. A history class offering a deep dive into the French Revolution would be an incredibly worthy addition to the history major—because two required readings on this chaotic revolution just simply is not enough. 

Finally, some classes on the more “boring’’ parts of life should be required courses—because not every second of life can be as whimsical as a "Medieval Artists’ Drawings of Cats” course (seriously, look up medieval era cat paintings). A few general education electives could include “Doing Laundry 102,” “Simple Car Maintenance,” and “How to Cook More Than Ramen.” We all know someone who could benefit from classes like these. 

College will always be stressful. However, maybe if majors were more whimsical, and minors were more focused on that specific hyperfixation you went through a few years ago that kept you up reading Reddit until three in the morning, we’d all be a little less stressed, and a little more excited to go to class.