9 crazy classes you can take at Dayton colleges and universities

Arts & Entertainment
By Sarah Olsen
Aug 25, 2016
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And by "crazy," we mean really, really awesome.
We had fun researching the most unique courses offered to college students in the Dayton area. Below are our favorites. Are you registered for any of these classes?
Below is a list of unique courses that are not offered at many colleges. The majority of information is taken from their course descriptions under their school’s course catalog.

1.) Honors: Literature and Rock 'n' Roll
Fall 2016, Wright State University
Some college classes are dreadful, resulting in students drooling on their textbooks. But this course promises to teach literature history -- throug rock 'n' roll lyrics and interpretations. Studies will focus on songs that have been based off of novels, hip-hop lyrics and society and the relationship between literature and rock 'n' roll.

“This course will examine the literary influences in the lyrics of rock 'n' roll songs,” said professor Bobby Rubin, the Director of the English as a Second Language program at Wright State. Rubin is teaching the class. “Students will explore the literary influences of a variety of rock songs in class and will read excerpts.”


2.) Cryptanalysis
Fall 2016, Air Force Institute of Technology
Cryptanalysis is the art and science of breaking codes and ciphers, using techniques for defeating cryptosystems. In this class, students will learn theoretical and implementation-based attacks on classical and modern cryptographic systems, as well as how to attack stream and block ciphers, cryptographically strong hash functions and public key systems. Topics of study include attacks on randomness, time and memory tradeoffs, side-channel attacks and others.

A bit over our heads, maybe, but it sounds fascinating.


3.) Psychology and Christianity
Fall and Spring 2016, Cedarville University
Students will examine the historical and contemporary discussions of psychology and Christianity, and the similarities and differences between the two.

The course is “intended to explore … the relevance between psychology and the Bible,” said Luke Tse, the chair of the Department of Psychology. “Both psychology addresses how we are and how we should be, and the Bible addresses the same thing ...There [is] common ground between psychology and theology.”


4.) 3D Game Programming
Spring 2016, Edison State Community College
Got a great idea for a game? This class providing the training, experience and tools needed to turn full-featured computer game ideas into reality. Opportunities within the game industry, elements of a 3D game, programming concepts, modeling, textures and music will all be discussed.


5.) Appalachian Folkways (certificate)
Fall 2016, Sinclair Community College
As part of receiving this certification, students will study the fascinating Appalachian culture, including their type of homes, food, music, crafts, religion and language.

“It’s all the ways that the Appalachian folks lived,” said Kathy Hayes, who works with Adjuct Faculty in the Department of Humanities and teaches this course. “People worked hard but then they would play hard.”


6.) Business of Soccer
Fall 2016, University of Dayton
This course focuses on studying international sport management issues through the perspective of European soccer, with particular reference to professional soccer in England -- including the Premier League, Spain (La Liga), Italy (Serie A), Germany (Bundesliga), the UEFA Champions League, as well as major international governing bodies such as FIFA and UEFA.


7.) Introduction to Mariology (a graduate course and program)
Fall 2016, University of Dayton

Students will graduate with a deeper view on Mary, the mother of Jesus. The International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, which is affiliated with the Pontifical Theologial Faculty in Rome, Italy. According to their site, Dayton and Rome are the only two locations worldwide where students can earn the Licentiate of Sacred Theoloy and the Doctorate of Sacred Theology with the specialization in Marian studies.
The course investigates who Mary is in the Bible, and what her relationship with Jesus looks like. It also explores who Mary is in religious practices, and stories of apparitions of Mary from around the world. Students would study stories, history and apocryphal clips of documents.
 

8.) Biology on the Big Screen
Fall 2016, Wittenberg University
For the visual learners in Dayton, this course will address the accuracy of biology through movies, TV shows and how media outlets in general portray biological concepts that underlie contemporary issues.

Class discussions will be focused on emerging infectious diseases, global climate change, genetic modification and biodiversity. To make the class more interesting, movie viewings outside of class times will be required.

9.) Ohio History
Fall 2016, Urbana University 

Calling all Buckeye fans! From Ohio’s early Indian inhabitants to its present-day citizens, this class focuses on the geographical, social, cultural, political, constitutional, intellectual and economic development of Ohio. The class will look at cultural interactions, life in Ohio, statehood, and the Significance of Ohio in national military, political, economic, social and popular culture.
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About the Author

Sarah Olsen