If the mere mention of the supernatural sends a shiver down your spine, if tales of the Devil’s mischief pique your interest, and if you’ve ever found yourself pondering the existence of otherworldly dimensions, then you’re in for an enchanting academic adventure. Different universities around the world offer courses which are crafted to tantalize your curiosity and challenge your perceptions.
Tailor-made for those adventurous spirits who love magical arts, the enigma of witchcraft, and the question of alternate realities, these courses invite you on an academic pursuit where theyyou’ll discover that magic isn’t just the stuff of folklore but a captivating subject that beckons the inquisitive mind.
Are you brave enough to traverse the shadowy corridors of knowledge and unravel the secrets of the mystical arts? The answers await those bold enough to enroll in these bewitching classes.
Parapsychology – University of Edinburgh:
Parapsychology is a good option for you if you want to study magic and the paranormal. The University of Edinburgh’s Koestler Parapsychology Unit does research on various aspects of parapsychology, such as the historical background, out-of-body experiences, haunted places, dreams, psychic abilities, and more. You can also take courses on these subjects at different levels of study. The University of Edinburgh has been offering this course for 50 years.
Magic and occult science – University of Exeter:
This MA course by the University of Exeter will teach you about the rich history of esotericism, witchcraft, ritual magic, occult science, and other related topics. Professors from different fields, such as history, literature, philosophy, and sociology, will lead classes on how magic influenced history in the East and the West. You can choose your own modules based on your interests, from the Western Dragon in Lore, Literature and Art, to magic in literature and folklore, to the history of science and medicine. You will also do your own research projects and join monthly meetings and field trips as part of the course.
Witchcraft and magic – University of Oslo:
This course at the University of Oslo examines the cultural history of magic and witchcraft, especially the early modern witch-hunts in Europe. You can take the course online or in person. It explores how the ideas and practices of magic and witchcraft changed over time and how they were reflected in demonological manuals, literature, and legal texts. You can also specialize in occultism and neopaganism as the course progresses. This is a great course for students who are fascinated by witches.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet: the ghost – Harvard University:
This module is part of the broader humanities course at Harvard University and focuses on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the ghost of his dead father who appears to him. This sets off a series of events that lead to the tragic end of the play. As you study the ghost in Hamlet, you will learn about the historical context that shaped the story. You will also think about how religion and the afterlife were perceived in Shakespeare’s time and how the play was performed in the Globe to create a powerful effect.
Pain and torture through history – Tulane University:
Tulane University’s history department offers a seminar for first-year students to learn about pain and torture throughout history. Students will investigate what torture means and whether it can ever be acceptable. Students will also examine different ways of torture through history, think about whether pain is a thing and look at the people who tortured others and how they changed over time.
The undead south: horror and haunting in US southern literature – Dartmouth College:
Dartmouth College’s English department offers a course that looks at how race, culture, history, economics and politics created horror and haunting in the southern states of America. Exploring the idea of the “undead”, students will study horrors that happen after death, such as coming back from the grave, funeral customs, lost causes vs heroes and hidden crimes. Students will also be able to compare traditional gothic horror with the modern representation in literature, TV, film and media.
American apocalypse: disaster and dystopia in Hollywood film – Utah State University :
This module, which can be part of the film studies degree, analyzes how Hollywood movies show the idea of an apocalypse through different situations. These include war, hunger and alien invasion.
Monsters – University of Toronto :
This course questions the idea of a “monster” and how monsters have been shown in film and literature over the years. Classes compare ancient and mythical monsters with what is seen as monstrous in the modern world.