Have you ever heard about a wacky college class and wondered, “You can actually get credit for that?” So have we. Thanks to funky pop culture and the rabid fans that go along with it, colleges are getting pretty creative with their curriculum. Rest assured, these classes are far more than just fluff—but still, we wish these were around when we were undergrads.

South Park & Contemporary Social Issues

Discussion could never be dull in the “South Park & Contemporary Social Issues” class at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, since it is the very agenda of “South Park” to insult everyone and everything in society. That might soon change, however, given that a radical Muslim group has recently sent death threats to creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone over their depiction of the prophet Mohammad.

Television Culture and Cult TV: Critical Approaches to Fandom

At Washington University in St. Louis, students enrolled in “Television Culture and Cult TV: Critical Approaches to Fandom” now have a legitimate excuse for watching TV for hours each week. The course explores the themes of current and past television shows and why some seem to resonate with audiences more than others. Past research papers include topics like “Lost” and “Gilmore Girls.” We have a feeling one could write an entire book about Simon Cowell on “American Idol.”

Department of Popular Culture

How about a whole program in pop culture? They’ve got one over at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The idea of studying popular trends and their effect on our culture will always fascinate us, though we see limited job prospects for grads of this program: pop culture professor/author/expert is the obvious way to go, but we envision a lot of permanent fixtures at office water coolers, too.

The Power of Comics

“The Power of Comics” at Wittenberg University focuses on the phenomenon of superheroes that rule the comic book universe. Wonder if this class could answer that one burning question: Why is it that smart and sassy Lois Lane could never recognize Clark Kent as Superman?

Computer and Network Security

Students are getting their phreak on at Merrimack College in North Andover,  Massachusetts. The Computer and Network Security class teaches students the basics of hacking and phreaking computer networks so as to better protect their own systems later when they own their own business ventures. Sounds awesome in theory, but if our computers get hacked any time soon, we’re pointing the finger at Merrimack.

Understanding Video Games

Video game mavens rejoice at Lasell College in Newton, MA, where an “Understanding Video Games” class is offered. Put down the controller, though—this class is an academic one that focuses on the marketing and cultural phenomenon beyond the sex and violence portrayed in games like “Grand Theft Auto,” not on perfecting your Wii technique.

Disneyfication of American Culture

Students are required to take writing-intensive classes as part of the curriculum at University of Texas at Austin, one of which is called “Disneyfication of American Culture.” Perhaps in addition to reading and writing about our country’s obvious obsession with pretty princesses and the Mouse himself, students in this class might shed some light on why the main character’s mother is always killed off in the first 15 minutes of Disney movies.

The Science of Harry Potter

Readers who were youngsters when the Harry Potter series debuted have now come of age and are heading off to college. So it makes sense that at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD, one can enroll in “The Science of Harry Potter,” a physics-focused look at the magic that takes place at Hogwarts. Wicked.

Twilight—The Texts and the Fandom

Love it or hate it, the Twilight series is imbedded in our pop culture. Starting this fall at Cal State San Marcos, students can take “Twilight—The Texts and the Fandom,” but don’t expect any heated Team Edward-vs. Team Jacob debates in this classroom. We spoke with the creator of the class, Dr. Natalie Wilson, who is a professor in the Women’s Studies program that is offering this class, and she tells us that this is an academic-centric class in which students will discuss the characters, setting, and themes in a feminist/sociological way.

~Barbara Bellesi

Just try to watch the following video and not smile… I dare you! When you’re done, keep reading to meet Bob Holt and Mike Adair, the voices and creators of the beloved Hallmark characters, hoops&yoyo, and see what they have to say to aspiring animation students.

CS: How did hoops&yoyo come to be?
Bob: I had this assignment to create a 4th of July e-card using only a firecracker. The due date (and the bosses) were breathing down my neck, so I took this little green bunny I had created at home and transformed him into hoops, a pink kitty. I realized later that hoops needed a pal, and that’s when I brought back the original green bunny, and he became yoyo.

Mike: When Bob decided that hoops&yoyo needed voices, we teamed up to give the little guys some personality. They’re really all about being best pals having fun – and bringing that fun to all their friends. The world needs to laugh! We’re here for you, world.

CS: Do the characters/voices reflect your personalities in some way?
Bob: You really can’t help but put some of yourself into it. We get so much inspiration from our experiences with our kids and at the office and just about any everyday situation, and we bring our own perspectives to that. And I can tell you that Mike is hilariously funny in real life – he brings that to hoops in a big way!

Mike: Well, we’re both just trying to have a good time cracking each other up. We figure if we’re doing that, we might make a few other people laugh, too. I suppose you could say that hoops&yoyo are tiny alter egos that can get away with saying everything we might want to say but could never get away with. So… the answer is yes.

From left to right: Bob, Mike, hoops&yoyo

CS: What do you do on a typical work day? Is it all about planning new animations ?
Bob: Uh, planning?  That’s a good one. Only one thing is certain on any given workday — we start with coffee! Always. No exceptions. Only then can we think about what the rest of the day might hold. We do have a standing date one morning a week to do our recording.  A lot of times that stretches into two mornings a week, it just depends on our workload. We have someone who tells us what greeting cards or gifts we need to do audio for. We go into our little black box and do all the audio. Then it gets edited (gotta take out the stuff about our bosses). And then we work with designers and animators to get it all done.

Mike: Yeah, we probably don’t have what most people would call a “typical” workday. We’re lucky like that. And yes, coffee is mandatory. It’s fuel for gettin’ down to business. One thing we know about these characters is that it’s the audio that drives them. So when we step in to that magical black box, we will keep going on something until we have something we really like. And the cardinal rule is that we never use a script. We like to stay true to the spontaneity of the characters. Scripts are a no-no. We go in to our sessions armed only with coffee, donuts, and an occasional diet soda. Oh, and my typical workday also includes creating Keepsake Ornaments right now.

CS: How long does it take to create a hoops&yoyo piece, and what are the typical steps in the creative process?
Bob: Here’s the answer everyone loves…

Mike: It depends.

Bob: It does! We might be working on a paper greeting card, an e-card animation, or a gift product. They all vary in length and complexity.

Mike: But they all have one thing in common. It all begins with the audio. Once we’re happy with our concept and the audio we’ve recorded, that drives the bus.

Bob: True story.  When the audio is done, then copy can be written if we need it. And then we have to get it all approved by the higher-ups. If they like it…

Mike: And why wouldn’t they?

Bob: Exactly. When they say they like it, we work with our designers to get the greeting cards done, our animators to get e-cards done, and our product designers on gifts. And we get to tweak it all until it’s just right.

Mike: So yeah… it depends.

CS: So how did you end up at this point in your career path?
Bob: I always studied art. Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be an artist (and play baseball). I never did that well in school except for my art classes. That was my only chance. My first job was to make T-shirt iron-ons in Mason City, Iowa. Most of the designs I couldn’t show to my parents or use in a portfolio.

Mike: I have a BFA in Graphic Design from CSUF (California State University at Fullerton).  My first job in art was as an intern/slave/flunky for an ad agency in Southern California. I really always liked drawing characters and making up stuff for them to do. When I realized there were such things as professional artists, I never wanted to do anything else. My parents were always very supportive and there was just never a question in my mind.

CS: Describe a bit of your career background and how you ended up at Hallmark?
Bob: I’ve been at Hallmark a long time, so most of my career has been spent right here. I’ve had a variety of different jobs here, including working as a Shoebox artist, as well as designing cards for the Ambassador line and for licensed properties. I also have other e-cards out there from when I worked in the Hallmark.com group.

Mike: I was also just a youngster when I started at Hallmark. I’ve worked as an illustrator for cards, as well as animating e-cards for Hallmark.com. And I’ve also designed format-driven cards, which are “pop-folds” or paper mechanics.

CS: What would you tell students interested in animation?
Bob: There are lots of animation programs available now that weren’t there when I was in school. Find yourself a good one! You can learn a lot on the job, too. Anywhere you work is going to want you to learn their style, so always be open to learning new ways of doing things. As for other skills, here are my top three.

• First, know your geography, so you’ll be able to find the closest coffee shop.
• Second, try not to talk too much in meetings (it can get you into trouble).
• And finally, always wash your hands after using the bathroom.

Hey, it’s worked for me!

Mike: Stay in school as long as you can, kids! There are things called bills out here in the real world! I agree with Bob – get yourself into a good animation program. Do your research to see which one is your best fit. And in any career, expect change. Don’t get too attached to what you’re doing today, because it could change tomorrow. That’s what we like to call flexibility. And, the most important tool in your box should be a sense of humor. Just trust me on this one, you’re gonna need it.

-Dawn Papandrea

The 4.2 million administrative assistants and secretaries working in the U.S. and 8.9 million in administrative support roles (according to the U.S. Department of Labor) are getting well-deserved attention in the form of lunches, flowers, and gifts from bosses and colleagues this week.

The career choice has grown in duties and demand for workers (362,000 jobs are expected to be added by 2016, a 8.5 percent increase over a decade).

Administrative professionals are being asked to handle more higher-level projects and responsibilities typically done by mid-level managers who have been downsized during the recession, according to the International Association of Administrative Professionals. If you’re interested in this career field, you may be asked to do budget analysis, project management, internal communications, and buy software and train the management on the programs.

Here are some things the IAAP suggests you consider if you desire to go back to school to pursue that could be valuable to you as an administrative professional:

1. If employed in an office, ask an executive what degree they might recommend. The IAAP says they may be aware of projects or more restructuring where a particular degree and set of skills could be a benefit.

2. Four-year secretarial degrees aren’t as common these days, so you may want to focus your final two years on a business degree.

3. With managerial skills in demand among administrative support staff, consider business-focused programs and courses that focus on topics such as budgeting, negotiation, delegation, and project management.

4. Technology can get you in the door, so if you’re entering into the field make sure the program you’re choosing places an emphasis on technology skills.

5. A liberal arts degree also can be a good route because you will appear to be well-rounded to a potential employer.

If you know someone who works as an administrative professional, tell them thanks this week, and maybe you’ll get some of the attention next year.

-Lori Johnston

When it comes to your career, it’s easy to get stuck in the rut of heading to the office to do your job day after day, year after year. Sometimes it takes work to get excited about work all over again, like you were when you were first hired. It’s sort of like marriage versus going on a first date. While you love your spouse more than anything, it’s not uncommon to miss the excitement you had for him or her when you were just getting to know each other. So every once in a while, it’s good to revisit those days and go on a date that involves more than just catching up with the DVR.

That’s sort of the same idea behind going to professional conferences. They’re sort of like speed dating your profession. You get to hear new ideas, and meet tons of new people. Sure, you have to wear a goofy name tag and feel slightly awkward when approaching others and making your “elevator pitch,” but opportunities abound. You might meet a new business partner or client, or make a lifelong friend. At the very least, you get to escape from your cubicle, and see what else is going on in your industry.

I’ll be doing just that this week, starting with today’s 140 Character Conference (follow my tweets about it here!). Later in the week, I’m hitting the American Society of Journalists and Authors conference. In anticipation for both, I made sure I had a bunch of business cards, and I did my research to find out who’d be there so I could read up on what they are currently working on.

Today, I’m looking forward to meeting some Twitter friends and making new ones, and on Friday, I hope to learn some new things about the world of journalism via the workshops I’ll be attending.

Wish me luck! And if you happen to be attending and see me fidgeting with my nametag, please do come over and say hi. I’d love to meet you!

Have you attending any professional conferences lately? Share your experiences.

-Dawn Papandrea

If you can’t wait to get your hands on an iPad, have you thought about working in the tech world?

Maybe your goal  to work for Apple or get a job with a tech company in your town. Or maybe you desire to be promoted into a more exciting position with your current employer and help create an innovation that pushes the boundaries of everything we know about computers, cell phones, and technology.

Here are two Apple executives who are doing just that:

Jonathan Ive: Time magazine calls him the “style guru.” Ive, a London-born designer, leads Apple’s design team, so he’s part of the reason why the Apple products look so sleek and cool. His education was overseas, with a bachelor of arts and an honorary doctorate from Newcastle Polytechnic, an art school in Northeast England.

Phil Schiller: Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing helps generate the buzz for the iPad, iPad, iPhone, MacBook and other Apple products. So where did he go to school? Schiller graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Boston College, in 1982.

Apple and other technology companies also employ engineers, information technology professionals, software engineers, Web designers, project managers, graphic designers, attorneys and paralegals, human resources managers, database management professionals, and more.

If you desire to be part of the latest technological innovations, businesses of all sizes have their hands in the future of technology. And pursuing a degree from a technology school or one of these other fields could be just the start for you.

-Lori Johnston

The good news: Community college students have admirable academic goals. The bad news: They haven’t cultivated the habits needed to achieve those goals.

The new Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE), administered by the Center for Community College Student Engagement, reveals a huge gap between students’ perception and reality. Students feel they are motivated and academically prepared for college, yet they admit to turning assignments in late (or not at all) and skipping class – all within the first three weeks of class.

According to Angela Oriano-Darnall, assistant director of the national survey, the first few weeks of class are the time when academic habits are formed.  And while 79 percent of entering students state that their goal is to earn an associate degree, fewer than half do so, according to the National Center for Education Statistics’ most recent IPEDS Annual Enrollment Survey. “Students don’t succeed if they don’t come back,” says Oriano-Darnall.

Benchmarks for Success
The survey report, “Benchmarking & Benchmarks: Effective Practice with Entering Students,” offers six strategies for colleges trying to improve students’ habits during the first three weeks of class. The benchmarks are early connections, high expectations and aspirations, clear academic plan and pathway, effective track to college readiness, engaged learning, and academic and social support network.

Community colleges are seeing positive results in student retention and attrition when they apply these practices. An example of connecting early with students is college employees committing to calling entering students the week before classes begin. One college conveys high expectations by reporting an attendance percentage and a job-readiness work ethic score next to students’ grades for each class.

To provide a clear academic path, some community colleges require incoming students to enroll in a first-year experience course.

Sometimes, community colleges might offer summer bridge programs that include remedial courses in writing and math. Community colleges are also bringing students up to speed by requiring them to meet with faculty and staff coaches at least once a week to address academic and social needs. One college has helped students maintain a support network through a lunch workshop series that enables them to connect with staff members and peers and addresses such topics as financial aid, student resources, and final exam preparation.

The Root of the Problem
To me, these findings point to the undeniable truth that the presence of advisers and mentors increases the likelihood that students will have a clear vision for success and the practical tools to make it happen. I just wish students would have the benefit of these kinds of role models earlier in life.

While it has become necessary to provide remediation at the college level, the remediation might not be necessary if students were provided with adequate resources for success as children. Many primary and secondary schools push kids through the system, sending the message that students don’t need to earn their promotion to the next grade. In turn, students develop poor work habits and become conditioned to make excuses for failing to complete assignments.

Of course, we can’t place full blame on the education system for the mess. Some of it is a lack of parenting, too. The fact is kids fall through the cracks of an education system that was never meant to provide all the nurturing kids need for life.

Possible ways to deal with these core issues could be to provide instruction in high schools about choosing a good mate and cultivating a healthy marriage, as these skills may not have been modeled at home. Adult education centers can offer free parenting classes, courses on dealing with disease and addiction, and more opportunities for career training. In my opinion, this is where the remediation should start so that students will know what it takes to succeed before they even get to college.

I applaud community colleges for taking such critical steps to promote student success. But is it just wishful thinking that if circumstances were different, they wouldn’t have to?

What do you think?

-Robyn Tellefsen

If the Mayans had it right, we’ll all be dead very, very soon. The year 2012, according to John Cusack and a bunch of meteorites, will bring about the fall of all we hold dear. Life as we know it will cease and we’ll be left with nothing but gas masks and comically worn clothes. A chosen few will survive – those whose pre-apocalyptic “clothes” are comically ragged to begin with… those oh-so-snarky and ironic college students modern science has labeled “hipsters.” Here, specifically formulated for the “self-aware” crowd, are some tips to survive a post-Facebook (and post-safety) world.

photo via http://www.latfh.com

1. Wear less flannel, more body armor.

If you can’t get body armor (I mean, this is post-apocalypse), maybe wear, like, 10 flannel shirts at once. When life gives you lemons, dress up like fat Kurt Cobain and hope for the best.

= 

2. Cut vinyl albums into throwing stars.

I know it’s the rarest of the rare – a test pressing from Indie & The Indies, say – but survival comes first. Vinyl is actually pretty pliable, so (and this is just a guess) you can probably melt records down into little musket-balls a la Mel Gibson in “The Patriot.” This tip also requires a musket, apparently. Good luck with that.

3. Store food in your hair (or beard).

Starving animals and radioactive super-people will be able to smell food from a mile away. Greasy hipster hair is one of the more odiferous substances in the universe, and usually comes with a good deal of volume (and bounce!). Animal crackers fit perfectly under a wave of unkempt nonsense.

4. Trade your knowledge for skills.

Farmers, scientists, and doctors love to learn about Polaroid photography and poker playing. They just do. Bring back the barter system and give it a go.

5. Vespas get good mileage, but also burn real nice.

Expect the nuclear fallout to keep most of the sun’s rays at bay. Your scooter is cute and all, and the color really works with your outfit, I know… but fire is fire and Vespas are mostly oil and plastic.

6. Quit smoking, undead dogs are fast

By my calculations, a certain percentage of college students smoke. Stop it. You need those lungs to outrun the zombie Cujo that’s anxiously awaiting an eyeball feast. Chances of survival remain slim even if you roll your own cigarettes – it’s tough to impress zombies with your “street smarts.”

7. Leave the sarcasm at (the smoldering remains of) home.

When accosted by a gang of ruffians wearing gas -masks and overalls, be polite. “Wow, how original!” is not the appropriate way to respond to their dress or overtures. Neither is yelling “whatevs” when being dragged back to their truck so they can “Search ya for eaties!”

8. “Green” means nothing when the sun is dying.

If your college or university really pushed the “go green” thing, you’ll need a change of habit. Composting should be at the back end of your list of priorities. Don’t even worry about recycling – there’s no world to save, for one, and you just know it all goes to the same place anyway. Oh, wait, the glass-sorting factory is now where the local warlords meet. Never mind.

9. Don’t pay back college loans.

Seriously? You’re still sending checks to the people who financed your most expensive achievement to date? Stop it! Save your money on the off chance civilization survives and college debt is miraculously forgiven due to extenuating (alien invasion, etc.) circumstances.

10. Trust the math majors.

They were useless before all the calculators were broken. Now they are gods. Treat them as such, or ration your remaining food like the English/history/sociology/philosophy/theater/music/general studies major you were.

11. Cheap beer = Foot soak

First, a note: Do not drink the beer. I know you want to, but don’t, especially if you are under 21. (Even cannibals don’t drink and drive!) In case you stocked up on PBR rather than batteries and water purification tablets, know that a good “Beer Soak” is said to combat foot fungus. Thirty minutes, twice a day.

12. Do not drink what is left from #11.

Seriously. Beer’s nutritional value is scant at best, and foot water is generally not a good thing to imbibe, even in the future.

13. Facebook is now unarguably a waste of time.

If it still works, Facebook will initially seem like a great way to get in touch with old friends, play games, and create groups with titles like “I bet I can find a million people who hated it when there [sic] parents got eaten!!?!!!” In light of recent (future) events, maybe you should rethink the time you spend tagging pictures and walking around in Farmville.

14. Posses are like electropop/dance-rock/synthpop bands – a dime a dozen.

Don’t just switch gangs all the time. Nobody really trusts the “new guy.” One thing’s for sure… you’ll never climb the hierarchy if your blood-thirsty colleagues think you’re nothing but an opportunist. Staying in the same group from the beginning (of the end) of things can make you seem “totally legit.”

15. Be careful where you sleep.

In other words, do not follow your old habit of sleeping wherever you happen to be at three in the morning. In a post-apocalyptic world, friends can become enemies and enemies can become super time-traveling enemies with a taste for flesh. Find some cover from the elements and other people, be it an underpass or pile of refuse.

Now, brave adventurer, set forth. Just be cool about it!

-Max Barth

If you’re a fan of Mad Men or know someone in your family who can’t miss an episode of the popular AMC show, maybe it’s made you think about what it would be like to work in advertising.

Sure, the show is set in the 1960s, but those who work in the advertising field say that some of the storylines and characters accurately reflect what it’s like to work in the profession today. If you haven’t watched the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning show before (or discovered the fabulous Jon Hamm), Season 4 will start up this summer, and Season 3 is now out on DVD.

Here’s the connection they make – and it’s good to know if you’re considering pursuing the advertising field.

1. You can’t escape the field, even when the official workday is done. Students need to be prepared to be consumed by advertising, which is such a part of our culture and such a part of the lives of characters like Don Draper. “You think advertising; you breathe it,” says Deborah Chamberlain with Wauwatosa, Wisc.-based Donaldson Media.

2. Mad Men teaches us to see beyond what’s in front of us – to see the magic in the mundane. Creative teams infuse passion and emotion into everyday products that we can take for granted, says Amy Pedersen, an author and advertising and marketing profession who is a consultant for The Coca-Cola Co.

3. The cast of Mad Men shows that advertising attracts some of the most creative, irreverent, quick-witted and smart people who are in tune with the current culture, Chamberlain says. You may not like some of the characters because of those qualities, but if you watch the show long enough, you’ll be drawn to the type of advertising executive you will want to be.

Now’s the time to learn more about advertising schools and how they can prepare you for this type of career field.

-Lori Johnston