# If you could study at Hogwarts . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177 "2004-11-11T08:40:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/1 "2004-11-11T08:40:14Z")
What subjects would you take? Here are your choices: Ancient runes Arithmancy Astronomy Care of Magical Creatures Charms Defense against the dark arts Divination Herbology History of magic Muggle studies Potions Tranfiguration [Hijack] The only thing that disturbs me about Hogwarts is that the school does not offer writing, literature, art or music classes. The cirriculum seems to be short changed when it comes to the liberal arts. Has Rowling indicated there is a Hogwarts version of college? [Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/2 "2004-11-11T15:18:20Z")
Ancient runes Arithmancy, if I knew what the heck that was. ^^; Care of Magical Creatures Defense Against the Dark Arts (or, DADA, as I like to call it šŸ™‚ ) History of Magic Potions It does seem like Hogwarts is more like a technical school offering specialized classes than a college/university. But the ā€œmundaneā€ studies donā€™t make for as interesting storywriting, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/3 "2004-11-11T15:34:34Z")
How many class periods are there at Hogwarts? Also, I think some of these are required classes, at least for the first five yearsā€¦ I think Iā€™d need a time-turner - I want: Ancient Runes Astronomy Charms DADA Herbology History of Magic Transfiguration and Potionsā€¦if Alan Rickman is teaching it. ::Opens book to page 394:: Yowza. and Care of Magical Creatures, if I could fit it in. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/4 "2004-11-11T15:38:38Z")
Maybe there are lit classes. The problem is that we only see Hogwarts and the wizard world through Harryā€™s eyes. Perhaps Harry and those around him just havenā€™t taken those classes? If there are classes like that, itā€™s sad that they havenā€™t been required (yet). Although Iā€™m sure that if they were offered, Hermione would have taken a writing or literature class by now. As for myself, I would take Herbology and Muggle Studies (I agree with Hermione in that it would be interesting to see how the wizards approach the Muggle world in their studies). Also: Defense Against the Dark Arts, and maybe Potions (I would not be happy with Snape as a teacher). ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/5 "2004-11-11T16:04:23Z")
I think Charms would be the most fun, especially with good olā€™ Flitwick instructing. Transfiguration would also be nifty. Iā€™ve wondered about the lack of ā€œnormalā€ classes as well. It seems like Harry and his peers would be awfully dumb in areas like literature and (regular) history, especially since Muggle Studies isnā€™t required. And remember, they began this cirriculum when they were only eleven, so itā€™s not like theyā€™ve even had much of a background in these normal subjects. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/6 "2004-11-11T16:24:40Z")
Arithmancy. Iā€™ve always wondered what it really was though. It sounds like a math class or something. Charms Defense against the dark arts Herbology Tranfiguration. This one was really hard. I would be like Hermionie in Hogwarts, and I would totally need a time turner. I would love to take Potions and Muggle Studies. I think that they donā€™t have much literature and musical classes because you donā€™t exactly need that in the magic world. You donā€™t exactly need to know your countryā€™s history if your an Auror or something. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/7 "2004-11-11T16:51:20Z")
Arithmancy is the same thing as numerology. In the real world, itā€™s a steaming load of bullshit, but at Hogwarts, thereā€™s probably something to it. Iā€™d definitely go for that one and Muggle studies. Beyond that, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/8 "2004-11-11T18:13:14Z")
Regarding Hogwarts version of college, I believe there is at least one and presumably many. My reading comprehension is a little sketchy when it comes to exact names and things (pretty good with the overall plot though). When Ron stays at hogwarts for christmas it mentions how his family is visiting Ronā€™s older brother in Egypt (I think) where he is studying dragons or something along that lines. I took that to mean he is in college. Regarding the specialization and not studying anything normalā€¦Iā€™m a little sketchy on this but they not go to a normal school before they are old enough to go to hogwarts? Theyā€™d get a decent base there. As for what Iā€™d studyā€¦ Ancient Runes Care of magical creatures Charms Defense against the dark arts Potions Transfiguration and if I had the time, History of Magic ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/9 "2004-11-11T18:21:51Z")
Right at the top would be Defense Against the Dark Arts. After that Potions, in spite of Snape. Then Herbology, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, andCharms. Transfiguration would be cool, but between the other classes it seems to me that most of what it could do would be taken care of in other ways. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/10 "2004-11-11T18:36:32Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Regarding the specialization and not studying anything normalā€¦Iā€™m a little sketchy on this but they not go to a normal school before they are old enough to go to hogwarts? Theyā€™d get a decent base there. I canā€™t imagine they do. I mean, youā€™d think Ron would have learned about telephones and such if he went to a regular school. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/11 "2004-11-11T18:36:34Z")
Transfiguration, Potions, and an extra-curriculum course in Necromancy. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/12 "2004-11-11T19:11:15Z")
Nobodyā€™s said they would take Astronomy, so Iā€™ll be the first. I would also take Divination, and might take Arithmancy. There are no math classes at Hogwarts, either (unless you count Arithmancy), or science classes other than Astronomy. Youā€™d think foreign languages might be handy in a wizarding career, too. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/13 "2004-11-11T19:45:40Z")
I _think_ Charms, DADA, Potions, Herbology, and Transfiguration are required, at least through O.W.L. level. Iā€™m pretty sure History of Magic is, too, or most of the students would have dropped it long ago. As for electives, Iā€™d go for Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and (since Iā€™m the language-geeky type) Ancient Runes. However, Muggle Studies does sound like it would be a hoot, given the general level of Muggle-literacy among wizards. (ā€œKids, this is a _car_. Thatā€™s short for ā€˜Muggle Flying Carpet,ā€™ only most of the Muggles donā€™t know it can fly because they mistake the wings for doors. It drinks a potion known as ā€˜petrolā€™ and wears rubber shoesā€¦ā€) ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/14 "2004-11-11T19:53:02Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Nobodyā€™s said they would take Astronomy, so Iā€™ll be the first. Check post #3. I donā€™t know what youā€™re talking about, Iā€™ve been here the whole time! (tucks hourglass on a thin gold chain back inside robes.) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/15 "2004-11-11T20:03:00Z")
_takes deep breath_ Astronomy, well, obviously! šŸ˜‰ Ancient runes, cause well, thatā€™d be cool, and I like learning languages, so ancient runes sounds fascinating. Arithmancy - just because. Defense against the dark arts - well, quite frankly, itā€™d be damned useful. Potions - just to annoy Snape. History of Magic - well, if its anything like my History of Science course I did, itā€™ll be choc-a-block full of interesting stuff. Transfiguration - well, who wouldnā€™t like to be able to change stuff into other stuff, and Iā€™d want to be an animagus as well. I wonder what my animalā€™d be? Wolf? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/16 "2004-11-11T20:34:01Z")
> [@Jenny Haniver](#): > > Check post #3. I donā€™t know what youā€™re talking about, Iā€™ve been here the whole time! > > (tucks hourglass on a thin gold chain back inside robes.) No fair! You went back in time and put it in there just to make me look silly! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/17 "2004-11-11T20:44:08Z")
Arithmancy Astronomy Care of Magical Creatures Defense against the dark arts Muggle studies Tranfiguration I want to know how wizards study Muggles. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/18 "2004-11-11T21:03:35Z")
Maybe they keep them in a room, and poke them with a sharp stick to see how they react? Some sort of magical CCTV? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/19 "2004-11-11T21:51:52Z")
I would definitely, absolutely take Arithmancy. It would be interesting to see what happens when one applies traditional Muggle mathematical techniques to the wizarding subject, and vice-versa. Astronomy Iā€™d also take, though Iā€™m not sure how much the wizarding approach would differ from the Muggle, in that case (aside from astrology, which is covered in a different class). After that, I would want to take Potions, but I would prefer another teacher over Snape. And Charms and, to a lesser extent, Transfigurations, seem to get to the heart of a lot of the fundamentals of magic, so I would probably want those as well. Herbology has its points, but mostly Iā€™d be interested in plants as reagents, which would be more in line with Potions. Likewise, Defense against the Dark Arts seems to be special cases of Charms, Magical Creatures, and other subjects, as they apply to dark-fighting . But Iā€™m a scholar, not a warrior, so I wouldnā€™t be particularly interested in those special cases. Iā€™d love to know ancient runes, but Iā€™d hate to actually learn them, so count that out. And as fond as I am of Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures doesnā€™t particularly appeal to me. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177/20 "2004-11-11T22:00:07Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Regarding Hogwarts version of college, I believe there is at least one and presumably many. My reading comprehension is a little sketchy when it comes to exact names and things (pretty good with the overall plot though). When Ron stays at hogwarts for christmas it mentions how his family is visiting Ronā€™s older brother in Egypt (I think) where he is studying dragons or something along that lines. I took that to mean he is in college. Not quite. Egypt is where Bill was working for a living (curse-breaker for Gringotts). Charlie was studying dragons in Romania. This does seem to imply some form of academia iin the wizarding world, but it doesnā€™t lock it in. Researchers can be employed in the private sector in the Muggle world (I believe pharmaceutical companies use them, for instance), and the same could be true of the magical community. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-study-at-hogwarts/274177.md?page=2)