Teaching Jay-Z at Georgetown

Courses like this may be part of the reason why some college students are having a hard time finding a job these days.

Something of a rock star in his own right, Professor Dyson received the blessing of Georgetown’s sociology department to teach the course earlier this year. It would be a vast understatement to say that “Sociology of Hip-Hop: Jay-Z” is a popular class. Dyson says that 20-30 students typically try to sign up for each of his courses; his latest offering drew five to seven times that sum.

In full disclosure, I went to what can be described as almost a pure "liberal arts" college. I double majored in economics and philosophy, so I know all about the benefits of a liberal arts education. The idea is that you learn to think critically.

But seriously, Georgetown? Having a sociology class on Jay-Z? First of all, I'm not even sure what career path sociology sets you up for, but I can't really see any interviewer being impressed with you "A" in Jay-Z. "Oh, I see you're a Jay-Z, scholar, let's set you up in the corner office".

The professor of this class compares Jay-Z to Shakespeare and Homer, but as a "modern" artist of the times. Ummmm, no. There's a difference between studying the classics - which are by definition...old, having stood the test of time, and studying Jay-Z.

You paying $59,116 PER YEAR for the privilege of attending Georgetown University. When you graduate, you're going to want a job, and the last time I checked, there aren't too many openings. Maybe these kids should spend their time learning something useful. Everyone always sees college as an "investment in your future" but if you waste it on stupid classes, it's about as useful as a crocheted condom. Then again, maybe it explains this.