As a kid, I didn’t read the "Harry Potter" series. I watched all the movies, but never got around to reading the books. So my boyfriend (who has already read them all) and I have decided to have “book club” and read them together. Deep into the first book, while accompanying Harry around to all of his first year classes, I became amused at the idea that these classes could double as college majors. So here’s a list I’ve compiled of Harry’s subjects that could be the equivalent of a college major:
Potions: Chemistry
This one is a no-brainer. Potions is a difficult class. It’s about mixing different substances, memorizing which ones are poisonous and which ones smell bad... Sometimes you use a cauldron, sometimes you use a hot plate. It all depends on what’s available. However, you can always count on the professor being dark and misunderstood until the seventh book.
Muggle Studies: Sociology
Muggle Studies is the study of the daily lives of Muggles/ordinary people and how they “cope” without magic. Sounds like sociology to me.
Herbology: Biology
This is also a no-brainer. Professor Sprout leads the study of plants and fungi. This is without a doubt biology.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Pre-Law
This one took some time to figure out, but hear me out. The title of the class has the word defense in it, and in a court of law there’s always a defense and a plaintiff. There are also two opposing sides: the defense is the good side and the plaintiff, or the dark arts, is the bad side.
Flying: Pre-Med
This first year class I was deemed pre-med because freshmen always come in as pre-med but after their first year (or maybe even after their first semester) the ones that don’t get through the classes — or don't make the Quidditch team — quickly switch majors.
Transfiguration: Engineering
While the magical world uses transfiguration to turn pigs into flamingoes, we use transfiguration in a more practical way. Engineers turn basic pieces of metal into airplanes, elevators, and cars. Plus you get to have badass Professor McGonagall as your professor.
Care of Magical Creatures: Pre-Vet
This third-year class is obviously pre-vet. It can’t possibly be anything else.
Divination: Journalism
It’s all a bunch of hearsay until there’s finally a breakthrough, i.e. one of Professor Trelawney’s prophecies.
