Jul 29, 2014 02:47 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Just like any other entity, colleges and universities often grab hold of raging pop culture trends and run with them.

According to USA Today, the latest example is an English course focusing on "Game of Thrones," both the book series and the TV show. Offered at the University of Virginia (UVA), ENSP 3599 will require its students to consider both the HBO TV show and George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" epic novel series.

Lisa Woolfork, the course's instructor, said the class read the series' first book in the first week and looked for themes such as racism and gender issues. She told USA Today many of Martin's themes are relevant today, as the author clearly drew from his own life and the world around him.

Here are five other colleges and universities that capitalized on pop culture trends to create a course after.

1. Science of Superheroes

School: University of California, Irvine

Department: Physics

In a nutshell: Are superheroes like Superman and Spiderman really feasible? Using modern science, students will consider what a "real" superhero would be able to do.

2. Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse

School: Michigan State University

Department: Social Work

In a nutshell: How humanity would respond to such a calamity, survive and ultimately start again.

3. Breaking Down "Breaking Bad"

School: University of Buffalo

Department: English

In a nutshell: Extensively examining one of television's most critically acclaimed shows in recent memory and its "60 hours of a single narrative arc."

4. Jay-Z and Kanye West

School: University of Missouri

Department: English

In a nutshell: How the two artists will impact the history of hip-hop and the perception of the "American Dream" as poets, businessmen and celebrities.

5. Politicizing Beyoncé

School: Rutgers University

Department: Women's and Gender Studies

In a nutshell: How music's most powerful female performer is shaping feminism in the 21st century in any way other than her political ties.

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