Spanish freshman Keegan Storrs wanted to make his first college schedule an interesting one.
Registering for fall classes, he saw a zombie apocalypse class in the online course listing.
"My first reaction was disbelief," he said.
With UF spring registration under way, students like Storrs are registering for some unusual classes outside of their majors.
Biology with Fireflies, Artificial Intelligence in Computer Games and a reading program called "To Hell and Back," based on Dante's "Inferno," are some out-of-the-ordinary courses being offered at UF in the spring.
Michael Gorham, associate professor of Russian studies, was the instructor for Russian Fairy Tales, a course offered in Fall 2011. Gorham said courses that seem unusual at first glance can become valuable learning experiences for students.
"Regardless of the title, the course has to deliver," he said.
Gorham said courses like Russian Fairy Tales are in demand because they appeal to a variety of students.
Storrs, 18, said he wanted to take Biology with Fireflies but couldn't because the class filled up before he could register.
"A lot of people really like these classes," he said. "You have to be quick if you want them."
Some of these courses are intended for specific majors such as computer science, said Douglas D. Dankel II, assistant professor in computer and information science and engineering. In Artificial Intelligence in Computer Games, students learn to present and design an idea for their own computer games.
"It broadens their general knowledge," he said. "They're also building some presentation skills at the same time," he said.
Storrs said classes that focus on a specific topic allow him to learn and apply new skills that he can remember for a longer period of time.
"You're having fun while you're learning," he said. "There's a lot more that gets stored for a longer period of time in your head."
Ultimately, students who take courses outside of their major are more attractive to employers, Gorham said.
"It makes you a more well-rounded person," he said.
Despite having a Spanish major, Storrs said he plans to take Biology with Fireflies within the next few years.
"It could be a fun conversation starter," he said.
