College courses aren’t all lectures and lab reports — especially in DFW. With the fall semester in full swing, we’ve rounded up classes that go beyond the basics and might make you want to dust off your backpack.

Brandman: Brand Integration and "Landman" (TCU) | Using hit show “Landman” as the primary case study, students examine the history of brand partnerships, evaluate what makes them successful, practice the basics of placement deals with movies and TV shows, and execute their own campaign.

Ranch Business Management (TCU) | Learn the ins and outs of ranch life and the law as applied to livestock production, estate planning, and labor relations.

Moot Court (TCU) | Students must be selected to join a team of students who argue a hypothetical set case before a mock appellate court. Examples of cases are taken from the current or recent dockets of the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as a designated case set by the American Collegiate Moot Court Association each May.

How to Build a Time Machine (SMU) | Rather than physics, this class is an anthropology course focused on using modern technology to reconstruct and map human history.

Sex, Drugs, and Rocks (SMU) | Explore how pottery has been used throughout history to celebrate — and sometimes depict — sex, drugs, bodily functions, and other powerful forces. Students will create their own pots inspired by these themes.

Fantastic Archaeology (SMU) | From ancient aliens and giant human beings to the mythical city of Atlantis, students investigate notable frauds, hoaxes, myths, and the use of archaeology to support national, religious, and ethnic ideologies — both true and false.

Science, Skepticism, and Weird Behavior (UNT) | Open your mind to the impossible. Use critical thinking to examine strange phenomena, including paranormal events, magic, superstition, bogus therapies + more.

The Study of Social Beverages (UNT) | Study the history, language, production + merchandising techniques for wine, beer, and distilled spirits.

Supernatural: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion (UNT) | Students will study religion's role (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam + more) in society as well as their myths, rituals, gurus, shamans, health, and globalization.

Know of another cool course? School us.