Even though they’ve been apart for over 40 years, The Beatles continue to break new ground. This time, it’s in the world of academia.

Last week, Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy overcame her addiction to hyphens to become the first person in the world to earn a master’s degree in Beatles studies. The two-year program, offered at Liverpool Hope University, was, according to the new graduate, “challenging, enjoyable and it provided a great insight into the impact the Beatles had and still have to this day across all aspects of life.”

If any band deserves its own degree, it’s The Beatles. After all, they left an indelible impact on the world by giving Paul McCartney the confidence to form Wings, the greatest band of all time.

But could this be the start of a new academic trend? Could even more musician-specific master’s programs be on the way?

Probably not. But they SHOULD be! Outlined below are a few of my proposals for catchy courses of study that revolve around the radio idols of our time.

Boy Band Studies: This program focuses on the mysterious Boy Band, a peculiar specimen that ruled the ‘90s and early ‘00s but has since gone extinct. Students will explore the impact bands such as N*SYNC, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees had on the impressionable teenage girls of the day and give Freudian readings on their lyrics and choreography. Classes include Fake Chemistry, Bad Boys 101 and Hair Gel Physics.

Ke$hanomics: An offshoot (or, more accurately, a pale imitation) of Lady Gagagology, this program examines Ke$ha’s unique position as a singer so irrelevant that she somehow becomes super-relevant. Students investigate her artificial provocateurism in the context of an increasingly trashy American society. Classes include Alcohol & Oral Hygiene, Alternative $pelling and Amorous Pharmacology.

Kanye Western Philosophy: Students in this field will delve into the tangled and ever-growing mythology of the iconoclast that is Kanye West, focusing in particular on the dichotomy between his musical genius and personal douchehood. In-depth lyrical analysis is complemented by psychological readings of his bizarre public behavior. Classes include Advanced Egotism, Advanced Narcissism and Dope Beats.

Coldplayography: In this course, students will discover how Coldplay exploited America’s love of all things safe and boring for their own monetary gain. The band is viewed as a paragon of both conservation and business, as their practice of recycling the same song over and over again proved to be cost-efficient and highly profitable. Classes include U2 and You, U2 and You II and Basic Chord Progression.

Wu-Tangese: Offered exclusively at Shaolin University, this program focuses on the nexus of eastern philosophy and east coast rap. SU’s lecture hall, The 37th Chamber, will play host to seminars held by Professors U-God and Masta Killa, who have nothing else to do anyway. Classes include Neck Protection, Advanced Ruckus-Bringing and the Methodology of Method Man.

Nichols is a senior from Stilwell in creative writing