There are some students graduating college with pretty nontraditional degrees, especially those from individualized study programs, but the latest online offering from The University of Edinburgh is a little bit out-of-this-world.

The five-week course titled, ‘An Introduction to Astrobiology and the Search for Extra-terrestrial Life,‘ will be taught by an ex-NASA researcher and will try to get to the bottom of whether we are alone in the universe.

The course is free and open to anyone. It is expected that up to 100,000 people will sign up to hear lectures from Charles Cockell, who is now a professor of astrobiology at the university.

“This course is based on Professor Charles Cockell’s research with NASA and covers what is a seriously interesting and important area of study,” explained Jeff Haywood, vice principal of the University of Edinburgh.

The first two weeks of the course will focus on how life originates and can exist in hostile environments. Week three moves on to potential life on other planets, and in the final two weeks the discussion will address what would happen if we do make contact, or vice versa.

Those who enroll in the course, which begins January 28, will have to complete assignments to earn their certifications.

What do you think? Would a class on aliens be worthwhile? Or will it just create up to 100,000 quacks who keep mistaking bright lights for UFOs?

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