University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Learn the Intricacies of the Good Life by Taking UNLV Classes

Being situated in the Entertainment Capitol of the World and party central for twentysomethings looking for a great time, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has an interesting crop of classes. Since the college is perfect for those pursuing a career in entertainment, food and beverage or tourism, some unique courses have sprung out of it.

These six classes, nestled in Las Vegas-centric majors ranging from dance to food and beverage, are likely to not be found in other, more traditional colleges.

1. History of Rock Music. This popular three-credit class "covers the esthetics and sociology of rock from its origins." In other words, learn about your favorite music and why you like it for an entire semester. Genres and periods such as rhythm and blues, rockabilly, teen-age rock, protest rock, and soul are covered. Artists highlighted include Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Elvis Presley - most of which have performed just a mile or two west of campus, on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. If you're thinking about taking this infamously easy college course, plan ahead - it's one of the first to be booked! Satisfies a humanities credit or fine arts credit.

2. Rock Climbing. Restless after sitting all week in boring psych and comm classes? Have you put on a few pounds from 24-hour drinking and late-night steak and egg specials? Take PEX 143. The class takes place at Powerhouse Rock Climbing Gym in Las Vegas, but you can be sure there will be a field trip or two to the Red Rock National Conservation Area - a favorite among serious rock climbers worldwide - for you to belay a weekend away. The nice thing about this college course is that if you're serious about learning how to rock climb, this is a great way to learn and practice on the cheap. For the price of a semester's class (about $300) and a $50 equipment fee, you have a course instructor and unlimited climbing at Powerhouse for those three or four months. The class also earns you a credit; if you like the sport and want to continue, you can take it again and again.

3. Bartending. Learn the difference and the technique involved between a martini shaken or stirred in this three-credit Food and Beverage class for the guy interested in keeping those drinks flowing at the 24-hour bars and late-night clubs Las Vegas is known for. This class would be a great way to learn a few new drinks and impress friends at the next toga party. Unfortunately, for some reason, this course is pretty much only open to Food and Beverage majors; prerequisites include Food Service Operations Fundamentals and Hospitality Purchasing - in other words, classes not as fun for the dude just looking to learn a few drinks.

4. Stand Up Comedy. Learning how to set-up and deliver a punch line is harder than it looks, and definitely provides enough material for a semester-long college course. No, really. This fun course for the outgoing and light-hearted covers stand up comedy techniques and uses comics like Lenny Bruce, Jerry Seinfeld and Jeff Foxworthy as examples. To be eligible to take this class, choose one of five different theater classes. You just might need them a warm-up theater class, too - you DO have to perform two-minute routines and then, as a final, a five-minute routine.

5. Sex, Dance and Entertainment. In case you were wondering how all those strippers off the Strip learned those great moves, you can find out in Sex, Dance and Entertainment. This three-credit dance college course "provides understanding and appreciation of the sexual derivation and evolution of social, street and fad dances from 1900 to the present, and the subcultures that created them," according to the course book. You won't find a pole in the classroom; this is not a hands-on class!

6. Nightclub Management. This weekly hands-on class takes students on field trips to the hottest nightclub destinations in the world - you know, the ones frequented by the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, Light at the Bellagio, Studio 54 at MGM Grand, Tryst at The Wynn and Tao at the Venetian. Bonus: meet Las Vegas' industry insiders who will give you the hookups on getting in the V.I.P. line - I mean lecture you on making a dent in this growing industry. No prereqs required.

College doesn't get much better than this. Of course, unless you're majoring in Food and Beverage, dance or theater, these UNLV courses will count only as electives.