[Bill Ferny]

You Can!

Shaker State University of South Florida
Deus adjuva nobis omnibus!

School of Tolkienology at Shaker State University of South Florida

The School of Tolkienology aspires to develop leaders in the field of Tolkien Studies. We expand each student's understanding of basic and advanced concepts found in the mythology of Middle Earth to include but not limited to: linguistics, fea/hroa anthropology, Eru-theology, Sub-creative Studies, Sorcery and Magecology, Vala-hagiography, Eddagraphy, Dwarf and Elven Cultural Anthropology, Hobbit Studies, Orcology, and Cinematic Interpretation Thrashing. Our goal is the development of the whole person, ability to work in a collaborative community, and commitment to nit-picking the crap out of the writings of JRR Tolkien.

Our core values involve developing our students' ability to pick apart not only The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but everything ever written by JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, interviews, and a plethora of secondary sources and reference books written by others, for the purpose of creating our vision of Middle Earth on Earth. In keeping with the SSUofSF Mission Statement, we commit ourselves to building a student-centered environment that makes the richness and diversity of the human population completely relative. We value each student as a person, but no thought or belief better or worse than another, unless, of course, that thought or belief is one held by us. Thus, we specialize in making Middle Earth reflect every value, opinion or belief system there is, as long as we agree with it.

Summer Session Course Offerings

Sindarin III (Lang 527)
The third installment of the Sindarin language. Students will focus on methods of translation and conversational Sindarin. Prerequisites: Elvin Linguistics (Lang 501), Sindarin I (Lang 525) and II (Lang 526).

Dwarven Archeology (TAnth 559)
Students will explore methods of imaginary archeology with special emphasis on investigating digs of ancient dwarven cities and cultural centers. Students will visit prefabricated fake digs in the mystic forest located behind Shaker State University annex campus in Wacko, Texas. Prerequisites: Introduction to Tolkien Delusional Thought (TPsch 601), Dwarven Etymologies (Lang 578), Introduction to Tolkien Anthropology (Tanth 551).

Middle Earth Quilting (TArt 610)
A new addition to our curriculum for this summer only. Learn methods of making quilts the way the elves, dwarves and hobbits did! Pass/Fail.

Orc Weaponry (Sdef 115)
Back by popular demand, this course investigates the weaponry and military tactics used by orcs, uruks, trolls, ologs. Students will have the opportunity to re-enact a major battle (to be announced) with real (heavy) weapons made by United Cutlery. Prerequisites: Introduction to Defending Yourself From Fellow Tolkienology Students (Sdef 101). Note: Due to the many deaths that occurred last year, the re-enactment will be held somewhere in Mexico; students will be provided transportation in the form of a tractor trailer, or they may provide their own personal transportation.

Selected Topics Seminar (TPhil 671)
Seminar course for students preparing their master’s dissertations. Prerequisites: Mentor’s discretion.

Death to Peter Jackson (TCin 621)
An introduction to thrashing the work of Peter Jackson, with special emphasis placed on his recent cinematic interpretation. Students will learn methods of not only tearing apart Peter Jackson’s movies, but also effective techniques of personally attacking him, his friends, and family. Prerequisites: Introduction to Tolkienologist Arrogance (Tphil 609), The Right Way to Envision Middle Earth (TDep 501).

Introduction to Interpretative Relativism (TPhil 511)
Students will learn basic skills for making Tolkien say what ever they want him to say. No matter if the student is atheist or agnostic, a Christian of any denomination, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Capitalist, Socialist, Communist, Monarchist, or Anarchist, the student will discover methods that will make JRR Tolkien agree with her or him. This course is required for all students seeking a degree in Tolkienology.