For some college students, earning credits by studying Taylor Swift might sound like a "Wildest Dreams" come true. The University of Louisville is making that dream a reality with a new course called "Swiftonomics," which uses the pop star’s career to explore economics. Students will apply economic principles to real-world questions that fans already discuss, such as concert ticket pricing and the trade-offs Swift faces to meet her demanding schedules.
“She’s had a massive economic impact and is an incredible businesswoman, so we thought, let’s give this a try,” said Beth Munnich, an associate professor of economics who co-developed the course, in an interview with WMUR-TV. Currently a one-time offering, Munnich hopes to make it a permanent fixture if student interest is strong enough.
Louisville isn’t alone in tapping into Swift’s educational potential. The singer, who holds records for the highest-grossing tour ever and the first album to exceed five million Spotify pre-saves, has inspired courses elsewhere. In 2023, Stanford offered “All Too Well (Ten Week Version),” diving deep into Swift’s 2012 song and its 2022 ten-minute re-release. The University of Texas, Austin, has a course called “The Taylor Swift Songbook,” an honors class comparing Swift’s lyrics to classic literature. Canada’s Queen’s University once included “Taylor Swift’s Literary Legacy” in its Cultural Studies program, and in 2022, NYU’s Clive Davis Institute launched a course on Swift’s growth as an artist and entrepreneur.
It’s unclear if Louisville’s course will incorporate Swift’s upcoming Disney+ docuseries or new concert film. For now, students at U of L are likely feeling "Enchanted" to study economics through the lens of a global superstar.