In the world of Harry Potter, students take many classes at Hogwarts about different things, from Defense Against the Dark Arts to Potion Making to Herbology to Muggle Studies. However, while many of the Hogwarts classes are requirements, Muggle Studies is not required and is simply an elective if a student wishes to take it. It almost seems strange that the professors at Hogwarts, especially Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, didn’t do more to ensure that all wizards took classes to gain an education in Muggle society.

Of course, there is also a very good reason why not all students are required to take Muggle Studies. As the films show, there are plenty of young wizards, as well as parents, who have a very distorted view of Muggles. A simple look at how Hermione is treated shows the prejudice existing, even in the youngsters studying wizardry at the esteemed school. At the same time, there is a very good reason why all wizards should be required to take Muggle Studies, whether they like it or not.

Harry Potter Implies That Wizards Don’t Need In-Depth Muggle Knowledge To Get By

The Wizarding World Has Its Own System

On the surface, there is no reason to take Muggle Studies for wizards at Hogwarts. The wizard world doesn’t coexist with Muggles, and while they live among Muggles, they are often in magical enclaves, their powers hidden from those around them. They also don’t need to worry about understanding Muggle’s technology, culture, or financial systems. Wizards have their own unique money system and legal system. They have their own ways of getting food and even preparing it.

It is often implied that wizards have separate markets and dining experiences, and it is rare for them to mingle with Muggles. This is one reason why there is no inherent reason to take Muggle Studies. Since the two worlds remain separate, wizards don’t often need to care about how or why Muggles do what they do. At the same time, some students grew up in the world of Muggles before going to Hogwarts, so they already knew what it was like and didn’t need to relearn it.

Muggle Studies Has A Bad Reputation In Harry Potter, Which Could Be Why It’s Optional

Many Wizards Look Down On Muggles

There is a very good reason why not all wizards have to take Muggle Studies and why it is just an elective. There is a deep-seated hatred among some wizards toward Muggles. Look at how Draco Malfoy and his friends treat Hermione because her parents are Muggles, and she is not a Pure Blood. Even professors like Snape have a distaste for Muggles and outwardly show it when discussing them.

Some people in the wizarding world, like Arthur Weasley, are intrigued by Muggles, but he is in the minority. It is even against the law to own certain Muggle items, especially regarding technology. Finally, there is a case where most wizards see Muggles as archaic and feel taking Muggle Studies would be not only meaningless to their education but also too easy, a soft class that won’t help them get where they want to be in their wizard careers and lives.

Making Muggle Studies An Optional Class Remains A Strange Choice For Hogwarts

Hogwarts Fosters A Lack Of Acceptance For Muggles

While it is something that many wizards don’t care about, that is also the case when it comes to classes in any school. A high school student might not believe they need to know geometry or world history, but math and history are both courses that help in several areas of life when they grow up. Wizards eventually encounter Muggles, and it would be helpful to know Muggle math or be knowledgeable about history to ᴀssimilate with them if needed.

Having wizard students never take Muggle Studies should put them at a distinct disadvantage if they ever need to work with Muggles for any reason. As the Fantastic Beasts movies show, even powerful wizards can have trouble dealing with Muggles in the real world, so it seems the education system in Harry Potter is setting up the students for failure with this lapse in judgment in Muggle Studies classes.

Harry Potter

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

First TV Show

Harry Potter

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen

TV Show(s)

Harry Potter

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