Muggle Studies is a course in the history, culture, and psychology of non-magical people. The class attempts to help young witches and wizards understand the difference between the way Muggles think and the way wizards think. When Ron calls a telephone a "fellytone," Hermione tells him she should consider taking Muggle Studies.
Students typically begin taking Muggle Studies in their third year. Muggle Studies is a prerequisite for jobs in Muggle relations. According to Percy, the students consider Muggle Studies to be a "soft option," meaning that it's an easy class. However, he says, he personally thinks "wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them." Ernie MacMillan apparently took Muggle Studies in his third year, since he informed Ron that Hermione never missed one of the classes, even though "half of them are at the same time as Divination, and she's never missed one of them either!". Hermione passed Muggle Studies with a 312% grade in her third year, but dropped the course to give herself a more reasonable schedule in her fourth. Muggle Studies is offered through OWL level, and there is an OWL examination in the subject. It is unknown if there are NEWT-level Muggle Studies classes.
Classwork includes charts showing Muggles lifting heavy objects without magic, understanding the importance of electricity to Muggle technology, and so on. The emphasis, like Arthur Weasley's enthusiasms, appears to focus solely on the physical aspects of life without magic, without mention of cultural differences.
Taught by: Charity Burbage
