Muggle Studies

> "*Professor Burbage taught the children of witches and wizards all about Muggles... how they are not so different from us...*"
> ― Lord Voldemort's scorn and hatred for Muggle Studies[source]
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**Muggle Studies** was an elective class and part of the non-magical studies curriculum at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It involved the study of the history and daily lives of Muggles, and how they were able to live without magic, but instead used electricity, technology and science.

## Class information

> "*People say Muggle Studies is a soft option, but I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them — look at my father, he has to deal with Muggle business all the time.*"
> ― Percy Weasley regarding the importance of Muggle studies[source]
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This class aimed specifically to familiarise wizards and witches with how Muggles lived their lives without magic; one known essay topic was to "*Explain Why Muggles Need Electricity*." It was an optional subject, taught from the third year to the seventh. It had both an O.W.L. and a N.E.W.T. exam, and presumably also has practical lessons and exam sections.

Muggle Studies was considered by some to be a soft option, but others, such as Percy Weasley, thought it was important for magical people to have an understanding of the non-magical community, especially if they work closely with Muggles, such as in the Ministry of Magic; his father being a case in point.

A pamphlet titled "So You Think You'd Like to Work In Muggle Relations?" given to fifth year students at Hogwarts during Careers Advice, stated that jobs involved with Muggle liaising only required an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies, along with an enthusiastic attitude.

Wizards may have used the internet as part of their research into Muggle Studies, but the internet was otherwise scarcely used by the magical community.

### Classrooms

Muggle Studies classes took place in a classroom on the first-floor, accessed through a showroom displaying Muggle artefacts.

## History

### Pre-1990

Quirinus Quirrell taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts until 1990, when he took a year-long sabbatical and spent time abroad before returning to Hogwarts and becoming the professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

### 1990–1991

Professor Arif Sikander took over as the Muggle Studies Professor at Hogwarts for the 1990–1991 school year, as Professor Quirrell was away on his sabbatical tour abroad. He taught students about many aspects of Muggle life, such as:

* Radio
* Plumbing
* Light bulbs
* Rotary phones
* Rubber ducks
* Muggle transportation
* Hair spray
* Toasters

It is unknown if he continued to teach this subject at Hogwarts after this school year had ended.

### 1992–1993

At some point by 1992, a wizard took over as Muggle Studies Professor. In 1992, Harry Potter came looking for him with a torch for him to add to his collection. Unfortunately, he was not present and the professor's student assistant took the torch and added it to the collection for him. He presumably left by 1993.

### 1993–1997

**Ron Weasley**: "*What are you doing Muggle Studies for? You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!*"
**Hermione Granger**: "*But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view.*"
— Ron and Hermione, while discussing their new classes[src]

Hermione Granger took Muggle Studies, as well as every other class, in her third year, despite being Muggle-born. She wanted to study Muggles from the wizards' point of view, and excelled in the class, but dropped it at the end of the year when she found her schedule too demanding. Ernie Macmillan also took the subject.

### 1997–1998

> "*Alecto, Amycus's sister, teaches Muggle Studies, which is compulsory for everyone. We've all got to listen to her explain how Muggles are like animals, stupid and dirty, and how they drove wizards into hiding by being vicious towards them, and how the natural order is being re-established.*"
> ― Neville Longbottom explaining Alecto Carrow's hateful Muggle Studies curriculum[source]
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In 1997, Professor Charity Burbage was captured by Death Eaters and brought to Malfoy Manor, where Lord Voldemort murdered her with the Killing Curse, because she wrote a positive and impassioned piece about Muggles and Muggle-borns for the *Daily Prophet*. Before her death, she begged Severus Snape to free her and tell Voldemort to let her go. Severus Snape was forced to ignore her, and then she was put to death. Her corpse was then consumed by Nagini.

Voldemort took over the Ministry of Magic soon afterwards and Death Eater Alecto Carrow was appointed the new professor of Muggle Studies, with Professor Burbage noted as "*resigned*" in the newspaper. The subject was made compulsory, and instead of teaching students accurate facts about the non-magical community and encouraging understanding and tolerance, Carrow taught that Muggles were "*like animals, stupid and dirty*" and that they "*drove wizards into hiding by being vicious toward them*," and "*how the natural order is being restored*". This was an attempt to brainwash Wizarding children into hating the Muggle world, and into joining Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Neville Longbottom would defy such teachings by asking how much Muggle blood the new professor and her brother had.

### Post-war

After Voldemort's defeat, death and the end of the Second Wizarding War, Alecto Carrow was presumably imprisoned in Azkaban for her crimes, and also that Muggle Studies was restored to its factual roots. It is unknown who took over Muggle Studies after the war.