You can now study Miley Cyrus in school, especially if you are a student at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. "The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media" is a sociology course that will be available this summer. The class is a 251-level special topics course taught by Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology Carolyn Chernoff. While the idea of studying Miley Cyrus in college sounds borderline ridiculous, Chernoff says the "We Can't Stop" singer is a great way to encourage sociological discussion. "I was teaching a course called Youth Culture in and out of School, and the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) became the twerk heard 'round the world. I showed that video to my class, and the students had so much to say," said Professor Chernoff to the Saratogian.

Earlier this year, in January, Chernoff delivered a lecture about Miley Cyrus and the cultural issues associated with the singer's recent behavior called "The Rise and Fall of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media," at the Skidmore Women's Center. The response was positive, so Chernoff began developing her summer course to explore the cultural issues Cyrus sings about. "Miley is sometimes seen as a wild, terrible she-beast," Chernoff said. "After the VMA performance, this young woman was seen as the end of all times."

Chernoff also brings up former Mouseketeers Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears as well, as they, like Cyrus, have also had to break away from the wholesome tween image in order to continue their careers as adults. "They've all had to rebrand themselves as wild, crazy, sexual beings," Chernoff states. "This ties into the whole virgin/whore dichotomy."

Chernoff is quick to contest the idea that the class will be easy because it is about a mainstream pop cultural topic. "This is sociology. Learn to twerk on your own time." Chernoff wants her sociology students to find a creative and analytic ways to understand the world and its culture. "Miley is a lens into cultural conflict," the professor said.

Skidmore College's slogan is "Creative thought matters."