EAST LANSING

-- You've seen the movies and TV shows, and you've read the books and graphic novels. And you've probably wondered to yourself, "How would I make it in a post-zombie-apocalyptic world?"

Beginning this summer, Michigan State University is helping people answer that question.

MSU's School of Social Work begins offering a new online course called "Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse — Catastrophes and Human Behavior" this summer,

And before you dismiss the course as silly, its instructor says students will actually learn much more than personal defense against the brain-craving undead.

"We are using the idea of a zombie apocalypse to attract attention to the important research and science on the topic of 'Catastrophes and Human Behavior,'" Glenn Stutzky, an MSU social work instructor and creator of the course,

"Students will learn about the nature, scope and impact of catastrophic events on individuals, families, societies, civilizations and the Earth itself."

In

, the first edition of which begins on May 14, students will study the change in human behavior and nature after catastrophes, including historical incidents and those more far-fetched.

The class lasts seven weeks and blends traditional coursework with online forums and its hallmark activity: a zombie apocalypse simulation.

In that simulation, students will be placed into survivor groups and charged with conjunctively developing plans for surviving the zombie pandemic, according to

. And that's just the first week of class.

As the course progresses, students will also learn about past catastrophes and what impact they made.

Then in the course's waning days, students will draw on all their newly acquired knowledge to face the end of the simulated zombie apocalypse.

"Though the topic is serious and worthy of academic study, the challenges presented in surviving a hypothetical zombie pandemic have real-world applications," Stutzky said. "After all, zombies make everything more interesting."

Stutzky is using social media to promote the course, including the YouTube video below as a sort of advertisement.

But if "The Walking Dead" and guys like George Romero aren't your favorites, you probably shouldn't watch.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Follow Brandon Howell on Twitter: @BHowellMLive. Email him at brhowell@mlive.com or call him at 517-908-0711.

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