Kanye West is used to being the topic of discussion, but one professor is taking it to another level by designing a class around the 'cultural icon'.

The new course at Washington University in St Louis will focus on societal issues using Kanye's 'black genius'.

About 75 students are registered for 'Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics,' which began this week, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. But there's a waiting list to get in.

The professor, Jeffrey McCune, says the course, which is focused on the rapper, producer and fashion designer, offers a way for students to connect issues of politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture.

Kanye West is used to being the topic of discussion, but professor Jeffrey McCune (right) is taking it to another level by designing a class around the 'cultural icon'. The new course at Washington University in St. Louis will focus on the world of Kanye

McCune says the course will neither fawn over West's music nor be an exercise in bashing him.

The class will have much to discuss as they take a look at the past year when West had a public breakdown followed by a stint in rehab.

West also released his album, The Life of Pablo last year.

McCune told the Dispatch that he sees the course as a 'good way to get students to connect issues of politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture'.

'We're always thought of as maybe being articulate or smart but not really genius.'

McCune said Kanye has used hip-hop to give African-Americans platforms on which they could become geniuses, musically and even politically, according to the Dispatch.

McCune said Kanye has used hip-hop to give African-Americans platforms on which they could become geniuses, musically and even politically. West (at Trump Tower), 39, made headlines in December when he visited Donald Trump and then posed for photos

Trump told reporters that he and West have 'been friends for a long time,' and said they discussed 'life'

West, 39, made headlines in December when he visited president-elect Donald Trump and then posed for photos.

Trump told reporters that he and West have 'been friends for a long time,' and said they discussed 'life'.

'Hip-hop is a way to show our creative genius,' McCune says. 'Kanye really uses hip-hop as a vehicle to display all of his talents, albeit some better than others.'

McCune told the Dispatch that West has always interested him because of his sense of 'black excellence', adding that West constantly reminds the public of hip-hop's connection to politics.

COURSE SYLLABUS TOPICS Who is Kanye West and Why is He in the Flashing Lights?' • 'Touch the Sky, When the Aspirant Turns Genius' • 'Father Stretch My Hands, or How Hip-Hop Takes Us to Church' • 'Love Lock Down, or Hip-Hop's Queer Love Languages' • 'I Love Kanye, or How Critique Slips Into Hate' Advertisement

For example, after Hurricane Katrina, West famously said that former President George W Bush doesn't care about black people.

'At that point, I realized the dynamics of this performer, how he embodied multiple fears of black life,' McCune told the Dispatch.

The class takes place on Tuesdays with 'critical listening parties' and on Thursdays, with guest artists.

This isn't the first time a university has embraced hip-hop icons within their college courses.