WASHINGTON, D.C. – A professor of African American studies at Yale University will focus on Beyoncé next semester.

Titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory and Politics Through Music,” Daphne Brooks said the one-credit course would focus on the period from her 2013 self-titled album to the This year’s album “Cowboy Carter” and how the famous singer, songwriter and entrepreneur sparked awareness and engagement in social and political ideologies.

Brooks said she intended to use the performer’s extensive repertoire, including footage of his live performances, as a “portal” for students to learn about black intellectuals, from Frederick Douglass to Toni Morrison.

“We’re going to take seriously how the critical work, the intellectual work of some of our greatest thinkers in American culture resonates with Beyoncé’s music and think about how we can apply their philosophies to her work” and how it has sometimes been at odds with the “black radical intellectual tradition,” Brooks told the Associated Press.

Brooks once taught a well-received course on black women in popular music culture at Princeton University and found that his students were very enthusiastic about the section on Beyoncé.

The pop superstar has a record 99 Grammy nominations and is recognized as one of the most influential artists in music history.

But Beyoncé is not the first artist to be the subject of a college-level course.

College courses on Taylor Swift, Rick Ross

South Dakota law professor Sean Kammer focused on Taylor Swift for his legal writing class last year.

The self-described “Swiftie” said his course will draw on art and his music to help his students reconsider legal language and craft compelling arguments.

RELATED: From Taylor Swift to Rick Ross, pop culture classes attract new law students

“The student response has been exciting,” he said. “If we can have fun while exploring some of these complex theoretical problems or questions, I think students will be inspired to think more deeply and challenge themselves.”

Meanwhile, Georgia State University law school students were scrambling to get to class every day — especially Tuesday when they got to hear directly from Rick Ross for the final day of a course which recounted the legal subtleties of the rapper, record executive. and the life of the Wingstop franchise owner.

Moraima “Mo” Ivory, director of the school’s entertainment, sports and media law program, wanted her students to see for themselves what’s in the albums, TV shows and movies that they appreciate it. She chooses a star each year and invites speakers from their world, as well as the main character himself, to bring the legal cases, defenses and drama to life.

“We’re talking about essential legal principles, but we’re monitoring them as they happen,” she said. “It really turns on that light bulb for law students.”