bird course

English

Etymology

Possibly referring to the small size of bird's brains (compare birdbrain). In the movie Sister Act 2, a bird course is referred to as being a course one can "fly right through," a reference to the course being easy to pass.

Noun

bird course (plural bird courses)

1. (Canada) In an educational institution, a course which is regarded as particularly easy.
   • 1975 August 30, Elaine Carey, “Back to school: What's happening in the classes?”, in Toronto Star, page A2:

     One of the most popular targets for criticism has been the credit system, Rutledge said, "because the public has the impression that students are just taking a bunch of bird courses—I wish they'd even tell me what a bird course is."

   • 2002 October 26, Nathalie Younglai, “Conducting without boundaries”, in Guelph Mercury, page C3:

     Clarke stumbled into music by way of a high school course he took to raise his grades. "Music was a bird course. I had more interest in math, science, and women", he divulged.

   • 2006 March 13, Gordon Pitts, “Forward-looking CEOs are looking to the past”, in Globe and Mail, page B12:

     Forty-five years ago, a McGill University commerce student named Seymour Schulich was looking for a bird course to bolster his grades and came upon a prime candidate — business history.

References

• The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Katherine Barber, Oxford University Press, 2004.