(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. — Now Harry Potter fans at Frostburg University in Maryland will have the opportunity to earn college credit for the recently added Harry Potter science class.

Dr. George Plitnik, a physics professor at Frostburg University, a public school in western Maryland, is teaching an honors course to juniors and seniors based on the popular series. After reading the first four books of the series, he saw a presentation entitled, "The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works," by Roger Highfield and became intrigued.

Plitnik originally proposed the idea of teaching physics through Harry Potter to the honors committee at Frostburg.

"The idea was to get students who don't know much about science to appreciate and learn about science through popular culture like Harry Potter," Plitnik said.

Although students are not required to have read the novels, Plitnik makes regular costume appearances, once dressing up as Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts' Headmaster in Harry Potter.

Plitnik is known throughout campus for his costumes, practical jokes and creativity, which led the university system of Maryland to award him for excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity.

While he does not believe in magic, Plitnik said there is nothing in science that says apparition, the appearance of something ghostly, or teleportation is not possible.

"Maybe in 30 years it can be done in practice," Plitnik said.

Dr. Baha Balantekin, a University of Wisconsin physics professor, does not agree with Plitnik's hypothesis.

"No one has succeeded doing teleportation," Balantekin said. "It's just not possible."

He added that people have tried to do experiments sending information over long distances, but have never been successful.

However, some students say bringing popular culture into the classroom could be beneficial.

"I think it is great that teachers can take concepts from one of the country's most popular theories and apply it to physics to make the learning process more interesting and fun," UW student Talia Primor said.

— Meredith Dietrich