Sneaking into pop culture.

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"SNEAKER CULTURE IS A HUGE PART OF American culture and urban culture," says Elliott Curtis, a Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) senior majoring in social and design science. So why not have a class about it? Thanks to CMU's Student College, for which students develop and teach classes, Curtis and fellow "sneakerhead" Jesse Chorng, an economics major, share their passion through Sneakerology 101. The class explores the footwear's impact on "fashion, identity, and culture throughout the world."

Sneakers are having an impact on the students' lives as well. When Curtis scored an internship with Reebok over the summer, he jumped at the chance to pitch a design--and the "Sneakerology 101 x Reebok Reverse Jam" was launched on April 15 during the student-coordinated Kicksburg event, which serves as a final exam and celebrates sneaker culture. The limited edition (101 pairs) sneakers feature a slate gray nubuck body representing a backboard, yellow stripes for chalk, and a felt tongue reminiscent of blackboard erasers. Red laces and accents pay tribute to CMU, and a custom-designed plaid insole includes text from a Sneakerology lesson.

But it's not all for fun. Proceeds from sales of the custom sneakers will benefit an association that provides educational programs in the Pittsburgh area.