The University of Psychogenic Fugue, sometimes abbreviated to UPF, is a satirical humor book in the form of a parody college course catalog for a fictional American University written by Tye R. Farrell and Jeffrey Morrow. It was published by Meteorite Press in 2002. Its subtitle is A Course Catalog for Students of Life.
The book satirizes the 21st century college experience and the foibles of modern life through hundreds of "classes" in 15 "departments" of study, including Glamour, Suburban Science, Life Science, and Love. In addition, the book describes fictional scholarships, grants, university buildings, and meaninglessly complex policies. There are numerous campus clubs, fraternities, and sororities, including Gamma Lambda Ding Dong and Eradicate Ugliness Worldwide. The book's sometimes cynical humor has been described as similar to The Onion.
The university's name comes from a psychological condition called psychogenic fugue, in which a person is unable to remember his or her past. The term psychogenic fugue was re-categorized as dissociative fugue so now, according to the authors, it is a state of mind that doesn't exist. This attitude reflects many of the mock course offerings unlikely to be encountered in traditional higher education, including:
Glamour 106: Build a Better Supermodel
Business 112: Advanced Drug Dealing
Life Science 599: Postmodern Coffee
Love 214: Valentine's Day Sabotage
Suburban Science 244: How to be a Carnie
Culinary Arts 105: Living Without Food
Generally Accepted Science 131: Cadaver Farming
Ethics 102: Living a Lie II
Communications 121: Calling in Sick
The book received a number of humor and culture awards. Its format has drawn attention from diverse sources, from the Chronicle of Higher Education to counterculture magazine High Times, as well as college and internet press.
UPF also hosts an online satirical counterpart where web surfers can learn more about the university and its programs of study.