These are compulsory for first through fifth-year students, forming the foundation of a witch or wizard's magical education:
Transfiguration: The art of changing the form or appearance of an object, taught by skilled professors and demanding precise focus.
Charms: Spells and enchantments for a wide array of practical uses, from levitation to unlocking doors.
Potions: The delicate science of brewing magical mixtures, requiring careful ingredient handling and mastery of complex recipes.
Herbology: Study of magical plants and fungi, including their care, uses, and dangers.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Essential training in recognizing and defending against dark creatures, curses, and malevolent spells.
Astronomy: Observation and study of stars, planets, and celestial events, generally conducted in the Astronomy Tower.
History of Magic: A study of significant magical events and historical figures, taught by the ghostly Professor Binns.
Flying: An introductory course for first-year students to learn broomstick flying, overseen by Madam Hooch.
Starting in their third year, students may select additional subjects according to their interests and career aspirations:
Arithmancy: The magical study of numbers, predicting future events and magical properties through complex calculations.
Ancient Runes: Deciphering magical texts written in runic languages, essential for understanding ancient spells and inscriptions.
Divination: The mystical art of predicting the future, employing various methods like tea leaves, crystal balls, and tarot cards.
Care of Magical Creatures: Hands-on study of magical beasts, ranging from bowtruckles to hippogriffs, under the guidance of Hagrid.
Muggle Studies: Exploration of non-magical society and technology, providing valuable insights for wizards with Muggle backgrounds or interests.
Apparition: Taught to sixth-year students as an optional course, focusing on the art of teleportation within strict safety guidelines.
In their sixth and seventh years, students may pursue N.E.W.T.-level courses in subjects of their choice, provided they achieve sufficient scores in their O.W.L. exams. These advanced courses are more rigorous and often specialized.
Hogwarts' diverse curriculum ensures that each student, whether destined to be a healer, Auror, or magical historian, is well-prepared for the magical world beyond the castle walls.