Your comments: Master's in The Beatles

Canadian Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy is the first person in the world to graduate with Liverpool Hope University's master's degree in the Beatles. (Alan Edwards/Liverpool Hope University/Associated Press)

Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy, a singer and actress from Ontario, has become the first graduate of a master's program called The Beatles, Popular Music and Society at Liverpool Hope University.

Many commenters on the story questioned the validity of such a degree.

CBC Community member vzzbuxx wrote, "...This is right up there with learning to speak Klingonese...Time well wasted..."

And GovtSux said, "The Beatles degree, when combined with a diploma in mixology, is solid qualifition for entry level waiting job, with potential for promotion to bartender someday."

Other comments on the story defended the degree, saying it's no different than any other advanced degree in history or arts.

Community member mats in mtl wrote:

Congrats!

To all those deriding her achievement, (ans I would wager few of you have any post graduate degree yourself) you are mistaken about the value inherent in humanities degrees. A Masters in the Beatles would be no less an achievement then a Masters in Shakespeare, or a Masters studying in any other cultural phenomena. The notion that higher education must service some facet of the economy in terms of training you for a specific job is short sighted, Presumably, this woman has gained research, analytical writing skills on par with any engineering or law degree. As well as some expertise of how pop-cultural is a manifestation of other societal forces during a particularly important era - politically, technologically etc. I've no doubt she'll find an interesting career.

And justmypoint wrote:

The Beatles, whether you like them or not, had a profound influence in interpreting a significant shift in western popular culture. It was the voice of an unencumbered generation that had seen their parents and grandparent before them fighting in two bloody world wars. They explored a new freedom and self expression without the shackles of military expectations and fears. They were a mirror to significant cultural transformations and they rode the very first wave of mass media. It is more than a valid study of cultural change, it is an essential piece of western cultural history. To ignore or dismiss it is to ignore and dismiss the importance of history itself.

What do you think? Are The Beatles a subject worthy of an advanced degree?