There is not much of an overall description of the class. Since the Professor Merrythought's tenure, a teacher has never held the post for more than a year, so the curriculum is ever changing.
One thing though: practice over theory and dedication will earn you an O. As much as books are helpful, nothing is better than demonstration. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

Let's face it. Most of the students that take History of Magic simply sleep through Professor Binn's lectures (which consist mostly of the Goblin Wars), so I suppose an introduction to the course is hardly required. It is unlikely that there will be a new teacher, because Binn's a ghost and therefore cannot die, so just READ THE TEXTBOOK.

Charms...easy enough course really- if you know how to 'swish and flick' that is.

Ask a Longbottom to tutor you and you'll be fine. No one has ever legitimately failed Herbology.