Transporter Theory was a course taught at Starfleet Academy during the mid-24th century. The professor who taught the class attended by Reginald Barclay was Doctor Olafson.

In one discussion, Barclay recalled when Dr. Olafson talked about "the body being converted into billions of kiloquads of data, zipping through subspace." It was at this time that he developed a fear of transporters, when he realized that there was no margin for error in the process. (TNG: "Realm of Fear")