Chances are, if you have a passion, you can get a degree in the subject. And, if typical majors aren’t your thing, there are plenty of quirky majors to choose from.
The following list includes some weird-but-cool college majors, along with an example of a college that offers it as well as details of what students in the field study and the jobs that students pursue after graduation, as listed on each example college's website.
(Please note that many of these aren’t the only schools which offer the academic subjects; just an example of one of the schools.)
Check out the following weird college majors list -- as well as Monster's recent take on Quirky College Majors that Actually Exist – perhaps your future calling is on one of these!
Adventure Education
Where you can get the degree: Plymouth State University Example courses include Rock Climbing Fundamentals, Canoe Paddling Fundamentals, Wilderness Expedition, and Whitewater Kayaking. Adventure education majors can expect to work in outdoor education at a state or national park or with outdoor/adventure programs.Astrobiology
Where you can get the degree: University of Washington or Penn State Example courses include Planetary Habitability and Astrobiology Field Experience. Astrobiology majors can find careers in astrobiology research or work as a scientist or educator.Auctioneering*
Where you can get the degree: HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College Example courses include Audience Communications, Auctioneering Law, Procurement and Appraisal of Merchandise, and Preparations for the Auction. After completion of the program, you would be approved to be an Auctioneer. *This is a semester-long, accelerated degree program at HACC; however, classes are virtual. Once the degree is complete, students will be able to sit for the Pennsylvania State Auctioneers exam.Bagpiping
Where you can get the degree: Carnegie Mellon University Example courses in the bagpiping major include Studio, Theory and History. Bagpiping majors will go onto become bagpipers or bagpiping instructors.Bakery Science
Where you can get the degree: Kansas State University Example courses include Introduction to Grain Science and Industry, Cereal Science, Flour and Dough Testing, and Baking Science. Baking science majors can chart careers within restaurants, catering, hotels, clubs, food manufacturers, testing laboratories, and large and small bakeries.Citrus
Where you can get the degree: Florida Southern College Example courses include Introduction to Citrus, Citrus Grove Management, Soil Science, Plants, and Society and Plant Nutrition. After graduation, citrus majors can work at large citrus production companies, grove service companies, agricultural cooperatives, juice processing plants, agrichemical and fertilizer companies, and at citrus research facilities.Comedy: Writing and Performance
Where you can get the degree: Humber College (Canada) Example course include Stand-Up Comedy, Improvisation, Sketch, Physical Comedy, Acting & Voice, and History of Comedy. Comedy writing and performance majors can find jobs as a Stand-Up Comedian, Scriptwriter, Performer, Producer, Broadcaster, Advertiser, Voiceovers Actor, and Sketch Comedy Actor.Comic Art
Where you can get the degree: Minneapolis College of Art and Design Example courses include History of Comic Art, Comic Media and Concepts, and Comic Book Publishing: Print as well as Web and Comic Storytelling. Comic art majors can find work at comic studios as a cartoonist, illustrator, or author, or in comic book art production.Costume Technology
Where you can get the degree: DePaul University Example courses include Drawing for Designers, Costume Construction, and Costume Design. Jobs for Costume Technology include Costume Designer and Wardrobe Assistant.Diving Business and Technology
Where you can get the degree: Florida Keys Community College Example courses include Advanced Diving Theory and Practice, Intro to Marine Biology, Intro to Oceanography, Scuba Rescue and Emergency Medicine, Underwater Photography, and Basic Seamanship. Diving majors can find careers as Divemasters, Scuba Instructors, Commercial Divers, Research Divers, and Underwater Photojournalists.Ecogastronomy
Where you can get the degree: University of New Hampshire Example courses include Sustainable & Organic Food Production, Nutrition in Health and Wellbeing, and Food and Beverage Management. Ecogastronomy careers are available in hospitality, nutrition, journalism, and tourism.Egyptology
Where you can get the degree: Brown University Example courses include Imagining the Gods: Myths and Myth-making in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Babylonian Magic and Medicine, Ancient Scientific Texts, and Archaeology and Text. Egyptology majors can find jobs as Egyptologists, historians, and specialized archaeologists.Entertainment Engineering and Design
Where you can get the degree: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Example courses include Multimedia Design, Design for Live Entertainment, and History of Entertainment and Technology. These graduates can find jobs as engineers in the entertainment industry (live shows, casinos, etc.).Exercise and Movement Sciences
Where you can get the degree: University of Vermont Example courses include Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries, Fundamentals of Nutrition, Exercise & Sport Psychology, and Human Movement. Exercise and Movement Science majors can find jobs in the Health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, research labs, adaptive sports programs, and community organizations.Family Enterprise
Where you can get the degree: Stetson University Example courses include Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development, Managerial Issues in Family Enterprise, Family Enterprise Ownership, and Case Studies in Family Business. After graduation, Family Enterprise majors will be able to run a family business, become a family business owner, or work for a family business enterprise as a professional advisor.Farrier Science
Where you can get the degree: Mesalands Community College Example courses include Equine Anatomy and Physiology, Horseshoeing Theory, and Blacksmithing. Farrier Science majors can become a farrier or a professional in the equine and/or agricultural industries.Fermentation Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Appalachian State University Example courses include Social Implications of Fermented Beverages, Vine Physiology and Vineyard Establishment, Brewing Science and Analysis, and Sensory Analysis of Wine and Beer. Fermentation Science majors will find careers in vineyards, wineries, breweries, distilleries as well as within the biotechnology business field.Floral Management
Where you can get the degree: Mississippi State University Example courses include Floral Design, Retail Floristry Operations Management, and Interior Planting Design and Maintenance. Floral Management majors can find jobs in freelance floral design, garden design and management, hotel/casino hospitality floriculture management, horticultural therapy, media design and styling, retail floristry, specialty visual design, traditional and concept floriculture retailing, wedding and bridal design planning, and wholesale floral management.Jazz Studies
Where you can get the degree: University of North Texas Example courses include Jazz Performance Fundamentals, Jazz Improvisation, History of Jazz, and Songwriting. Jazz Studies majors can go on to be Performers, Composers, Arrangers, Educators, or Jazz Historians.Metalsmithing/Blacksmithing
Where you can get the degree: Southern Illinois University Example courses include Fine Arts, Introduction to Visual Culture, and Studio courses. They will find careers in academia and museum work or as an independent artist.Mortuary Science
Where you can get the degree: University of the District of Columbia Community College Example courses include Anatomy & Physiology, Funeral Service Orientation, and History & Sociology of Funeral Service, and Funeral Service Law. Mortuary Service majors can find jobs as funeral service practitioners in funeral homes, hospitals, medical schools, health, and the offices of medical examiners or coroners.Nautical Archaeology
Where you can get the degree: Texas A&M University Example courses include Books and Treatises on Shipbuilding, Outfitting and Sailing the Wooden Ship, and Archaeological Photography. Careers can be found in Maritime Archaeology and Conversation as well as Nautical and Underwater Archaeology.Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Louisiana State University Example courses include Introduction to Marine Sciences, Introduction to Waves and Beaches, Global Environmental Cycles, Hurricanes and Typhoons, and Fish Recruitment. Upon graduation, Oceanography and Coastal Sciences majors can find jobs in research, conservation, coastal ecology, coastal fisheries, wetland soils and vegetation, and physical and geological oceanography fields.Pop Music
Where you can get the degree: University of Southern California Example courses include Popular Music Performance, Songwriting, Computer Assisted Recording and Editing, and Music History. Pop Music majors can find roles in Performance, Songwriting and Arranging, Recording Studio Efficiency, and Music Production.Popular Culture
Where you can get the degree: Bowling Green State University Example courses include Popular Culture and Media, Black Popular Culture, Television as Popular Culture, Folklife and Material Culture, and History of Popular Literature. Popular Culture majors can find jobs in advertising, public relations, journalism, mass media (management, performance, production and marketing), teaching, and library and museum work.Poultry Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Texas A&M Example courses include Avian Science Lab, Breeder & Hatchery Management, Poultry Nutrition, and Poultry Meat Production. There are job opportunities for this major in Corporate Management, Quality Assurance, Sales or Technical Support in Live Production, Processing, or Marketing.Puppet Arts
Where you can get the degree: University of Connecticut Example courses include Puppet Production Techniques, Voice and Diction, Scene Design and Painting, Trends in Contemporary American Puppetry, Marionette Performance, and Marionette Construction. Puppet Arts majors can find jobs in theatre performance and design, television and film puppetry, and school and museum programs.Race Track Industry
Where you can get the degree: University of Arizona Example courses include Race Track Marketing and Media Relations, Racing Laws and Enforcement, Race Track Organization, and Structure and Financial Management. Graduates in this field will find track-related careers such as track secretary or announcer, journalist, or photographer.Recreation and Leisure Studies
Where you can get the degree: University of North Texas Example courses include Programming in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services, and Commercial Recreation. Upon graduation, Recreation and Leisure Studies majors can find jobs in community organizations, government or privately owned leisure, parks and recreation programs, or health and fitness industry.Sexuality Studies
Where you can get the degree: Ohio State University Example courses include Sexuality, and Religion, History of Modern Sexualities, and Sexuality and Sport. Sexuality Studies majors can find jobs in social services, counseling, health care, victim and human rights advocacy, social justice and activism, LGBTQ+ rights organizing, and reproductive rights advocacy and education.Surf Science and Technology
Where you can get the degree: Cornwall College (UK) Example courses include Culture of Surf & Sport, Physical & Geographical Influences on Surfing, Surf Business. Jobs can be found in surf-related fields, surf business, and surf instruction.32. Turfgrass Science
Where you can get the degree: Penn State Example courses include Turfgrass and Ornamental Weed Control, Turfgrass Nutrition, Case Studies in Turfgrass, and Turfgrass Pesticides. Turfgrass Science majors can find jobs in golf course maintenance, professional lawn care, grounds maintenance, sod production, sales and service, athletic field maintenance, and research.Viticulture and Enology
Where you can get the degree: Cornell University Example courses include Wine and Grapes: Composition and Analysis, Winemaking Theory and Practice, Sensory Evaluation of Food, Wine and Grape Flavor Chemistry. Viticulture and Enology majors can find jobs in winemaking, vineyard management, teaching and research, and wine businesses.Wildlife
Where you can get the degree: Humboldt State University Example courses include General Zoology, Wildlife Policy, Mammalogy, Principles of Wildlife Diseases, and Conservation Biology. After graduating, these majors can find jobs in the field for state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, private ecological consulting firms, private timber companies, zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers as wildlife managers, wildlife biologists, refuge managers, park rangers, park naturalists, game wardens, recreations planners, and consulting.
