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 unusual majors to choose from.
The following list includes some weird-but-cool college majors, along with an example of a college that offers it, 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.)
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Check out the following weird college majors list – perhaps your future calling is on the list!
1. Adventure Education
Where you can get the degree: Plymouth State University
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Example courses: Rock Climbing Fundamentals, Canoe Paddling Fundamentals, Wilderness Expedition and Whitewater Kayaking
Job prospects: Working in outdoor education at a state or national park, Outdoor/adventure programs
2. Astrobiology
Where you can get the degree: University of Washington or
Penn State
Example courses: Planetary Habitability, Astrobiology Field Experience
Job prospects: Astrobiology researcher, scientist or educator
3. Auctioneering*
Where you can get the degree: HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College
Example courses: Audience Communications, Auctioneering Law, Procurement and Appraisal of Merchandise, Preparations for the Auction
Job prospects: You guessed it – an auctioneer
*This is a semester-long, accelerated degree program at HACC. Once the degree is complete, students will be able to sit for the Pennsylvania State Auctioneers exam.
4. Bagpiping
Where you can get the degree: Carnegie Mellon University
Example courses: Studio, Theory, History
Job prospects: A bagpiper or teaching the bagpipes
5. Bakery Science
Where you can get the degree: Kansas State University
Example courses: Introduction to Grain Science and Industry, Cereal Science, Flour and Dough Testing, Baking Science
Job prospects: Careers within restaurants, caterers, hotels, clubs, food manufacturers, testing laboratories, and large and small bakeries
6. Citrus
Where you can get the degree: Florida Southern College
Example courses: Introduction to Citrus, Citrus Grove Management, Soil Science, Plants and Society and Plant Nutrition
Job prospects: Large citrus production companies, grove service companies, agricultural cooperatives, juice processing plants, agrichemical and fertilizer companies and at citrus research facilities.
7. Comedy: Writing and Performance
Where you can get the degree: Humber College (Canada)
Example course: Stand-Up Comedy, Improvisation, Sketch, Physical Comedy, Acting & Voice, and History of Comedy
Job Prospects: Stand-Up Comedian, Scriptwriter, Performer, Producer, Broadcasting, Advertising, Voiceovers, and Sketch Comedy.
8. Comic Art
Where you can get the degree: Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Example courses: History of Comic Art, Comic Media and Concepts, Comic Book Publishing: Print and web and Comic Storytelling
Job prospects: Working at comic studios as a cartoonist, illustrator or author or in comic book art production
9. Costume Technology
Where you can get the degree: DePaul University
Example courses: Drawing for Designers, Costume Construction, Costume Design, and Technical Production Practice
Job prospects: Costume Designer, Wardrobe Assistant
10. Diving Business and Technology
Where you can get the degree: Florida Keys Community College
Example courses: Advanced Diving Theory and Practice, Intro to Marine Biology, Intro to Oceanography, Scuba Rescue and Emergency Medicine, Underwater Photography, Basic Seamanship
Job prospects: Divemaster, scuba instructor, commercial diver, research diver, underwater photojournalist, etc.
11. Egyptology
Where you can get the degree: Brown University
Example courses: Imagining the Gods: Myths and Myth-making in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Babylonian Magic and Medicine, Ancient Scientific Texts: Akkadian, Archaeology and Text
Job prospects: Egyptologist, historian, specialized archaeologist
12. Entertainment Engineering and Design
Where you can get the degree: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Example courses: Multimedia Design, Design for Live Entertainment, History of Entertainment and Technology
Job prospects: An engineer in the entertainment industry (shows, casinos, etc.)
13. Exercise and Movement Sciences
Where you can get the degree: University of Vermont
Example courses: Prevention & Care Athletic Injuries, Fundamentals of Nutrition, Exercise & Sport Psychology, Biomechanics of Human Movement, Fitness for Specific Populations
Job prospects: Health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, research labs, adaptive sports programs and community organizations
14. Family Enterprise
Where you can get the degree: Stetson University
Example courses: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development, Managerial Issues in Family Enterprise, Family Enterprise Ownership: Emphasis on Legal, Estate, and Asset Protection Issues, Case Studies in Family Business
Job prospects: Running a family business, a family business owner or working for a family business enterprise as a professional advisor
15. Farrier Science
Where you can get the degree: Mesalands Community College
Example courses: Equine Anatomy and Physiology, Horseshoeing Theory, Blacksmithing
Job prospects: Self-employer farrier, equine industries, agricultural industries
16. Fermentation Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Appalachian State University
Example courses: Social Implications of Fermented Beverages, Viticulture: Vine Physiology and Vineyard Establishment, Brewing Science and Analysis, Sensory Analysis of Wine and Beer
Job prospects: Vineyards, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and biotechnology businesses
17. Floral Management
Where you can get the degree: Mississippi State University
Example courses: Floral Design, Retail Floristry Operations Management, Interior Planting Design and Maintenance
Job prospects: 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, wholesale floral management
18. Jazz Studies
Where you can get the degree: University of North Texas
Example courses: Jazz Performance Fundamentals, Jazz Improvisation, History of Jazz, and Songwriting
Job prospects: Performer, Composer, Arranger, Educator, and Jazz Historian
19. Metalsmithing/Blacksmithing
Where you can get the degree: Southern Illinois University
Example courses: Fine Arts, Introduction to Visual Culture, Studio courses
Job prospects: Careers in academia and museum work, independent artist
20. Mortuary Science
Where you can get the degree: University of the District of Columbia Community College
Example courses: Anatomy & Physiology, Funeral Service Orientation, Descriptive Pathology, History & Sociology of Funeral Service, Theories of Embalming & Disposition, Funeral Service Law
Job prospects: Funeral service practitioner in funeral homes, hospitals, medical schools, health, and the offices of medical examiners or coroners.
21. Nautical Archaeology
Where you can get the degree: Texas A&M University
Example courses: Books and Treatises on Shipbuilding, Outfitting and Sailing the Wooden Ship 1400-1900, Archaeological Photography
Job prospects: Maritime Archaeology and Conversation, Nautical and Underwater Archaeology
22. Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Louisiana State University
Example courses: Introduction to Marine Sciences: Geological & Physical, Introduction to Waves and Beaches, Global Environmental Cycles, Hurricanes and Typhoons, Biology of Marine Invertebrates, Fisheries Acoustics, Fish Recruitment
Job prospects: Research scientist, conservation, coastal ecology, coastal fisheries, wetland soils and vegetation, and physical and geological oceanography fields
23. Pop Music
Where you can get the degree: University of Southern California
Example courses: Popular Music Performance, Songwriting, Computer Assisted Recording and Editing, and Music History
Job prospects: Performance, Songwriting and Arranging, Recording Studio Efficiency, and Music Production
24. Popular Culture
Where you can get the degree: Bowling Green State University
Example courses: Introduction to Popular Culture or Popular Culture and Media, Black Popular Culture, Television as Popular Culture, Folklife and Material Culture, History of Popular Literature
Job prospects: Advertising, public relations, journalism, mass media (management, performance, production and marketing), teaching, library and museum work
25. Poultry Sciences
Where you can get the degree: Texas A&M
Example courses: Avian Science Lab, Breeder & Hatchery Management, Poultry Nutrition, and Poultry Meat Production
Job prospects: Corporate Management, Quality Assurance, Sales or Technical Support in Live Production, Processing, or Marketing.
26. Puppet Arts
Where you can get the degree: University of Connecticut
Example courses: Puppet Production Techniques, Voice and Diction, Scene Design and Painting, Trends in Contemporary American Puppetry, Marionette Performance, Marionette Construction
Job prospects: Theatre performance and design, television and film puppetry, school and museum programs
27. Race Track Industry
Where you can get the degree: University of Arizona
Example courses: Race Track Marketing and Media Relations, Racing Laws and Enforcement, Race Track Organization, Structure and Financial Management
Job prospects: Track-related careers such as track secretary or announcer, journalist, photographer or other horse-related careers
28. Recreation and Leisure Studies
Where you can get the degree: University of North Texas
Example courses: Programming in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services, Leisure: Human Diversity and Environment, Principles of Leadership, Planning, Designing and Maintaining Recreation, Park, Leisure and Sport Facilities and Areas, Commercial Recreation
Job prospects: Community organizations, government or privately owned leisure, parks and recreation programs, health and fitness industry
29. Sexuality Studies
Where you can get the degree: Ohio State University
Example courses: Primate Sexuality, Visual Representations of LGBT Subjects, Sex and Gender in the Ancient World, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion, Love, Sex, and Relationships, History of Modern Sexualities, Sexuality and Sport
Job prospects: Social services, counseling, health care, victim and human rights advocacy, social justice and activism, LGBTQ rights organizing, reproductive rights advocacy and education
30. Surf Science and Technology
Where you can get the degree: Cornwall College (UK)
Example courses: Culture of Surf & Sport, Physical & Geographical Influences on Surfing, Surf Business
Job prospects: Surf-related fields, surf business, surf instructor
31. Theme Park Engineering
Where you can get the degree: California State University
Example courses: Engineering Problem Solving and Design, Computer Methods in Engineering, Engineering Problems and Analysis, Manufacturing Processes
Job prospects: Engineer in theme parks, amusement facilities and related industries
32. Turfgrass Science
Where you can get the degree: Penn State
Example courses: Turfgrass and Ornamental Weed Control, Turfgrass Nutrition, Case Studies in Turfgrass, Turfgrass Pesticides
Job prospects: Golf course maintenance, professional lawn care, grounds maintenance, sod production, sales and service, athletic field maintenance, and research technician
33. Viticulture and Enology
Where you can get the degree: Cornell University
Example courses: Wine and Grapes: Composition and Analysis, Winemaking Theory and Practice, Sensory Evaluation of Food, Wine and Grape Flavor Chemistry
Job prospects: Winemaking, vineyard management, teaching and research, wine businesses
34. Wildlife
Where you can get the degree: Humboldt State University
Example courses: General Zoology, Introduction to Wildlife Conservation & Administration, Wildlife Policy, Mammalogy, Animal Energetics, Principles of Wildlife Diseases, Conservation Biology
Job prospects: Wildlife biologist 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, consulting wildlife biologists
Do you have a unique major? If so, we'd love to hear about it!
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