11 Unusual College Majors

I currently work with a student (we'll call him Brad) who has wanted to be a gunsmith since he was 5 years old.  How a kindergartener from suburban Los Angeles got attached to the idea of gunsmithing is baffling to me and his parents, but as is the case with many special needs kids, he has never wavered.

Brad's parents and I have tried all the tricks to get him to expand his range of options, to no avail.  He's now a high school junior and the mother and I have both realized that I need to take my own advice and work with the kid's interests, even if they don't make sense to me.

Lo and behold, there are colleges that offer degrees in gunsmithing, and even right here in California.  The family has booked a trip to visit the schools to see which will be the best match and I now feel confident that things are going to work out fine for this young man.  Once again, a reminder to myself to just let the kid drive the process instead of trying to make them be what the adults think they should be.

Here are some other unusual majors offered by accredited colleges--listed alphabetically, not in order of weirdness.  (Most are far more unusual than gunsmithing, to be honest.)

1. Astrobiology--Arizona State University.  Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like: the search for life in the stars.  You probably know a young person for whom this major is a dream come true.
2. Automotive Restoration Technology--McPherson College.  Based on the popularity of TV shows about auto restoration and customization, it's a wonder that more colleges aren't offering this major yet.
3. Bagpiping--Carnegie Mellon University.  Apparently this unusual major is an homage to Andrew Carnegie's Scottish roots.
4. Bowling Industry Management--Vincennes University. This is an associate's degree, not a bachelor's degree, just to be clear.
5. EcoGastronomy--University of New Hampshire.  Combining sustainable agriculture, hospitality management and nutrition.
6. Equine Journalism--Wilson College. You can't get much more specialized or self-explanatory than this.
7. Ethnobotany--University of Hawai'i.  This major is described as an integration of biological and social science theories, though I'm still not quite sure what that means.
8. Expeditionary Studies--SUNY Plattsburgh.  You can focus on climbing, paddling or skiing, or combine all three.  Seriously, you can get a degree in that?
9. Missionary Aviation--Bob Jones University. This program provides "solid preparation for a missionary who can fly and maintain his aircraft."
10. Packaging--Michigan State University.  Though it sounds funny, this degree probably provides one with fantastic career potential.
11. Puppetry--University of Connecticut. It falls under their School of Fine Arts.  Really.

Let this list be inspiration and reassurance that whatever your child is interested in, there is most likely a college that offers higher education in the subject.  And if you really can't find one (or if they're all too far from home) there are many universities that now let students design their own majors.  It's a growing trend.  But that's a whole 'nother post, now isn't it?