In the past, Her Campus has given you the weirdest college classes and some of the strangest college majors. You may have been amazed at how many bizarre academic opportunities exist for collegiettes like you, but believe it or not, there are more! Perhaps you thought sports ministry or bagpiping were a little on the weird side, but here are seven more college majors that will have you raising your eyebrows and going, “Huh?”
Let’s be real; college is truly the time for you to experiment with anything.
1. Puppetry – University of Connecticut
If you’ve always had a secret, burning desire to join the Sesame Street cast or be part of a traveling carnival, you can pursue both of those dreams at the University of Connecticut! UConn’s puppetry program is known the whole world over, with the university offering both a BFA and an MA/MFA in the art. Puppetry majors undergo highly intensive training that involves taking theater classes in other areas, like costume design and lighting, to add to their puppetry skills.
Be prepared, though; if you intend on vying for a spot in UConn’s puppetry program, you’ll have to be ready to perform. UConn’s Drama department reports that puppetry applicants are increasing every year, and the faculty has established an audition and interview process to weed out candidates.
2. Medical Marijuana Growing – Med Grow Cannabis College
With the legalization of medical marijuana in various states, expect a slight increase in the number of Med Grow Cannabis College attendees! Located in Southfield, MI, the College offers a plethora of cannabis-growing and management courses aimed at helping students succeed in the medical marijuana industry. Classes are offered online or in person for up to six weeks, during which students can be exposed to “Hydroponics 101” (a study of the art of growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions), medical marijuana law, and “Financial Planning 101” to start their business. So if you’re looking to get into the medical marijuana business, pack your bags and head to Southfield! But first, make sure you can legally use your newfound knowledge wherever you choose to work.
3. A.A.S. in Meat Processing and Food Safety – Eastern Oklahoma State College
If you’re really, really, really into your red and white meats, sharpen your knives and head out to Eastern Oklahoma State for a meat processing degree! Jokingly referred to as the “meat cutting” major, Meat Processing and Food Safety gives you a thorough look into the meat industry with classes like “Meat Animal and Carcass Evaluation” and “Processed Sausage and Cured Meats.”
But there’s more to this meat cutting degree than meets the eye. To make sure students are well-prepared to enter the meat industry, Eastern Oklahoma State requires students to take food safety courses to supplement their livestock and meat processing courses.
4. Engineering: Option in Theme Park Engineering – California State University, Long Beach
Electrical engineering is one of the hardest majors around, so why not let loose and have a little fun with it? As part of its engineering program, California State University, Long Beach lets you unleash your inner thrill-seeker with a Theme Park Engineering degree that prepares you for running, maintaining, and building rides and attractions! So if you loved playing Roller Coaster Tycoon when you were younger, now you can get a chance to dedicate yourself full-time to designing and administering your own theme park. Imagine all the pirate ships, bumper cars, roller coasters, and Ferris wheels you could help make!
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5. Mortuary Science – University of the District of Columbia Community College
Ever wondered how to preserve a dead body? While you may never get to do so in real life, the University of the District of Columbia Community College will definitely give you the knowledge required. Lectures and six-hour lab sessions make up much of the requirements for an A.A.S. degree in Mortuary Science, a major that includes courses about how to embalm human remains and the physiology of a dead body. And if you ever find yourself thinking of running a funeral home, classes like the “Psychology of Grief” and “Funeral Service Management” will make sure that you help your clients cope with the loss of a loved one. There’s much more to running a funeral home than meets the eye, which you’ll definitely learn at UDC-CC.
6. Auctioneering – Harrisburg Area Community College
Enter your bid for a chance to get an Auctioneering diploma at Pennsylvania’s Harrisburg Area Community College and get on track for a professional auctioneering career. The program walks you through the entire process of running your own auction, from “Merchandise Procurement” to “Auctioneering Law,” helping you raise prices through the roof! After completing only 20 credits, you can then take the Pennsylvania State Auctioneer License exam and become your own self-employed auctioneer.
Sound good to you? Then going once, going twice… and sold!
7. Gunsmithing – Lenoir Community College
Gun-related news continues to make national headlines, showing us just how much of an impact firearms have on American society. They’re still so important, in fact, that some colleges like Lenoir Community College in North Carolina offer gunsmithing degrees. Learn how to fix a gun in “General Repair,” the ins and outs of a handgun in “Handgun Technology,” and all about barrels in “Barrel Fitting and Alterations!” After 52 hours’ worth of major courses, you can then open your own gun shop (if that’s what you’re into, anyway).
As strange as they may be, the number of crazy college majors out there only shows just how exciting learning is in college! One of the main things college grads miss is the opportunity they had to explore a wide variety of subjects, meaning that you should take advantage of your college years by trying out as many things as you can. From puppetry to the mortuary science, there are always majors out there that can help you pursue your dreams, no matter how wild or out of the box they are!