Anyone older than 18 likely went through the conventional higher education system. The majors you took were ones that your parents and grandparents were familiar with, whether it be accounting, engineering, business, or psychology.
These days? You will come across unusual courses that seem like they come from a fly-by-night college, but they are 100% real. We’ve collected some examples, which you will see on this rather fascinating list.
Ever heard of Street Fighting Mathematics or Cal Pokémon Academy? Yes, these are actual programs; feel free to Google them to learn more.
#1 Cow-To-Cone Ice Cream Short Course - Penn State University
"This 7-day course is offered annually in January.
At this year's short course, students will attend more than 20 workshops on specialized areas of ice cream technology, including flavoring, refrigeration, freezing and hardening techniques, and the manufacture of frozen yogurt and novelty frozen desserts.
The Berkey Creamery serves as a laboratory for research. Students should be prepared to study and review materials outside of class an optional closed-book examination follows the morning class session on the last day.
Certificates will be awarded after the exam, and class awards will be presented at the evening banquet." - courtesy The Pennsylvania State University
At this year's short course, students will attend more than 20 workshops on specialized areas of ice cream technology, including flavoring, refrigeration, freezing and hardening techniques, and the manufacture of frozen yogurt and novelty frozen desserts.
The Berkey Creamery serves as a laboratory for research. Students should be prepared to study and review materials outside of class an optional closed-book examination follows the morning class session on the last day.
Certificates will be awarded after the exam, and class awards will be presented at the evening banquet." - courtesy The Pennsylvania State University
Report
19points
#2 Comic Art - Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
"MCAD's Comic Art major is for students who are passionate about storytelling and imagery, and want to explore Minneapolis’s strong comic scene. The program stresses both the traditional and digital craft of comics. Outside of traditional comic books, comic strips, and graphic novels, comic artists work in a variety of areas where compelling storytelling is required, including design firms, game and animation companies, filmmakers, corporations, educational institutions, and ad agencies." - courtesy Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Report
16points
#3 Tree Climbing - Cornell University
"Whether you are a rain forest canopy researcher, an arborist, or just a kid at heart, everyone loves to climb trees. Recall the excitement and sense of adventure when you first crawled into the branches to look inside a bird's nest. Then you swung from limb to limb without a thought of ropes and harnesses. But what about that big tree down the street you always wanted to climb, but couldn't reach the first branch? This course will teach you how to use ropes and technical climbing gear to reach the top of any tree, to move around, and even to climb from tree to tree without returning to the ground." - courtesy Cornell University
Report
15points
There are many reasons why today’s younger generation is veering away from traditional higher education. One is that many students are balancing their studies with other obligations, such as full-time jobs to support their families or parenting.
According to a 2023 report by US News, most of these kids are, at least, in their mid-20s.
#4 Caving - Cornell University
"The most exciting and unknown terrestrial frontier lies deep inside cave systems! Expand your horizons to include the netherworld. Learn cave geology, map reading skills, rope systems, cave safety, environmental concerns, and hone teamwork and communication skills in this introductory class. Expect to be challenged and inspired as you explore caves in Eastern NY. You can expect to crawl and get dirty in these wild, beautiful caves. One weekend outing includes car camping." - courtesy Cornell University
Report
14points
#5 Fermentation Science - Colorado State University
"Our fermentation science program was developed with food and beverage fermentation industry leaders. You will get coursework in applied food fermentation, brewing science, sensory analysis, and operations management. Additionally, we regularly connect you with fermentation science professionals who are experts in their fields. Our food science program blends a strong science base with courses in food chemistry, food safety, food microbiology, and nutrition." - courtesy College of Health and Human Sciences
Report
14points
#6 Farrier Science - Cornell University
"This program is designed for persons with a demonstrated interest in farriery who have independently acquired some of the basic skills of the farrier trade. The 16-week program provides participants with practical knowledge of related anatomy, fundamental aspects of shoeing, and fabrication of shoes." - courtesy Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Report
14points
According to Kermit Kaleba, strategy director of Lumina Foundation, many institutions support the needs of many of today’s students, who are often juggling their responsibilities.
“There are other institutions that are probably less well-equipped because they have always thought of themselves as serving a particular type of student,” Kaleba told the publication.
#7 Metalsmithing - Southern Illinois University
"The interdisciplinary program has developed connections in Europe, the Pacific Rim and Mexico, and it attracts students from all over the world. Students learn a variety of artistic practices from jewelry making and fine metalsmithing, to the more unique elements of blacksmithing.
Graduates of the program have gone on to highly successful careers in academia and museum work, as well as that of a self-sustaining independent artist. We offer the only MFA blacksmithing program in the nation." - courtesy Southern Illinois University
Graduates of the program have gone on to highly successful careers in academia and museum work, as well as that of a self-sustaining independent artist. We offer the only MFA blacksmithing program in the nation." - courtesy Southern Illinois University
Report
14points
#8 How To Stage A Revolution - MIT
"This course explores fundamental questions about the causes and nature of revolutions by looking at how people overthrow their rulers and establish new governments. Considers a set of major political transformations throughout the world and across centuries to understand the meaning of revolution and evaluate its impact. Examines how revolutionaries have attempted to establish their ideals and realize their goals. Asks whether radical upheavals require bloodshed, violence, or even terror. Seeks to explain why some revolutions succeed and others fail. Materials include the writings of revolutionaries, declarations and constitutions, music, films, art, novels, memoirs, and newspapers." - courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Report
13points
#9 Turfgrass Science - Penn State University
"The turfgrass program at Penn State has a proud tradition of serving the turfgrass industry and boasts an impressive list of "firsts." Initiated in 1929 through the efforts of committed clientele, it was one of the first turfgrass programs in the nation. It was the first to employ a turfgrass extension specialist (1934), the first to graduate a Ph.D. turfgrass scientist (1950), the first to offer a two-year technical program specifically for golf course superintendents (since 1957), and the first to offer an undergraduate major in turfgrass science (since 1992). But being first is not all that counts; it is the quality of the program that really matters." - courtesy The Pennsylvania State University
13points
Gen Z students are also opting for trade school over a posh university degree. A 2024 report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the number of enrolled students in vocational community colleges rose by 16 percent in 2023, the highest number since 2018.
The data showed that many students are entering the construction industry, leading to a 23 percent increase. Programs covering HVAC, vehicle maintenance, and repair also rose seven percent.
#10 Street-Fighting Mathematics - MIT
"This course teaches the art of guessing results and solving problems without doing a proof or an exact calculation. Techniques include extreme-case reasoning, dimensional analysis, successive approximation, discretization, generalization, and pictorial analysis. Applications include mental calculation, solid geometry, musical intervals, logarithms, integration, infinite series, solitaire, and differential equations. (No epsilons or deltas are harmed by taking this course.) This course is offered during the Independent Activities Period (IAP), which is a special 4-week term at MIT that runs from the first week of January until the end of the month." - courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Report
13points
#11 Science From Superheroes To Global Warming - UC Irvine
"Have you ever wondered if Superman could really fly? What was Spiderman's spidey sense? How did Wonder Woman's invisible jet work? What does it really mean for something to be a scientific "fact"? Explore how science works and what constitutes "good" science through case studies drawn from a wide spectrum of people's experiences, for example, superheroes, movies, and real-world issues such as global warming. The case studies will provide the change to act as science critics as the students develop a better appreciation for science and the scientific method." - courtesy University of California
Report
12points
#12 Introduction To Surfing - Coastal Carolina University
"Basic knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of surfing and a general understanding of ocean safety. Focus is on learning the local surf areas, different styles of waves, and conditions." - courtesy Coastal Carolina University
12points
So, what is causing these surges? A report by The Guardian points to the high costs of tuition fees and declining return on investment. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average college tuition per student in the United States amounts to $38,270. This includes books, supplies, and living expenses.
#13 Marine Botany - Coastal Carolina University
"Field course in marine flora with emphasis on ecology and functional morphology. Work will stress the roles of marine bacteria, fungi, algae, and angiosperms in coastal marine communities." - courtesy Coastal Carolina University
Report
12points
#14 Entertainment Engineering And Design - University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
"Entertainment Engineering & Design emphasizes the importance of the creative process to the designing and building of engineered entertainment components. Students are educated in the application of high-level scientific and mathematical principles to the design, manufacture, and construction of structures, machines, processes, and live systems. This degree program focuses on preparing students for a discipline that creates the highly technical designs that the entertainment industry has come to demand. Students within Entertainment Engineering & Design will emphasize their studies within the fields of structural engineering, robotics, acoustics and systems and live entertainment, enabling them to move into the highly technological world of entertainment design with a strong engineering background fused with an understanding of the relevance of fine arts to the entertainment industry."
- courtesy University of Nevada
- courtesy University of Nevada
Report
12points
#15 Getting Dressed - Princeton University
"The seminar is an inquiry into the social significance of clothing and a close examination of the relationship between clothing and identity in 20th-century America. To explore that juncture, students keep a literary sketchbook in which they record their observations about the ways clothing comes into play in the news, in their surroundings, and in their own lives. The journal helps the students hone their powers of observation and learn key skills for examining the world." - courtesy Princeton University
Report
12points
Convenience is another significant factor that drives Gen Z students toward vocational education. As The Guardian report points out, construction jobs start early and end early. Jobs are also varied and challenging for them, as the demand is constantly high.
These reasons alone can offset the grueling and physically demanding nature of these professions.
#16 Wasting Time On The Internet - University Of Pennsylvania
"Live without dead time. — Situationist graffiti, Paris, May 1968. We spend our lives in front of screens, mostly wasting time: checking social media, watching cat videos, chatting, and shopping. What if these activities — clicking, SMSing, status-updating, and random surfing — were used as raw material for creating compelling and emotional works of literature? Could we reconstruct our autobiography using only Facebook? Could we write a great novella by plundering our Twitter feed? Could we reframe the internet as the greatest poem ever written? Using our laptops and a wifi connection as our only materials, this class will focus on the alchemical recuperation of aimless surfing into substantial works of literature. Students will be required to stare at the screen for three hours, only interacting through chat rooms, bots, social media, and listservs. To bolster our practice, we'll explore the long history of the recuperation of boredom and time-wasting through critical texts about affect theory, ASMR, situationism and everyday life by thinkers such as Guy Debord, Mary Kelly Erving Goffman, Betty Friedan, Raymond Williams, John Cage, Georges Perec, Michel de Certeau, Henri Lefevbre, Trin Minh-ha, Stuart Hall, Sianne Ngai, Siegfried Kracauer and others. Distraction, multi-tasking, and aimless drifting are mandatory." - courtesy University of Pennsylvania
Report
12points
#17 Bowling Industry Management And Technology - Vincennes University
"Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions within the bowling industry in center management, sales, marketing, and technical fields." - courtesy Vincennes University
Report
11points
#18 Degree Apprenticeship Partnership With Pizza Hut - Manchester Metropolitan University
"Working with Pizza Hut, we’ll be training managers of their food outlets and those in charge of the teams, who work in fast-paced environments, to enhance and complement their leadership and management skills.
Initially, there will be 10 trainees from Pizza Hut who will form part of a cohort of 100 students and will benefit from the bespoke programmes currently operating at Manchester Met. The University already provides similar programmes for employers such as HMRC and Tesco." - courtesy Manchester Metropolitan University
Initially, there will be 10 trainees from Pizza Hut who will form part of a cohort of 100 students and will benefit from the bespoke programmes currently operating at Manchester Met. The University already provides similar programmes for employers such as HMRC and Tesco." - courtesy Manchester Metropolitan University
Report
11points
#19 Medicinal Plant Chemistry - Northern Michigan University
"The growing acceptance and legalization of medicinal plants has created strong demand for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs in the cannabis, herbal extract, and natural product industries. Many pharmaceutical drugs originate from plant compounds, and interest in medicinal plant chemistry continues to rise with the expansion of the cannabis economy.
Northern Michigan University was the first to offer a four-year Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree. This unique program blends chemistry and biology with research, hands-on analysis, and a focus on entrepreneurship and lab standards, preparing graduates for careers in labs or to launch their own operations in this emerging field." - courtesy Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University was the first to offer a four-year Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree. This unique program blends chemistry and biology with research, hands-on analysis, and a focus on entrepreneurship and lab standards, preparing graduates for careers in labs or to launch their own operations in this emerging field." - courtesy Northern Michigan University
10points
#20 Viticulture And Enology - Uc Davis
"Could there be a more romantic major than wine? Students of viticulture and enology swish mouthfuls of Merlot and compare them to notes of coffee, lavender, wormwood, and star anise for a grade. They roam the campus vineyards with a professor and classmates who don wide-brimmed sun hats as they test grape leaves for their hydration. They can crush grapes, ferment wine, and travel to France for internships. Come study grape growing (viticulture) and wine making (enology) along with a dose of statistical analysis at one of the most highly ranked public universities in the nation and the world." - courtesy University of California
Report
10points