Degrees Off The Beaten Path
What if the next big career move starts with a classroom you never knew about? Around the world, colleges are offering programs that sound more like bold experiments than traditional majors. We aren’t talking about those everyday degrees. This list is about the degrees that often raise more questions than answers. So, let’s step into a world where academic boundaries blur, and discover fields of study that few even know are real.
1. Diploma In Clowning Arts
At the State College for Circus and Variety Arts in Russia, clowning is no joke. The program blends mime, physical theater, comedic timing, and improvisation. It’s rooted in classical training but prepares students for modern performance.
2. Bachelor Of Arts In Psychedelic Studies
UC Berkeley’s Center for the Science of Psychedelics explores how hallucinogens affect consciousness, cognition, and therapeutic outcomes. This emerging field connects anthropology, psychiatry, and pharmacology—and is shaping policy and mental health innovation across the U.S.
3. Bachelor Of Science In Fermentation Sciences
At Colorado State, fermentation isn’t just limited to brewing. Students here explore health-focused ferments and even sourdough. Kombucha is also an area of focus. It’s a surprisingly interdisciplinary major with applications in biotech and nutrition.
4. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Comic Art
Minneapolis College of Art and Design takes comic storytelling seriously. The curriculum includes publishing and visual history. With the rise of digital comics, this niche degree is now a competitive creative route. Graduates often build portfolios for animation studios or indie work.
5. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Puppet Arts
Puppet Arts majors at UConn? They voice and perform their own creations. This hands-on program blends fine art with theatrical direction. Students often land roles in educational program design or children’s television. It’s considered one of the most unique art majors in the United States.
6. Associate Of Applied Science In Farrier Science
Horseshoeing is just the start when one takes this degree. At Hocking College, students also learn hoof anatomy and equine business management. Many graduates become self-employed and blend their trade skills with entrepreneurial grit.
7. Bachelor Of Science In Adventure Education
This degree turns rock climbing and rope rescue into a career. Plymouth State’s Adventure Education program emphasizes field training over classroom lectures. It’s one of the few degrees to combine outdoor survival and educational leadership.
8. Bachelor Of Science In Cannabis Business
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology offers this course that integrates business knowledge with cannabis-specific expertise. It addresses the entire process of thriving in the business of cannabis. This is a rare degree, given all the fuss around marijuana legalization.
9. Bachelor Of Arts In Manga Studies
Kyoto Seika University established the first-ever manga faculty in 2006. Students can pursue a PhD entirely focused on manga’s social relevance and storytelling techniques. It’s a rigorous program that treats manga as both art and academic literature.
10. Diploma In Contemporary Circus Arts
Circadium’s three-year program is serious circus training with a creative twist. Students master aerial silks and hand balancing while building their own performance style. Injury prevention and storytelling are core to the curriculum. Many students go on to tour or launch their own circus troupes.
Library of Congress Life on Wikimedia
11. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Bagpipe Performance
Music majors can get really specific. Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music launched the world’s first bachelor’s in bagpipe performance in 1990. There’s even a campus pipe band and, famously, a bagpipe-playing robot built by CMU’s robotics institute to keep the students motivated.
12. Bachelor Of Science In Feed Science And Management
Unique to Kansas State, this major trains students in animal nutrition, feed formulation, processing technology, and plant management. It’s a highly collaborative program with Research and Development components. Careers are common in livestock industries and feed regulation.
13. Master Of Science In Biomimicry
Arizona State’s master’s in Biomimicry is the only one of its kind globally. Students design human solutions based on natural models, like gecko-inspired adhesives. Coursework also explores the connection between psychology and human nature. Grads move into sustainability, architecture, or applied science roles.
14. Bachelor Of Arts In Sexuality And Gender Performance
Goddard College lets students build a degree around identity and expression. This program blends drag, performance art, queer theory, and activism in a deeply personal way. It’s low-residency and self-designed, so no two students take the same path.
15. Associate Of Applied Science In Bicycle Design And Fabrication
Frame geometry and materials science anchor this highly specific program. It suits those pursuing niche manufacturing or custom bike-building. The degree mixes engineering and artistry for students interested in both design and speed. It’s a perfect blend of STEM and hands-on work.
16. Bachelor Of Science In Therapeutic Horsemanship
St. Andrews University offers a hands-on major that uses horseback riding as therapy. Students work with individuals facing physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges. The program emphasizes experience over textbooks. Graduates often enter adaptive sports, rehabilitation, or nonprofit work focused on healing through movement and connection.
17. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Costume Technology
More than sewing, this major trains students in historic garments and fabric science. They also get training in production management. It supports careers in film, theater, opera, and museum design. Students often research period attire and build costumes from scratch. It’s theatrical design down to the seams.
18. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Toy Design
For those who never outgrew their action figures, schools like Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles have a Toy Design BFA. It’s far from child’s play as students learn to create toys from concept to prototype – sketching ideas, using CAD software.
19. Bachelor Of Science In Race Track Industry
The University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program remains the only program of its kind in the United States. It focuses on the business of horse racing. With famous alumni, like Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert, graduates are well-positioned to become racing officials.
Mike Lizzi from Nassau County , USA on Wikimedia
20. Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Themed Entertainment Design
This degree teaches students how to craft immersive experiences for theme parks, museums, and attractions. At SCAD and UCF, the curriculum includes media integration, guest psychology, and interactive storytelling. Graduates often join design teams at Disney or VR startups, pushing creative boundaries.
